Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU2166
2006-08-09 13:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
GON AND MAOISTS KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002166
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: GON AND MAOISTS KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
REF: KATHMANDU 2154
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES F. MORIARTY, REASONS 1.4 (B/D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002166
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: GON AND MAOISTS KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
REF: KATHMANDU 2154
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES F. MORIARTY, REASONS 1.4 (B/D).
1. (U) Nepali media have reported that negotiations between
the GON and Nepal's Maoists on August 9 resulted in an agreed
letter to the United Nations signed by Prime Minister G.P.
Koirala and Maoist leader Prachanda. In a joint press
conference, the two announced agreement on a 5 point request
to the United Nations.
Quote:
-- 1) Continue its human rights monitoring through the Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal(OHCHR,
Nepal)
-- 2) Assist the monitoring of the Code of Conduct during the
ceasefire
-- 3) On the basis of the agreement to seek UN assistance in
the "management of arms and armed personnel of both the
sides," deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and
verify the confinement of CPN-M combatants and their weapons
within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for
all agreements, including of arms and munitions, will be
worked out among the parties and the UN.
-- 4) Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its
barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any
side. The modalities will be worked out among the parties
and the UN
-- 5) Provide election observation for the election of the
Constituent Assembly in consultation with the parties.
Unquote. Reportedly the letter requesting UN assistance on
this agreed basis has been transmitted to the UN office here
in Kathmandu.
Comment
--------------
2. (C) Reftel reported our expectation that the parties
might come to a temporizing agreement that would postpone
resolution of the intractable arms management issue while
allowing Nepal to meet the August 10 deadline imposed by the
UN delegation headed by Staffan de Mistura. That has come to
pass, and it will be up to the UN to decide what it will do
with a "consensus" document that fudges the most important
issue related to the peace process. Of the five points in
the agreement, 1, 2 and 5 have been non-controversial. Point
4 -- UN monitoring of the Nepal Army -- represents an earlier
concession by GON, but also presumably implies that the Nepal
Army will retain its weapons while confined to barracks.
Point 3 glosses over the main bone of contention since the
outset -- whether the Maoists will agree to be separated from
their weapons as the price for joining the political
mainstream. Today's result is, in effect, an agreement to
disagree on this central point. It is good to see that the
GON has not caved in to Maoist pressure to accept their
continued bearing of arms. Nevertheless, the Maoist
determination to retain the option of violence is clearly
undiminished.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: GON AND MAOISTS KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
REF: KATHMANDU 2154
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES F. MORIARTY, REASONS 1.4 (B/D).
1. (U) Nepali media have reported that negotiations between
the GON and Nepal's Maoists on August 9 resulted in an agreed
letter to the United Nations signed by Prime Minister G.P.
Koirala and Maoist leader Prachanda. In a joint press
conference, the two announced agreement on a 5 point request
to the United Nations.
Quote:
-- 1) Continue its human rights monitoring through the Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal(OHCHR,
Nepal)
-- 2) Assist the monitoring of the Code of Conduct during the
ceasefire
-- 3) On the basis of the agreement to seek UN assistance in
the "management of arms and armed personnel of both the
sides," deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and
verify the confinement of CPN-M combatants and their weapons
within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for
all agreements, including of arms and munitions, will be
worked out among the parties and the UN.
-- 4) Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its
barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any
side. The modalities will be worked out among the parties
and the UN
-- 5) Provide election observation for the election of the
Constituent Assembly in consultation with the parties.
Unquote. Reportedly the letter requesting UN assistance on
this agreed basis has been transmitted to the UN office here
in Kathmandu.
Comment
--------------
2. (C) Reftel reported our expectation that the parties
might come to a temporizing agreement that would postpone
resolution of the intractable arms management issue while
allowing Nepal to meet the August 10 deadline imposed by the
UN delegation headed by Staffan de Mistura. That has come to
pass, and it will be up to the UN to decide what it will do
with a "consensus" document that fudges the most important
issue related to the peace process. Of the five points in
the agreement, 1, 2 and 5 have been non-controversial. Point
4 -- UN monitoring of the Nepal Army -- represents an earlier
concession by GON, but also presumably implies that the Nepal
Army will retain its weapons while confined to barracks.
Point 3 glosses over the main bone of contention since the
outset -- whether the Maoists will agree to be separated from
their weapons as the price for joining the political
mainstream. Today's result is, in effect, an agreement to
disagree on this central point. It is good to see that the
GON has not caved in to Maoist pressure to accept their
continued bearing of arms. Nevertheless, the Maoist
determination to retain the option of violence is clearly
undiminished.
MORIARTY