NEPAL: SENATOR SPECTER MEETS WITH GOVERNMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002187 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PINR NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: SENATOR SPECTER MEETS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS REF: KATHMANDU 2166 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Senator Arlen Specter met with Government of Nepal (GON) officials on August 13 to gain insight into Nepal's political situation and to remind the GON of the USG's continuing support in its move toward democracy. The GON representatives stressed their commitment not to allow the Maoists into any interim government until the Maoists were completely separated from their arms. The officials emphasized the need for continued U.S. assistance and support for Nepal's democratic transition. End Summary. Speaker Asks For Continued Support -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During an August 13 meeting with Senator Specter, Speaker of the House Subash Nemwang reiterated the GON's stance that the Maoist would not enter into any type of interim government until they are completely separated from their weapons. Nemwang further suggested that an interim constitution should be promulgated through the current Parliament to have legitimacy. Nemwang expressed hope that the Maoists would remain peaceful and join the democratic political process. ¶3. (C) Senator Specter raised the issue of U.S. assistance to Nepal and Nemwang thanked the Senator and the U.S. for continued support of the GON in the transition to democracy. Nemwang expressed concern that the GON would need money to sustain Maoist combatants once they were placed into cantonments per the five-point agreement recently sent from the GON and the Maoists to the United Nations (reftel). He expressed hope that the U.S. might provide assistance in this area as well. ¶4. (SBU) Bio Note: Subash Nemwang had contact with Peace Corps volunteers growing up. His sister married a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, and she is now living in Colorado. Another cousin married a Peace Corps volunteer as well, and lives in Washington, DC. He seemed very pleased with his connection to the United States. End Bio Note. Home Minister Showed Concern Over Maoists -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In a meeting with Senator Specter, Home Minister and Head of the GON Peace Talks Team Krishna Prasad Sitaula hoped that the Maoists could be brought peacefully into the political mainstream, but worried that the Maoists had not lived up to their word in negotiations. Sitaula stressed that the ongoing political negotiations regarding an interim constitution and interim government would have to go hand-in-hand with management of Maoist arms. Sitaula reiterated the view of the GON that the Maoists would not be allowed into an interim government until they were completely separated from their weapons. He commented that the involvement of the United Nations would be a positive step towards a full solution to the problem of Maoist arms. Senator Specter assured Sitaula that the USG supported the GON and encouraged him to remain tough with the Maoists in future negotiations. ¶6. (C) Sitaula stated that negotiating with the Maoists was "very tough" because they were a rebel force and took very hard positions. Sitaula said that the GON team was trying to teach the Maoists "how to negotiate." He also admitted that the Maoists had thus far not been honest in negotiations and had not fulfilled their agreements in the 25-point Code of Conduct. Sitaula said that the GON team was "trying to get the Maoists to keep their word." Peace Secretariat Sees Hope In The UN -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In a meeting with Senator Specter, Secretary of the Peace Secretariat Vidyadhar Mallik explained that he had hope in the United Nations to help Nepal solve the problems of Maoists arms, but only if the UN "does its homework." He stated that perhaps the UN could provide some "best practices" in arms management that the Maoists could more easily agree to than suggestions coming from the GON. Mallik worried that the Maoists were not keeping the terms of the cease-fire and informed the Senator of the complaints received from citizens of violence in the countryside. Mallik suggested that the Maoists were inconsistent, saying one thing in negotiations and doing something else outside. Mallik worried as well that the Seven-Party Alliance was at a disadvantage in negotiations: The alliance was trying to represent seven different viewpoints, whereas the Maoists were able to speak with one strong voice in negotiations. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Encouragingly, the GON representatives spoke with one voice regarding separation of Maoists from their arms before Maoists are allowed to enter any interim government. It was also noteworthy that the GON chief negotiator Sitaula, who has been accused of making unilateral concessions to the Maoists, lamented that the Maoists essentially could not be trusted in negotiations, and that they were not holding up their end of the bargain in the cease-fire. We were pleased by Senator Specter's visit and will continue to press the GON on the issue of Maoist weapons. MORIARTY