PRIME MINISTER TAKES A STRONG STANCE ON MAOISTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002188

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER NP
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER TAKES A STRONG STANCE ON MAOISTS
DURING VISIT WITH SENATOR SPECTER


Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).

Summary
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1. (C) A spry Prime Minister Koirala thanked Senator Specter
for continued support, explaining that United States
financial assistance had helped stabilize the government.
Koirala stressed his strong support of democracy, and
emphasized that unless the Maoists gave up their weapons they
could not join the government. Koirala warned he would
mobilize the security forces to take Maoists into custody if
the Maoists continued to violate terms of the 25-point Code
of Conduct. Koirala hoped that the United Nations would
monitor the cease-fire as soon as possible, explaining that
it was important not to "demoralize" the Nepal Army. Koirala
commented that he hoped that India would play a more
constructive role in Nepal. End Summary.

US and UN Support Welcomed
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2. (C) An energetic Prime Minister G.P. Koirala welcomed
Senator Arlen Specter to Nepal in a forty-five minute meeting
on August 13. Koirala expressed hope that the United States,
the United Nations and the international community could help
to solve Nepal's problems. He thanked Senator Specter and
the United States for its contributions to date, explaining
that such assistance helped stabilize the government and show
people that, unlike the Maoists, the government was working
for them. He hoped that the United States would help support
reconstruction and rehabilitation in the future, including
continued support to the Peace Secretariat as talks with the
Maoists continued. Koirala looked forward to the
establishment of a United Nations mission to monitor the
cease-fire and verify the cantonment of the Maoists and their
weapons.

Democracy Life's Goal
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3. (SBU) Specter noted that autocratic governments had jailed
Koirala for his pro-democratic activities. Koirala responded
that his life's goal was to bring all non-democratic
elements, including the Maoists, into a constitutional
democracy, stating that he would "never surrender a
democratic government to anyone." Koirala hoped that he
would succeed in order for "terrorists all over the world" to
learn from Nepal's example that dialogue was the best way to
solve disputes. Koirala said he supported a continuation of
a ceremonial monarchy because the monarchy had been a
unifying factor in Nepal since 1769. He noted that, unless
the Maoists gave up their weapons, the interim constitutional
drafting committee could not consider the Maoist's
suggestions. He also noted that Maoist proposals for a
republic and for ethnic-based politics could "fragment" and
destabilize Nepal.

Maoists Must Give Up Weapons
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4. (C) Koirala worried about Maoist intentions, especially as
they continued to have and use weapons. He said that Maoist
cadre continued to extort and collect taxes despite signing
the 25-point Code of Conduct in which they had agreed to stop
these activities. Koirala said he would mobilize the
security forces to take Maoists into custody if the Maoists
continued unlawful actions, commenting that the first
responsibility of a government was to maintain law and order.
Koirala hoped that the United Nations would come and monitor
the cease-fire as soon as possible, explaining that it was
important not to "demoralize" the Nepal Army.

Role of India and China
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5. (C/NF) On the role of other countries in Nepal, Koirala
explained that India, especially the Indian intelligence
service, were not as clear on policy or as helpful to Nepal
as he would like them to be, especially as the Maoist problem
affected India as well as Nepal. In contrast, he said that

China had a policy of non-interference in the internal
affairs of Nepal and he had no evidence that China had
changed that policy.

Comment
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6. (C) Senator Specter's visit could not have come at a
better time. It is good to see that PM Koirala continues to
stand strong on the issue of separation of the Maoists from
their weapons. He stressed that he was willing to use
Nepal's security forces to prevent future violations of the
cease-fire, but clearly views the establishment of a UN
mission as the best option for curtailing Maoist
aggressiveness. Post will continue to reinforce the arms
management issue with the PM and his government.
MORIARTY