Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU2344
2006-08-30 11:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

MAOIST INFLUENCE STRONG IN CENTRAL NEPAL

Tags:  PTER PGOV NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKT #2344 2421103
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 301103Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2942
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4704
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 4941
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0068
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2932
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4339
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0144
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1913
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002344 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS, H (PLEASE PASS TO STAFFDEL FORSYTH)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV NP
SUBJECT: MAOIST INFLUENCE STRONG IN CENTRAL NEPAL


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002344

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS, H (PLEASE PASS TO STAFFDEL FORSYTH)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV NP
SUBJECT: MAOIST INFLUENCE STRONG IN CENTRAL NEPAL


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


1. (C) During an August 24 dinner with House International
Relations Committee Staffdel Forsyth, Deputy Inspector
General of Police in Pokhara (central Nepal) Ramesh Kumar
Shrestha told Emboff that the Maoists could do "more or less
whatever they want" in and around the city of Pokhara.
Shrestha stated that the Nepal Police had no clear orders
from the Home Ministry and were unclear as to how to deal
with Maoist extortion and abduction. Shrestha lamented that
the police wanted to arrest criminals, but were afraid to
take the initiative and be seen as the ones who "destroyed
the peace process." Shrestha said that, because of Maoist
intimidation, the police had been unable to protect local
businesses against extortion. The owner of a large
restaurant in the tourist area of Pokhara told Emboff that
the Maoists came once a week to collect their "taxes" from
her.


2. (C) On August 25, Staffdel Forsyth was scheduled to have
lunch with political leaders in Pokhara. One of the first
arrivals to the lunch was a Maoist leader and his "friend."
When Emboff informed them that they were not invited to the
lunch, the two Maoists angrily went outside the restaurant to
wait. As other political leaders from the Seven-Party
Alliance (SPA) arrived, they stayed outside with the Maoists.
After everyone had arrived, a representative of the group
informed Emboff that the group (Maoists and SPA leaders)
would not be attending lunch, but that afterward "we can have
a political meeting." Emboff canceled the lunch instead of
meeting with the party leaders and the Maoists.

Comment
--------------


3. (C) This incident underscored the influence of the Maoists
over political leaders outside the valley. The Ambassador
met with the Chief District Officer in Pokhara in June and
found him singularly unwilling to take the Maoists on for the
excesses inside the city.
MORIARTY