Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU2364
2006-08-31 12:05:00
SECRET
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR URGES HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER UK NP 
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FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2968
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4716
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 4953
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0087
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2944
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4351
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0156
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 2518
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1925
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
S E C R E T KATHMANDU 002364 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER UK NP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
OF GOVERNMENT OF NEPAL


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

Summary
-------

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 002364

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER UK NP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
OF GOVERNMENT OF NEPAL


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

Summary
--------------


1. (S) The Ambassador made the case for continued UK
political engagement in Nepal in an August 29 meeting with
the new British Ambassador. The Ambassador explained why he
did not believe a Maoist victory was inevitable. UK
Ambassador Hall expressed concern that nothing be done to
impede the peace process. The Ambassador replied that the
Maoists should not be allowed to win victory through peace
negotiations. End Summary.

Ambassador Makes the Case for Continued Engagement
-------------- --------------


2. (S) The Ambassador and Pol/Mil Chief met on August 29 with
UK Ambassador Dr. Andrew Hall, the UK DCM and the UK Pol/Mil
Chief to compare notes on the U.S. and UK views of the
current political situation in Nepal. The Ambassador took
the opportunity to press for continued British engagement.
He insisted that a Maoist victory was not inevitable. The
Government of Nepal (GON),while weak, seemed finally to be
taking a stand when it came to Maoist weapons. The
Ambassador strongly disagreed with those who claimed the
Maoists enjoyed popular support. How, the Ambassador said,
could the Maoists be popular when they had spent years going
around the countryside taking people's money, grain and
children? Now the Maoists had extended their extortion
campaign to the cities, including Kathmandu. Their rhetoric
was populist but their actions were anything but.

UK Interest
--------------


3. (S) It was also, the Ambassador insisted, a mistake to
think that a Maoist victory would not have significant
repercussions for British and other international interests.
The Maoists were already on record saying that they would end
recruitment of soldiers for the UK's (and India's) Ghurka
regiments. The Maoists talked about their desire for a
market economy but also indicated they would insist on an
extremely intrusive role for government in the economy. The
Maoists made no secret of their desire to "re-educate" class
enemies. An even graver threat was the possibility that
Nepal would serve as a base for exporting terrorism and that
the resulting instability and violence might prompt Indian
intervention and an unpredictable Chinese reaction.

Maoist Bottom Line on Weapons Unclear
--------------


4. (S) Ambassador Hall told the Ambassador that, in his
analysis, the Maoists would prove unwilling to give up their
weapons prior to constituent assembly elections. The
Ambassador conceded Ambassador Hall might be correct on the
issue of Maoist weapons. Nevertheless, the Ambassador
argued, why throw in the towel now? It was still possible
that the Maoists might blink if the Government of Nepal
insisted on Maoist separation of arms before they could enter
an interim government. Ambassador Hall suggested that the
highest priority was ensuring that the peace process
continued. He said that insisting on separation of the
Maoists from their weapons could cause the Maoists to walk
out of the talks. The Ambassador responded that the peace
talks were not the end themselves. The goal was a
prosperous, democratic and peaceful Nepal. Maoist rule
offered no prospect leading in that direction. To the
contrary, continued Maoist violence and extortion, the
Ambassador said, pointed the opposite way.

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


5. (S) The UK Ambassador has several decades of experience
with Nepal, including at least one stint here as an academic
and a prior tour as Deputy Chief of Mission at the British
Embassy. Hall did appear to take some of the Ambassador's

comments on board, and we will continue to meet with him
regularly. A wavering international community is the last
thing an already wavering Government of Nepal needs.
MORIARTY