Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU286
2006-01-30 11:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

600 ELECTION CANDIDATES WITHDRAW; MORE MAOIST

Tags:  PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS NP 
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DE RUEHKT #0286/01 0301136
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 301136Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0089
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3871
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 4118
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9183
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2100
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9116
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000286 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS
NSC FOR MILLARD/RICHELSOLPH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS NP
SUBJECT: 600 ELECTION CANDIDATES WITHDRAW; MORE MAOIST
VIOLENCE

REF: A. KATHMANDU 228


B. KATHMANDU 245

Classified By: AMB James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d)

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000286

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS
NSC FOR MILLARD/RICHELSOLPH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS NP
SUBJECT: 600 ELECTION CANDIDATES WITHDRAW; MORE MAOIST
VIOLENCE

REF: A. KATHMANDU 228


B. KATHMANDU 245

Classified By: AMB James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (U) More than 600 people withdrew their candidacy between
filing to participate in the municipal election on January 26
and the deadline to withdraw on January 28. Some people
withdrew voluntary, others claim the government forced them,
and still others wished to withdraw but security forces
"protected" them and did not allow them the opportunity to
withdraw. Suspected Maoists shot a mayoral candidate in the
Kathmandu Valley on January 30. Sporadic, but heavy,
fighting between Maoists and security forces continued in
eastern and western Nepal. Political parties, journalists,
and lawyers have termed February 1, the one year anniversary
of the King's takeover, "Black Day," and have called for
nationwide protests. End Summary.

HUNDREDS WITHDRAW CANDIDACY
--------------


2. (C) The January 28 deadline to withdraw candidacy for the
February 8 municipal election saw approximately 600
candidates pull out of the race. Tejmuni Bajracharya,
Spokesperson for the Election Commission, explained
nominations were withdrawn due to "pressure from families,
political and various other reasons." Bajracharya told
Emboff that 3,654 candidates had initially filed for
candidacy for the total of 4,146 available positions. This
could leave an estimated 1300 candidates still seeking
positions. Although the press reported 2,104 vacant posts
without candidates, Bajracharya claimed there were just 174
posts. However, Informal Sector Service Sector (INSEC),a
human rights NGO, reported that more than 50 percent of the
seats were vacant. Arjun Naryan K.C., Central Committee
Member of the Nepali Congress Party, stated that fifty
percent of the seats were vacant. K.C. stressed that the
Parties still planned to "disturb" the election, would not
endorse it, and would prevent election winners entering
municipal buildings to perform their duties. He noted that

the public would not support the election as most of the
candidates were without political experience and with low
social status, such as truck drivers and beggars. Regarding
reports that some candidates were taken to police or army
barracks for protection, K.C. and INSEC commented that some
of these candidates went voluntarily to the barracks and
others were forced to go. Security forces subsequently
allowed them to leave the barracks after January 28, having
no doubt prevented some potential withdrawals. The press
carried numerous reports of tearful family members beseeching
their relatives to withdraw due to Maoist threats.

UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES DECLARED WINNERS, THEN RESIGN
-------------- --------------


3. (C) In 22 of the 58 municipalities, the Election
Commission declared 44 unopposed candidates for Mayor and
Deputy Mayor, and an unspecified number of Ward Chairmen and
Members, winners on January 29. However, 16 immediate
resignations, with more likely to come, followed this
announcement. In Kathmandu, a total of 69 (out of 144
candidates) for ward chairmen, members, and female members
were declared unopposed winners. Bajracharya noted that the
Election Commission was not charged with keeping track of
resignations once candidates were elected. An Embassy source
claimed that in Kapilvastu District (western Nepal),Home
Minister Kamal Thapa had instructed the District
Administrative Office to force the withdrawal of all
candidates not in his faction of the Rastriya Prjantantra
Party (RPP) to ensure his candidates would be declared
unopposed winners. A candidate in Damak municipality
(eastern Nepal) said he was detained in a room until he
agreed to take his oath of office, which he did, then he
resigned soon thereafter.

MAYORAL CANDIDATE SHOT BY SUSPECTED MAOISTS
--------------


4. (U) On the afternoon of January 30, suspected Maoists
shot and injured a mayoral candidate in Lalitpur, an urban
area neighboring Kathmandu, located inside Kathmandu's ring
road highway. This is the second Mayoral candidate that has
been shot recently (ref A),and the first inside Kathmandu
Valley.

PARTIES, JOURNALISTS, LAWYERS CALL FOR FEB. 1 DEMONSTRATIONS
-------------- --------------


5. (U) The Parties, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists
(FNJ),and the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) have called for
nationwide demonstrations to observe what has been termed
"Black Day" on February 1, the anniversary of the royal
takeover, to protest one year of crackdowns on political and
press freedoms. The Parties have announced a mass meeting in
central Kathmandu's Durbar Square, to be attended by senior
Party leaders. The FNJ and NBA have called for all their
branches and units across the country to observe "Black Day."

MAOIST VIOLENCE, THREATS CONTINUE
--------------


6. (SBU) Maoists continued their violent campaign against
cities and district headquarters, bombing various places
throughout the country over the past several days, although
no civilian casualties were reported. On January 27 in
Nepalgunj, Maoists bombed a police office and other central
public areas. Security forces also defused one bomb at the
Nepalgunj city hall. On January 28 in Tulsipur Municipality
(mid-western Nepal),Maoists bombed the home of a candidate,
causing extensive damage. On January 28 in Jaleshwor
(south-central Nepal),Maoists bombed the District
Administrative Office, District Development Office and the
Government Lawyer's Office; in Baglung district (western
Nepal),Maoists bombed the Ward 9 Municipal Office and set
fire to the Ward 10 Municipal Office. On January 29 in
Guleriya (western Nepal),Maoists bombed the District
Development Office. In Siraha District (south-east Nepal),
five Maoists were killed in an explosion while making bombs
in a home. The Maoists released a press statement on January
28 threatening "severe consequences" against participants in
the February 8 municipal elections (septel).

MAOIST - ARMY CLASHES IN EASTERN NEPAL
--------------


7. (SBU) Maoist rebels attacked the Royal Nepalese Army's
(RNA) Ghodetar base camp in Bhojpur District (eastern Nepal)
at approximately 5:30 pm on January 27; fighting lasted
through the early morning of January 28. Major Ganesh Bista
of the RNA's Public Relations Office said at least 21 Maoists
died and confirmed reports that two security personnel were
killed. Reports also indicated that the RNA brought in at
least one helicopter with night vision equipment to strike
Maoist positions.

ONE CIVILIAN KILLED IN NEPALGUNJ
--------------


8. (U) A civilian woman was killed by crossfire during
clashes between Maoists and the Armed Police Force (APF) in
Nepalgunj (western border town) on January 29. Fighting
ensued after Maoist rebels reportedly opened fire on an APF
van near the district police office around 6 pm. Nepalgunj
was the sight of recent heavy fighting (ref B).

COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) The mass withdrawal of candidates, resignation of some
unopposed election "winners," and the ongoing violence and
threats against candidates mean that the elections will
likely end up a farce. The government cannot yet provide
security against Maoist threats and violence. Post expects
continued Maoist violence and demonstrations by the Parties

in an effort to disrupt the elections, if the King does not
bow to pressure to postpone the polls.
MORIARTY