Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU3167
2006-12-06 09:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPALI CONGRESS PARTY "INCLUSIVE" IN EASTERN NEPAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 003167
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS PARTY "INCLUSIVE" IN EASTERN NEPAL
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Prime Minister's Party Inclusive, Sort Of
------------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 003167
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS PARTY "INCLUSIVE" IN EASTERN NEPAL
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Prime Minister's Party Inclusive, Sort Of
--------------
1. (C) On December 2, Emboff accompanied Sujata Koirala, Head
of the Nepali Congress (NC) Department of International
Relations and daughter of Prime Minister GP Koirala, to a
political program in Inaruwa, Sunsari District in
south-eastern Nepal. The NC leaders of the rural district
discussed many of their problems -- health care, education,
drinking water, irrigation water, and ethnic-based conflict
-- with Koirala and Emboff. Party leaders in Sunsari
included women, youth, Muslims (including a representative
from the local madrassa),Hindus, dalits (low caste persons
who form a large portion of the population of the district),
teachers, and trade unionists. After the program, these
representatives told Emboff that they felt the NC actually
represented and responded to their needs. The district is
represented in Parliament by the Prime Minister himself, so
it is not surprising that the government provides for their
needs. Despite these testimonials, it was noteworthy that
Ms. Koirala spoke to all the people gathered at the program
in Nepali using informal forms of address and language, while
everyone referred to her using very formal and respectful
forms of address and language.
Nepotism and Party Politics
--------------
2. (C) Nepotism was much in evidence during the short visit.
Sujata Koirala is planning to run in the upcoming Constituent
Assembly elections for the seat her father currently
occupies. The NC District President in Sunsari District had
appointed his son to be the NC Secretary in the district.
Two of the District President's brothers also served as
appointed leaders of the party. It was clear as well that
political parties were expected to provide goods and services
to the community in exchange for political support. Ms.
Koirala pointedly told Emboff that she would need to provide
some of the things the people were asking for closer to the
election so that they would vote for her. The next day, she
planned to give two wheelchairs to a hospital in the district.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Although at least on the surface the Nepali Congress
includes people from various ethnic and class groups in
Sunsari, it is also clear that party politics continue to
suffer from nepotism and caste-based discrimination. All of
the main party leaders in the district (including the
Koiralas) are high-caste Brahmin-Chettri, and that does not
appear to be set to change in the near future. We will
continue to emphasize to the parties that inclusive politics
are an important part of democracy and necessary to create a
peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Nepal. It is unclear
whether Sujata Koirala taking the place of GP Koirala in the
Constituent Assembly would mean retirement from politics for
the Prime Minister.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS PARTY "INCLUSIVE" IN EASTERN NEPAL
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Prime Minister's Party Inclusive, Sort Of
--------------
1. (C) On December 2, Emboff accompanied Sujata Koirala, Head
of the Nepali Congress (NC) Department of International
Relations and daughter of Prime Minister GP Koirala, to a
political program in Inaruwa, Sunsari District in
south-eastern Nepal. The NC leaders of the rural district
discussed many of their problems -- health care, education,
drinking water, irrigation water, and ethnic-based conflict
-- with Koirala and Emboff. Party leaders in Sunsari
included women, youth, Muslims (including a representative
from the local madrassa),Hindus, dalits (low caste persons
who form a large portion of the population of the district),
teachers, and trade unionists. After the program, these
representatives told Emboff that they felt the NC actually
represented and responded to their needs. The district is
represented in Parliament by the Prime Minister himself, so
it is not surprising that the government provides for their
needs. Despite these testimonials, it was noteworthy that
Ms. Koirala spoke to all the people gathered at the program
in Nepali using informal forms of address and language, while
everyone referred to her using very formal and respectful
forms of address and language.
Nepotism and Party Politics
--------------
2. (C) Nepotism was much in evidence during the short visit.
Sujata Koirala is planning to run in the upcoming Constituent
Assembly elections for the seat her father currently
occupies. The NC District President in Sunsari District had
appointed his son to be the NC Secretary in the district.
Two of the District President's brothers also served as
appointed leaders of the party. It was clear as well that
political parties were expected to provide goods and services
to the community in exchange for political support. Ms.
Koirala pointedly told Emboff that she would need to provide
some of the things the people were asking for closer to the
election so that they would vote for her. The next day, she
planned to give two wheelchairs to a hospital in the district.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Although at least on the surface the Nepali Congress
includes people from various ethnic and class groups in
Sunsari, it is also clear that party politics continue to
suffer from nepotism and caste-based discrimination. All of
the main party leaders in the district (including the
Koiralas) are high-caste Brahmin-Chettri, and that does not
appear to be set to change in the near future. We will
continue to emphasize to the parties that inclusive politics
are an important part of democracy and necessary to create a
peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Nepal. It is unclear
whether Sujata Koirala taking the place of GP Koirala in the
Constituent Assembly would mean retirement from politics for
the Prime Minister.
MORIARTY