Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU3218
2006-12-14 07:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
POLITICAL LEADERS IN GORKHA: WE MUST FACE THE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 003218
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: POLITICAL LEADERS IN GORKHA: WE MUST FACE THE
MAOISTS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Nicholas J. Dean. Reasons 1.4 (
b/d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 003218
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: POLITICAL LEADERS IN GORKHA: WE MUST FACE THE
MAOISTS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Nicholas J. Dean. Reasons 1.4 (
b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In a meeting on December 9 in Gorkha District (just
west of Kathmandu),political leaders from the Communist
Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML),the Nepali
Congress (NC) and the Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) told
Emboff that the only way to create an atmosphere for free and
fair Constituent Assembly elections in the countryside was to
confront the Maoists face-to-face. The parties told of fear
by the villagers in the remote areas of the district, and
stressed the need for a robust UN monitoring presence in the
countryside. Development assistance was a common theme from
all the parties. The police in the district were still not
able to enforce law and order, and were concerned about the
political situation.
Political Leaders Ready to Face the Maoists
--------------
2. (C) In a December 9 meeting in Gorkha District (just west
of Kathmandu),political leaders from the three main parties
told Emboff that the only way to create an atmosphere for
free and fair Constituent Assembly elections in the
countryside was to confront the Maoists face-to-face.
District leaders from the CPN-UML, the NC, and the NC-D said
that the biggest problem they had was that the Maoists would
not allow them out into the local villages to campaign and do
their political work. The villagers were afraid to stand up
to the Maoists, and the leaders believed it was their
responsibility as democratic political parties to go out and
face the Maoists for the people. The parties stressed the
need to build trust between the parties, the people, and the
Maoists before free and fair elections could be possible.
When asked if free and fair elections could be held by the
proposed date of June 2007, the parties all responded that
the elections had to be held by then at all costs. The
leaders asked for U.S. help to encourage the UN to bring in
large numbers of monitors quickly to help reduce the fear of
the Maoists in the countryside.
Development is Important
--------------
3. (C) The party leaders stressed the necessity for effective
development of the region around Gorkha. They lamented the
lack of education and the low levels of literacy in the rural
areas of Gorkha, and stated that this would make the
preparations for elections more difficult.
Police: Still No Effective Enforcement of Law and Order
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Deputy Superintendent of Police Sanjay Basnet told
Emboff in a separate meeting that most police posts in the
district had not yet been re-established because the Maoists
would not allow it. Basnet worried that the governing
parties had not yet ordered the Nepal Police to enforce law
and order. He also told Emboff that political party leaders
were pressuring the police to reopen posts in the districts
most vital to their re-election, but that the police had not
been asked what would strategically be best for the
enforcement of law and order. Basnet worried that these
political priorities were affecting the ability of the police
to do their jobs.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) What we are hearing from the political parties in
Gorkha tracks with what we have been hearing from leaders in
other parts of the country, although the leaders in Gorkha
seem ready to stand up to the Maoists and say, "enough is
enough." International observers are needed on the ground in
KATHMANDU 00003218 002.3 OF 002
Nepal as quickly as possible to make sure that the political
parties have the support necessary to prepare for a free and
fair election. The fact that the police in Gorkha still do
not have orders from the government to enforce law and order
or the go-ahead from the Maoists to re-establish police posts
further underscores the need for a robust international
presence in Nepal.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: POLITICAL LEADERS IN GORKHA: WE MUST FACE THE
MAOISTS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Nicholas J. Dean. Reasons 1.4 (
b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In a meeting on December 9 in Gorkha District (just
west of Kathmandu),political leaders from the Communist
Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML),the Nepali
Congress (NC) and the Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) told
Emboff that the only way to create an atmosphere for free and
fair Constituent Assembly elections in the countryside was to
confront the Maoists face-to-face. The parties told of fear
by the villagers in the remote areas of the district, and
stressed the need for a robust UN monitoring presence in the
countryside. Development assistance was a common theme from
all the parties. The police in the district were still not
able to enforce law and order, and were concerned about the
political situation.
Political Leaders Ready to Face the Maoists
--------------
2. (C) In a December 9 meeting in Gorkha District (just west
of Kathmandu),political leaders from the three main parties
told Emboff that the only way to create an atmosphere for
free and fair Constituent Assembly elections in the
countryside was to confront the Maoists face-to-face.
District leaders from the CPN-UML, the NC, and the NC-D said
that the biggest problem they had was that the Maoists would
not allow them out into the local villages to campaign and do
their political work. The villagers were afraid to stand up
to the Maoists, and the leaders believed it was their
responsibility as democratic political parties to go out and
face the Maoists for the people. The parties stressed the
need to build trust between the parties, the people, and the
Maoists before free and fair elections could be possible.
When asked if free and fair elections could be held by the
proposed date of June 2007, the parties all responded that
the elections had to be held by then at all costs. The
leaders asked for U.S. help to encourage the UN to bring in
large numbers of monitors quickly to help reduce the fear of
the Maoists in the countryside.
Development is Important
--------------
3. (C) The party leaders stressed the necessity for effective
development of the region around Gorkha. They lamented the
lack of education and the low levels of literacy in the rural
areas of Gorkha, and stated that this would make the
preparations for elections more difficult.
Police: Still No Effective Enforcement of Law and Order
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Deputy Superintendent of Police Sanjay Basnet told
Emboff in a separate meeting that most police posts in the
district had not yet been re-established because the Maoists
would not allow it. Basnet worried that the governing
parties had not yet ordered the Nepal Police to enforce law
and order. He also told Emboff that political party leaders
were pressuring the police to reopen posts in the districts
most vital to their re-election, but that the police had not
been asked what would strategically be best for the
enforcement of law and order. Basnet worried that these
political priorities were affecting the ability of the police
to do their jobs.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) What we are hearing from the political parties in
Gorkha tracks with what we have been hearing from leaders in
other parts of the country, although the leaders in Gorkha
seem ready to stand up to the Maoists and say, "enough is
enough." International observers are needed on the ground in
KATHMANDU 00003218 002.3 OF 002
Nepal as quickly as possible to make sure that the political
parties have the support necessary to prepare for a free and
fair election. The fact that the police in Gorkha still do
not have orders from the government to enforce law and order
or the go-ahead from the Maoists to re-establish police posts
further underscores the need for a robust international
presence in Nepal.
MORIARTY