POLITICAL LEADERS IN GORKHA: WE MUST FACE THE

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