MAOIST LEADER CALLS U.S. THE ENEMY

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 000450 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR D, P, SA NSC FOR MILLARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV NP SUBJECT: MAOIST LEADER CALLS U.S. THE ENEMY REF: A. KATHMANDU 379 ¶B. KATHMANDU 442 (NOTAL) Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d). Prachanda: India - Positive Role; U.S - Negative Role -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) The Maoists appear engaged in a big push to declare the U.S. the enemy and India the good guy. In his early February interview with the Hindu, Maoist Chairman Prachanda contrasted the roles of India and the U.S since the King's February 1, 2005 takeover. Although he urged India to abandon its two-pillar theory and end its relationship with the monarchy, he also praised India for its "positive" role. He explained that it would have been unlikely that the Maoists could have reached agreement with the seven-party alliance on the November 12-point understanding if the Indian authorities knew nothing about it. He decried the U.S. for playing a negative role. He also called upon India and China to have a common approach toward Nepal: "As far as the U.S. interests are concerned, they are neither in favor of Indian or Chinese masses. So at the political level, all of us must come together to counter (the Americans),we should not fall under their trap." The New Kerala reported online February 13 that Prachanda had issued a statement accusing Washington of covertly propping up King Gyanendra's government as well as the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and appealed to India to support peace and democracy in Nepal. Concern Caused By PACOM Admiral Fallon's Visit -------------- - ¶2. (C) In addition to criticizing the Ambassador by name in the Hindu interview as well as a subsequent BBC interview for speaking out against the Maoists and promoting reconciliation between the Palace and the Parties, Prachanda stated that "Moriarty is connected to the Asia-Pacific military command of the U.S. He is not a political man." Prachanda hinted that Admiral Fallon's early February visit had prompted his statements against the U.S. Prachanda alleged that Admiral Fallon had advocated the use of the RNA Rangers against "Nepali people." "In the name of waging war on terror, the American authorities have built an empire of terror targeting people worldwide." He again appealed to China and India to "strike a balance for democracy and peace," explaining that, "realizing the seriousness of the situation, our party had started calling the Royal Nepalese Army the Royal American Army for some years now." Comment -------------- ¶3. (S) Prachanda's interviews suggest that we need to be acting on several fronts. First, we have already conveyed the message to Prachanda that we will hold him personally responsible for any Maoist violence against U.S. citizens (ref B). (Note: A major increase in Maoist anti-U.S. rhetoric preceded the September 2004 grenade attack against the American Center in Kathmandu. End Note.) Second, we need to communicate clearly to the GOI our concern that people in Nepal could interpret silence by New Delhi in the face of such harsh anti-U.S. rhetoric as tacit approval for Maoist violence, particularly since most Nepalese believe Prachanda's interviews occurred inside India. We should seek to work with the GOI to urge them to denounce the Maoists' continued use of terror as a political tool. GOI public statements would remind Nepal that the U.S. and India remain on the same page: supporting Maoists is not the way to achieve our mutual goal of restoring democracy to Nepal. MORIARTY