Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU829
2006-03-28 11:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER ADAMANT THAT SEVEN-PARTY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #0829 0871128 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281128Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0901 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3760 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 9437 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 4374 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 9457 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 4106 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 2353 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000829
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER ADAMANT THAT SEVEN-PARTY
ALLIANCE NOT DOING JOINT PROGRAM WITH MAOISTS
REF: BEIJING 5355
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
Parties Not Joining With the Maoists
------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000829
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER ADAMANT THAT SEVEN-PARTY
ALLIANCE NOT DOING JOINT PROGRAM WITH MAOISTS
REF: BEIJING 5355
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
Parties Not Joining With the Maoists
--------------
1. (C) In a March 28 meeting, ailing Nepali Congress
President G.P Koirala stressed to the Ambassador that the
seven-party alliance was "not joining hands with the Maoists
because the Maoists have guns." He explained that the
political parties did not want to be associated with the
Maoist-called April 6-9 nationwide general strike. The
Parties recognized that the general strike would negatively
affect people; the Parties instead planned to hold peaceful
demonstrations and sit-down strikes. He acknowledged that
the Parties faced a problem because their demonstration
planned for April 8 coincided with the Maoist program, but it
was a "misunderstanding" if people thought the two groups had
organized a joint program.
King Should Not Announce Nationwide Elections
--------------
2. (C) Koirala indicated he remained open to the King
reaching out. He emphasized that his biggest worry was the
possibility of the King announcing in mid-April nationwide
parliamentary elections. The NC leader said that the King
should first reconcile with the political parties. Koirala
noted that if the King first announced elections, the
situation would worsen and reconciliation would become even
more difficult.
Interest in China's Role
--------------
3. (C) Koirala was interested in the Ambassador's
recent-stopover in Beijing (reftel). The NC leader stated he
had encouraged China, as a big neighbor of Nepal, to take
"some responsibility to settle" Nepal's issues during his
recent meeting with visiting PRC State Councilor Tang. Tang
had agreed that national reconciliation was the best way to
bring the Maoists into mainstream politics. The Ambassador
informed Koirala that he had found strong agreement in
Beijing that Nepal was in crisis and about the need for
dialogue between the constitutional forces. Beijing was
interested in promoting a dialogue, which reflected the high
level of concern there.
Bio Note
--------------
4. (C) Koirala admitted that he was "not keeping well." On
March 27 he had returned from a medical check-up in
Biratnagar, during which his doctor had advised him to take a
"complete rest." During our meeting, his breathing was very
labored and he had a bad cough.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Koirala's strong insistence that the Parties had not
joined with the Maoists in the upcoming April 6-9 general
strike is positive. The Parties now have to figure out a way
they can rescue their plan for demonstrations, scheduled for
April 8, without causing any retaliatory action from the
Maoists.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER ADAMANT THAT SEVEN-PARTY
ALLIANCE NOT DOING JOINT PROGRAM WITH MAOISTS
REF: BEIJING 5355
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
Parties Not Joining With the Maoists
--------------
1. (C) In a March 28 meeting, ailing Nepali Congress
President G.P Koirala stressed to the Ambassador that the
seven-party alliance was "not joining hands with the Maoists
because the Maoists have guns." He explained that the
political parties did not want to be associated with the
Maoist-called April 6-9 nationwide general strike. The
Parties recognized that the general strike would negatively
affect people; the Parties instead planned to hold peaceful
demonstrations and sit-down strikes. He acknowledged that
the Parties faced a problem because their demonstration
planned for April 8 coincided with the Maoist program, but it
was a "misunderstanding" if people thought the two groups had
organized a joint program.
King Should Not Announce Nationwide Elections
--------------
2. (C) Koirala indicated he remained open to the King
reaching out. He emphasized that his biggest worry was the
possibility of the King announcing in mid-April nationwide
parliamentary elections. The NC leader said that the King
should first reconcile with the political parties. Koirala
noted that if the King first announced elections, the
situation would worsen and reconciliation would become even
more difficult.
Interest in China's Role
--------------
3. (C) Koirala was interested in the Ambassador's
recent-stopover in Beijing (reftel). The NC leader stated he
had encouraged China, as a big neighbor of Nepal, to take
"some responsibility to settle" Nepal's issues during his
recent meeting with visiting PRC State Councilor Tang. Tang
had agreed that national reconciliation was the best way to
bring the Maoists into mainstream politics. The Ambassador
informed Koirala that he had found strong agreement in
Beijing that Nepal was in crisis and about the need for
dialogue between the constitutional forces. Beijing was
interested in promoting a dialogue, which reflected the high
level of concern there.
Bio Note
--------------
4. (C) Koirala admitted that he was "not keeping well." On
March 27 he had returned from a medical check-up in
Biratnagar, during which his doctor had advised him to take a
"complete rest." During our meeting, his breathing was very
labored and he had a bad cough.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Koirala's strong insistence that the Parties had not
joined with the Maoists in the upcoming April 6-9 general
strike is positive. The Parties now have to figure out a way
they can rescue their plan for demonstrations, scheduled for
April 8, without causing any retaliatory action from the
Maoists.
MORIARTY