INDIAN ENVOY TO NEPAL KING: ASSUME CEREMONIAL ROLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002699

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM PGOV PBTS OREP NP IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN ENVOY TO NEPAL KING: ASSUME CEREMONIAL ROLE

REF: NEW DELHI 2602

Classified By: Charge Bob Blake for Reasons 1.4(B, D)


1. (C) Summary: As the Indian establishment debates the
effectiveness of envoy Karan Singh's visit to Kathmandu, New
Delhi is still reaching out to Nepalese actors to try to pull
the parties and Palace together. Speaking with the Charge on
April 21, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said the King had
responded positively to Singh's message, but acknowledged the
king had responded positively before and then done nothing.
Saran warned that Gyanendra was rapidly approaching the
"point of no return" at which the monarchy itself was in
danger. End Summary.

NOT AS SUCCESSFUL AS HOPED
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2. (SBU) Indian envoy Karan Singh met with the Prime
Minister on April 21 to discuss his April 19-20 visit to
Nepal (reftel),and told reporters afterward that he was
optimistic that the King would soon take a "major step"
toward restoration of democracy. However, Indian press
reports, calling the visit a "failure," suggested that Singh
and Saran returned early from Kathmandu after Gyanendra
refused to agree to the demand to turn power over to the
political parties, and instead pressed for his preferred
option of appointing a prime minister of his choosing.
Without any immediate results to report, Saran told reporters
on his return that the visit had been a "fact finding" trip
and Singh had only shared his "objective assessment" with
Gyanendra.

STILL PUSHING RECONCILIATION BETWEEN KING AND PARTIES
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3. (C) In an April 20 conversation with PolCouns, Minister
of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma reported that
while the GOI was encouraged by the King's agreement to turn
over power to a Prime Minister, New Delhi was not optimistic
Gyanendra would call for immediate elections. Sharma noted
that the GOI continues to use CPI(M) politician Sitaram
Yechury as a channel to Nepal's Seven Party Alliance (SPA)
because of his strong ties to the CPN(UML),but did not
suggest he would have any broader role to engage the Maoists.
Sharma met with Yechury and Nationalist Congress Party
General Secretary DP Yadav (also a supporter of the SPA) on
April 20 to discuss GOI policy. Prior to his meeting,
Yechury told reporters that there was no longer "any place
for monarchy" in Nepal. Sharma later met with CPN(UML)
leader and SPA negotiator Jhala Nath Khanal in New Delhi on
April 20, in order for Khanal to convey the SPA's reaction to
Karan Singh's visit. Indian media has also reported that
former NDA Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh plans to visit
Nepal with the GOI's blessing on April 24, adding yet another
envoy (and perspective) into India's interactions with
Nepalese leaders.

INDIA'S MESSAGE TO THE KING
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4. (C) In an April 21 meeting, Foreign Secretary Saran told
Charge and visiting Staffdel Sheehy that Karan Singh had told
Gyanendra that he was "fast approaching the point of no
return," and facing a growing upsurge of popular anger.
Singh asked the King to summon the SPA leaders, tell them
that he will turn over executive power to a leader of their
choosing, call for elections to a new Parliament, and help
work on a peace settlement. He should then step back into a
ceremonial role.

TIME MAY BE RUNNING OUT

NEW DELHI 00002699 002 OF 002


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5. (C) The King responded "positively" to Singh's message,
Saran reported. However, Saran admitted, Gyanendra has given
positive responses before but then done nothing. If the King
does not take immediate action, there was a good chance of
the monarchy's role "being usurped," and the King could be in
personal danger, Saran commented. Even "his friends" may not
be able to help him out. Saran told us that the King said he
may have a public message at 5 pm on April 21, when he would
"announce that he has an announcement."

INDIA ASKS SPA TO BE RESTRAINED
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6. (C) Saran and Singh also met with leaders of the SPA
while in Kathmandu, and asked them not to "overload the
agenda with demands" if the King does reach out to them. The
Indian envoys discussed with the SPA the urgency of an
economic development agenda for Nepal after the restoration
of democratic government, and the need for "major financial
backing" for the country. India will "do what we can
financially" to promote development, Saran said.

COMMENT: A LAST MINUTE FRENZY
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7. (C) The world has waited fourteen months for India to
lead on Nepal. Now, as the walls figuratively are crashing
in around the King, the Indian establishment is in a frenzy
of action that comes almost too late, but could yet pay
democratic dividends if Gyanendra acts soon.


8. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
BLAKE