NEPAL: MINORITY LEADERS DEMAND MEANINGFUL ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001118 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM KDEM NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: MINORITY LEADERS DEMAND MEANINGFUL ELECTIONS Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On May 31, three leaders from politically underrepresented groups and a human rights leader expressed to visiting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron and Ambassador Moriarty their concerns about equal representation in the Government and a meaningful Constituent Assembly election. The Nepalis stressed that minorities and "backward" classes were grossly underrepresented in Nepal's political life. They did not agree on which election system would best serve their constituent groups, but they all wanted to see a transparent process that was inclusive. Ethnic Groups Underrepresented in Politics -------------- ¶2. (C) At a meeting on May 31, a few senior representatives of Nepal's ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples, as well as Subodh Pyakurel, President of Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC),a Nepali human rights organizations, met with Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron and Ambassador Moriarty. The Nepali leaders noted that Nepal's indigenous people or Janjati and "backward classes," including the Dalits, were vastly underrepresented in the government and the political parties. The Chairman of the Dalit Welfare Organization, Moti Lal Nepal, pointed out that, traditionally, the political parties had only appointed one or two token Dalits to their leadership ranks. He stressed that many Dalits had participated in the People's Movement to realize democracy and had made difficult personal sacrifices. These people, he emphasized, deserved to be included in the political process. (Note: Dalits represent approximately 13 percent of Nepal's population. There are almost no Dalit MPs in the 329 member Interim Parliament.) Meaningful Election Requires Proportional System? -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Awadhesh Kumar Singh from the Madhesis People's Rights Forum (MPRF) claimed that the Constituent Assembly election would only be meaningful if a purely proportional system were utilized. A mixed election system, he stated, was unacceptable to the marginalized communities and, until the election system dispute was resolved, there was no point in setting a date for the election. Subodh Pyakurel disagreed, stating that a purely proportional system would protect the status quo and help the mainstream political parties maintain their positions. The Ambassador asked what the speakers meant by a proportional system. Were they referring to a system in which each political party is entitled to a proportional number of seats or a system in which each ethnic group is entitled to a proportional number of seats? There was no consensus on this issue. The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Advisor, Chaitnya Subba, noted that not all of the political parties or ethnic groups had substantial enough numbers for a completely proportional system to work well for them. In the alternative, he suggested that the Interim Constitution be modified to increase the number of seats reserved for underrepresented groups, including the Janajatis, suppressed tribes, people from backward regions and women. Squashed Expectations and Terror In The Terai -------------- ¶4. (C) The INSEC President Pyakurel complained that the Nepali media were not covering the Madhesi movement adequately. When asked why, he replied that there was pessimism and terror in the media, and the press was no longer willing to take the necessary risks to uncover the truth. He explained that now in Nepal, "the more you are able to break the law the stronger your personality becomes." Pyakurel said that what had happened in the Terai was not a planned revolt, but rather a spontaneous movement. He described the Mahdesi people as a very peaceful and tolerant society, which had now been "thrust out." He said that all KATHMANDU 00001118 002 OF 002 of the backward classes had been disempowered in the past through very bitter experiences. When the Maoists raised people's expectations and then could not deliver, they created a very dangerous situation. He noted that weak law and order had bred resentment and disillusionment. He concluded that the disturbances in the Terai were the result of the government's disregard of the people's demand for equality and fair treatment. Importance of Transparent Process and Education -------------- -- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador commented that the Interim Constitution was the product of a flawed process because it was created by a few politicians behind closed doors. If public support had been sought, the Ambassador suggested, a great deal of the current discord and conflict could have been avoided. The INSEC President agreed and commented that there was "a real absence of confidence in the system." Awadhesh Singh, from the MPRF, stated that, if the political parties did not make an effort to reform the system to be more inclusive, the Madhesi people would be no better off than they were under the king. Pyakurel added that cultural change was also very important and that the Constituent Assembly could not bring about all the necessary changes in Nepali society. He stressed that capacity building was crucial and emphasized the need for education. The Dalit Welfare Organization Chairman Moti Nepal concurred, adding that education was a central issue in the establishment of an inclusive democracy and the breaking down of the old feudal structures. A Government Accountable to the People -------------- ¶6. (C) NEFIN Advisor Chaitnya Subbba said that the only way forward was to conduct a meaningful election that brought a government into power that was accountable to the people. With the Maoists already in the government, he stressed, elections were necessary to legitimize their presence in the Parliament; all of the groups needed to cooperate. The problem, he noted, was that the big parties were not that interested in working to find an inclusive solution. Moti Nepal added that the political parties were trying to divide and conquer. He emphasized that the Madhesi people were divided and that they needed to create a synergy. Subodh Pyakurel agreed and reiterated that the big question was how to make the political parties listen when they did not really want a transfer of power. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) While the Dalit, Janjati and Madhesi leaders did not necessarily agree on the way forward, their common frustration with the status quo was obvious. Nepal's governing elite, who are drawn from the upper castes from the hills, would be well served to listen to their fellow countrymen, open up a real dialogue, and offer minority groups the opportunity for inclusion in the political process. It is also clear that the debate about which election system to use is not well defined. "Proportional" means a number of different things and is being used arbitrarily without definition. The same is true of the term "federalism." The political naivete of a large segment of the population should not be forgotten. Yet, regardless of the capacity or level of education that exists within these groups, a Pandora's box of expectations has been opened for the so-called "backward" classes; and the political elite will ignore at its peril their cries for more equitable participation in the politics of the nation. ¶9. (U) Assistant Secretary Lowenkron has cleared this message. MORIARTY