Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU1249
2007-06-25 12:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: CABINET SETS DATE OF NOVEMBER 22 FOR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001249
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CABINET SETS DATE OF NOVEMBER 22 FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Constituent Assembly Election on November 22
--------------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001249
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CABINET SETS DATE OF NOVEMBER 22 FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Constituent Assembly Election on November 22
--------------
1. (U) The Nepali Cabinet agreed at its meeting on June 24 to
hold the Constituent Assembly election on November 22. The
decision, which had been expected at the previous cabinet
meeting on June 21, was on the early side of the range of
dates under consideration. Prime Minister Koirala had
publicly indicated his preference for an election on November
26, while the Election Commission had endorsed November 23.
On May 31, the Seven-Party Alliance and the Maoists had
agreed to hold the election within the Nepali month of
Mangsir -- November 17 to December 15. The Cabinet also
decided to give the Electoral Constituency Delineation
Commission 21 additional days to review its report.
Positive Reaction
--------------
2. (C) The reaction to the news that the Government of Nepal
(GON) had finally agreed on a date for the election was
strongly positive. Minendra Rijal, a Nepali Congress -
Democratic Member of Parliament, told Emboff June 25 that he
and his party welcomed the Cabinet's decision. Jhalanath
Khanal, a Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist
(UML) MP, also stated that he was very pleased by the
decision. Failure by the GON to announce a date on June 24
would have called into question the UML's ability to continue
supporting the current government, he added. Election
Commissioner Neelkantha Uprety said the Election Commission
was happy with the announcement of the election date and that
the Commission would formally thank the GON June 25. He
noted that it would now be easier for the Commission to move
ahead with election preparations, and closed with an appeal
for the GON to improve the peace and security situation in
the country.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Post also welcomes this announcement. Setting the
date for the election will allow the Election Commission, the
political parties, and various donors to swing into action to
prepare for the polls. Now that the constitutional and legal
framework for the elections is in place, the biggest
remaining hurdle is the security situation. We will continue
to urge the GON to take necessary steps to improve the
security environment, including by cracking down on Maoist
abuses and by isolating ethnic extremists in the Terai.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CABINET SETS DATE OF NOVEMBER 22 FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Constituent Assembly Election on November 22
--------------
1. (U) The Nepali Cabinet agreed at its meeting on June 24 to
hold the Constituent Assembly election on November 22. The
decision, which had been expected at the previous cabinet
meeting on June 21, was on the early side of the range of
dates under consideration. Prime Minister Koirala had
publicly indicated his preference for an election on November
26, while the Election Commission had endorsed November 23.
On May 31, the Seven-Party Alliance and the Maoists had
agreed to hold the election within the Nepali month of
Mangsir -- November 17 to December 15. The Cabinet also
decided to give the Electoral Constituency Delineation
Commission 21 additional days to review its report.
Positive Reaction
--------------
2. (C) The reaction to the news that the Government of Nepal
(GON) had finally agreed on a date for the election was
strongly positive. Minendra Rijal, a Nepali Congress -
Democratic Member of Parliament, told Emboff June 25 that he
and his party welcomed the Cabinet's decision. Jhalanath
Khanal, a Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist
(UML) MP, also stated that he was very pleased by the
decision. Failure by the GON to announce a date on June 24
would have called into question the UML's ability to continue
supporting the current government, he added. Election
Commissioner Neelkantha Uprety said the Election Commission
was happy with the announcement of the election date and that
the Commission would formally thank the GON June 25. He
noted that it would now be easier for the Commission to move
ahead with election preparations, and closed with an appeal
for the GON to improve the peace and security situation in
the country.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Post also welcomes this announcement. Setting the
date for the election will allow the Election Commission, the
political parties, and various donors to swing into action to
prepare for the polls. Now that the constitutional and legal
framework for the elections is in place, the biggest
remaining hurdle is the security situation. We will continue
to urge the GON to take necessary steps to improve the
security environment, including by cracking down on Maoist
abuses and by isolating ethnic extremists in the Terai.
MORIARTY