MAOIST DELAYING VERIFICATION PROCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001339

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR UN NP
SUBJECT: MAOIST DELAYING VERIFICATION PROCESS

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
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1. (C) On July 12, UNMIN Chief Ian Martin told the
Ambassador that the Maoists had suspended the verification
process, stating that they wanted further discussions on
separate issues with other political parties and wanted to
hear the views of the Maoist commanders on the ground.
Martin indicated that while the Maoists may have been upset
with the number of alleged combatants disqualified by UNMIN,
issues surrounding discharge of the disqualified combatants
poised a number of serious problems. Martin noted that the
Maoist had not yet raised the issue of linking the
verification process with the larger question of security
sector reform; this round of verification had addressed only
children and new recruits. However, he noted that in the
future it was likely to be an issue.

Maoists Delaying Verification
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2. (C) During a farewell call on July 12 by the Ambassador,
UNMIN Chief Ian Martin told him that Maoist leader Pushpa
Dahal (Prachanda) had demanded that the verification process
be suspended until he could hold further eight party
discussions on separate issues and hear the views of his
commanders. (Note: Verification of the PLA combatants in the
First Division based in Chulachuli of Ilam district concluded
on June 27.) Martin noted that Dahal's recent trip to
Switzerland from June 30 to July 7 had added to the delay.
Martin reported that the majority of the combatants
disqualified were children under 18 years of age. The
Ambassador asked whether the Maoists were delaying the
process because UMNIM had disqualified larger numbers of
alleged combatants than the Maoists had anticipated. Martin
indicated that while this may have been an issue, there was
also a larger question surrounding discharge arrangements.
When the process resumed, thousands of children and new
recruits who had been deemed ineligible to remain in the
cantonments would require reintegration options. Martin
stated that UNICEF was ready for the children, but there were
still questions regarding retroactive salary payments.
Moreover, Martin emphasized that the Government of Nepal
(GON) had yet to agree on a strategy for those released who
were over 18 years of age. Martin explained that UNDP had
plans for rehabilitation and vocational training but did not
yet have the buy-in of the GON or the Maoists.

Linking Verification With Security Sector Reform
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3. (C) Martin acknowledged that some within the Maoists were
attempting to link the verification process with the larger
question of security sector reform, even though the Maoist
had yet to raise the issue directly with UNMIN. Martin
stated that while in the future this may be an appropriate
subject, for now it was not. Martin emphasized that the
current round of verification addressed only children and new
recruits; both groups were clearly ineligible for integration
into any security force. The Ambassador stated that the
Nepal Army (NA) was dead set against the integration of large
numbers of Maoist into the NA. John Norris, UNMIN political
advisor, suggested that there needed to be some way to
analyze the existing structures and needs of the security
sector. The Ambassador agreed that there needed to be some
Maoist buy-in, but stressed that integration at this time was
not a reasonable option.

Situation in the Terai Fragile
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4. (C) Martin and the Ambassador agreed that the Terai was a
major concern looking toward the election. The Ambassador
stated that the fact that there had not been any widespread
violent reaction to the Constituent Assembly Members Election
Act was a promising sign. (Note: That piece of legislation
set out what share of the proportional seats in the CA would
to the various marginalized groups. End Note.) Martin was

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skeptical and emphasized that the GON needed to hold the
promised formal talks with the Madhesis and other
marginalized groups. The Ambassador agreed and stressed that
the GON's ability to isolate the extremists would be critical
to stability in the Terai.

Comment
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5. (C) The UN Mission in Nepal has a rough road ahead. The
reintegration issues are not going to go away and UNMIN at
this point is the only organization with access to the
cantonments. The fact that there are so many problems with
the discharge of children does not bode well for the future
of the process. It is also distressing that the issue of
linking verification with security sector reform has already
appeared on the horizon.
MORIARTY