Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU487
2007-03-07 02:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: INDIA DIGS IN ON ARMS MANAGEMENT

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PREF BH IN NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000487 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PREF BH IN NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: INDIA DIGS IN ON ARMS MANAGEMENT

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

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000487

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PREF BH IN NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: INDIA DIGS IN ON ARMS MANAGEMENT

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

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee told
the Ambassador on March 5 that the Government of India (GOI)
was encouraging the Prime Minister to hold the line on
weapons management before allowing Maoist entry into an
interim government. Mukherjee also reported that he
personally had delivered a message to the Maoist leadership
that their arms management efforts were inadequate. Until
the Maoist demonstrated a good faith effort to meet their
peace agreement commitments, the GOI would not support the
Maoist entrance into the government. Mukherjee also told the
Ambassador the GOI was willing to see Home Minister Krishna
Prasad Sitaula transferred to another ministry and was
pleased with the movement toward resettlement of the
Bhutanese refugees.

Maoist Arms Management Inadequate
--------------


2. (C) Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee told
the Ambassador that he had emphasized to Prime Minister
Koirala in their meeting on March 1 that the Maoists should
not be allowed into an interim government until they changed
their behavior and met their peace process commitments.
Subsequently, Mukherjee had met with the Maoist Supremo
Prachanda and second-in-command Baburam Bhattarai at the
request of the Prime Minister and with New Delhi's
permission. Mukherjee said that he had informed the Maoists
that their arms management efforts were inadequate because
too many weapons were missing from the totals registered with
the UN. Prachanda had acknowledged that a few hundred
weapons had been kept out for the protection of their
leadership. Prachanda had also expressed concern that,
should the King choose to act against democracy, the Maoists
would need weapons to respond. Mukherjee said he had
dismissed Prachanda's justifications.

India Sends Message to Maoist
--------------


3. (C) Mukherjee said he had the morning of March 5 been told
by New Dehli to deliver a message to the Maoists stating
that, until the Maoists satisfactorily completed arms
management and changed their behavior, the GOI would not
support their entry into an interim government. The GOI
wanted to see a return of property confiscated by the
Maoists, as well as, a public announcement from the Maoists
condemning extortion and denouncing anyone involved in
extortion. Although Mukherjee recognized the need for forward
movement in the peace process and wanted to see elections in
June, India remained, he stated, concerned about Maoist
willingness to use "street power" to force through a republic
and seize power. India was adamant that the Maoists could
not continue to act in direct violation of their peace
agreement commitments.

India Open to Sitaula's Transfer
--------------


4. (C) Mukherjee told the Ambassador that, although India
viewed the demand from the Madhesi People's Rights Forum
(MPRF) for the dismissal of Home Minister Sitaula as
unreasonable, the GOI would be willing to see Sitaula
transferred to another ministry. (Note: In a separate
meeting with Emboff on March 5, representatives from the MPRF
repeated their two main demands: Sitaula's resignation and a
commission of inquiry to look into police actions during the
Terai demonstrations. The MPRF made it clear that as long as
Sitaula remained in any cabinet level position, the MPRF
would not sit for talks with the government. End Note)

India Supports Resettlement Efforts
--------------


KATHMANDU 00000487 002 OF 002



5. (C) Mukherjee expressed the GOI's pleasure that there was
forward movement on resettlement of Bhutanese refugees.
Mukherjee reaffirmed to the Ambassador that he would be in
touch with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on the
refugee issue. Mukherjee was prepared to push New Dehli to
quietly reassure the GON that India would not allow further
expulsions from Bhutan.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) India taking a hard line with the Maoists on their
continuing peace agreement violations should encourage the
GON to do the same. As Maoist entry into an interim
government is the last "carrot" to offer the Maoists, the GON
needs to make use of it. With India being tough and the
Nepali Congress leadership showing increased backbone, Maoist
entry into government may not occur without significant
changes in their behavior.
MORIARTY