CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF SAYS MAOISTS CAN'T BE TRUSTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000859

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MARR PHUM NP
SUBJECT: CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF SAYS MAOISTS CAN'T BE TRUSTED

REF: KATHMANDU 858

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

Summary
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1. (C) Chief of Army Staff General Katawal (COAS) told the
Ambassador April 27 that the Maoists could not be trusted and
stressed that the Nepal Army (NA) had to be kept intact. For
law and order to be restored, a new Home Minister would have
to be appointed. Katawal expressed his gratitude for U.S.
assistance and emphasized that the NA was committed to
democracy. The Ambassador informed the COAS that the 4,600
rifles, previously reserved for Nepal, were no longer
available. While reiterating the NA's full support for
democracy, Katawal noted that, if the Maoists tried to remove
the monarchy before a Constituent Assembly were elected, the
NA would be forced to act. The Ambassador urged caution.
Katawal emphasized that the NA was under pressure from all
sides: the Maoists, the Palace and parliamentary committees
investigating human rights violations. Katawal downplayed
the significance of the NA's participation in the King's trip
to Dakshinkali Temple on Democracy Day. The Ambassador urged
the NA to fully cooperate with the investigations of alleged
past human rights abuses.

Maoists Can't be Trusted, Army Must Remain Intact
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2. (C) On April 27, Chief of Army Staff General Katawal
(COAS) told the Ambassador that the Maoists could not be
trusted. He argued that the Maoists' history showed them to
be completely unreliable. For that reason, the Nepal Army
(NA) had to be kept intact for the time being. He stated
that the situation right now was "quite serious," emphasizing
that no law enforcement agency was currently operating in
Nepal. Katawal quipped that everyone in the government acted
as if they were in the "opposition," so, "who," he asked,
"was governing the country?" The Ambassador informed the
COAS that at a meeting earlier the same day (reftel),he had
stressed to the Prime Minister that the Government of Nepal
(GON) had to enforce law and order. Katawal responded that
this would require a new Home Minister. The Ambassador
agreed.

Nepal Army Grateful for U.S. Assistance
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3. (C) Katawal expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador for
continuing U.S. assistance for the NA in the form of
non-lethal supplies and training. He said that Nepal looks
to the U.S. for support in the development of its democratic
institutions and emphatically reaffirmed his loyalty to
democracy. The Ambassador told Katawal that he wanted to
ensure good follow-on training in the coming year for NA
officials.

Rifles No Longer Available
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4. (C) The Ambassador reported to General Katawal that U.S.
Government had sent the 4,600 rifles being held in storage
for Nepal to Lebanon. But, the Ambassador added that he had
received assurances that if the NA needed weapons in a
crisis, the United States would act as quickly as possible to
get them. In response, Katawal voiced his frustration with
the inaction of Prime Minister Koirala to secure the rifles
and his concern that, no matter how quickly the U.S. acted to
provide arms in an emergency, it might be too late.

NA Will React to Premature Declaration of Republic
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5. (C) Katawal told the Ambassador that the NA army fully
supported democracy, but, if the Maoists tried to remove the
monarchy before the Constituent Assembly election, the NA
would be forced to "make (their) beliefs known." The COAS

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emphasized that the Interim Constitution left it to an
elected Constituent Assembly to determine the fate of the
monarch. He stressed that if the Interim Parliament removed
King Gyanendra before an election had taken place, it would
not be acting on a mandate from the people. Katawal stated
that the first goal of the NA was to protect the integrity
and sovereignty of the State. The Ambassador cautioned
Katawal that the NA needed to be very careful.

Maoist Integration Into the NA: A Bad Idea
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6. (C) Katawal said that he had discussed Maoist integration
into the NA with Indian Ambassador Mukherjee. Katawal stated
that he had taken the stand in the conversation that it would
be suicidal for the NA to accept a large number of Maoist
combatants into its ranks. He described them as trained only
to loot and intimidate. The Ambassador noted that he had had
a similar conversation with the Prime Minister.

Human Rights Investigations
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7. (C) Katawal complained that the NA was under pressure from
parliamentary committees investigating human rights abuses.
The General emphasized that the NA could only cooperate if
the process followed the law. The Ambassador encouraged
Katawal to cooperate closely with the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal. He stressed that
transparency was the best response and would eventually
strengthen the NA.

Katawal Feeling Pressure From All Sides
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8. (C) Katawal said that he feels like "everyone wants a
piece" of him. He explained that he had told the Maoists
that he would not meet with them until they abandoned
violence, demonstrated a genuine commitment to democracy and
agreed to a plan for the future of the monarchy. The COAS
also explained that the Palace was annoyed with him because
he no longer went to functions there or called on the King.
Katawal said that he had clarified to the King that he had
stopped visiting in order to avoid trouble for the monarchy
and to avoid accusations that the NA and the monarchy were
plotting together to overthrow the government. Katawal
admitted that he had encouraged the Prime Minister to
convince the King to abdicate.

King's Dakshinkali Show
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9. (C) The Ambassador reproached Katawal about the NA
providing security for the King's trip to Dakshinkali Temple
on Democracy Day, the presence of an NA honor guard, and the
NA band playing the old "royal" national anthem. (Note:
April 24 is now celebrated as Democracy Day in remembrance
of the King's overthrow on April 24, 2006. End Note) Katawal
acknowledged that it was unfortunate that the King's trip
occurred on Democracy Day and defended the NA's actions as
part of tradition. He stated that no one had ordered the NA
not to attend or play the anthem or shoot off rifles as the
animal sacrifices were made, so the NA did as it had always
done. The Ambassador noted that the NA should be more
cautious. The COAS stressed that the NA had not given the
King a 21-gun salute, as the Maoists had charged. Katawal
acknowledged that the Maoists were looking for an excuse to
attack the Prime Minister and stated that he had told the
Prime Minister on a number of occasions that this was the
Maoists' plan.

Comment
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10. (C) In light of growing support for a republic and the
uncertainty of an election any time soon, the Nepal Army may
be faced with some tough choices. Chief of Army Staff
Katawal implied to the Ambassador that, if the Interim

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Parliament or the Interim Government were to abolish the
monarchy before a Constituent Assembly were elected, the NA
would somehow act. Presumably, Katawal worries that the
Maoists would follow a successful attempt to abolish the
monarchy with a push for massive restructuring of the NA.
Such a push would make sense for the Maoists: many in Nepal
share the Maoist view that the NA has served in the past as
the most important pillar of the monarchy. And purging the
army would remove the last major obstacle to the Maoists'
seizing power. That said, Katawal needs to be very cautious
or he will end up helping the Maoists. Katawal knows the
Maoists are looking for a way to attack the Prime Minister;
now is not the time for the NA to still be playing the King's
song.
MORIARTY