Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU914
2007-05-08 11:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
FAR-LEFT LEADER APPOINTED MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND
how-toVZCZCXRO8632 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #0914 1281129 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081129Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5839 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5695 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 6000 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1222 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 4023 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5315 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1398 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 3440 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000914
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR EAID NP
SUBJECT: FAR-LEFT LEADER APPOINTED MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND
POPULATION
People's Front Gets Health Ministry -- Again
--------------------------------------------
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000914
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR EAID NP
SUBJECT: FAR-LEFT LEADER APPOINTED MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND
POPULATION
People's Front Gets Health Ministry -- Again
--------------
1. (SBU) On April 29, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
appointed People's Front Nepal (PFN) leader Giriraj Mani
Pokharel as Minister for Health and Population. Although the
Seven-Party Alliance and the Maoists had agreed that the
far-left party would have two representatives in the Interim
Cabinet -- including one minister and one state minister --
the PFN, which is split into three factions, initially
refused to propose any candidates for the posts. Outgoing
Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Amik Sherchan was
reportedly angry that the PFN did not retain a deputy
premiership in the new government. As a result, for nearly a
month, Prime Minister Koirala held the Health portfolio
himself.
Comment
--------------
2. (SBU) What difference, if any, the switch in leadership
will make for the functioning of the Health Ministry is not
yet clear. Sherchan's status as Deputy Prime Minister did
not appear to give his ministry any more clout or resources.
Pokherel's appointment leaves three positions, all state
ministerships, in what is now a 23-person cabinet still
unfilled: one each for the Prime Minister's Nepali Congress,
the Maoists and the People's Front.
Biographic Information
--------------
3. (SBU) New Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani
Pokherel is one of the two PFN party vice presidents, but he
is not one of the nine PFN MPs in the Interim Parliament
established on January 15, 2007. Pokherel was awarded a
Master's degree in Commerce in 1982 and a Bachelor's degree
in Law in 1985 from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. He
started his political career in 1980 as a member of the All
Nepal National Free Student Union, a student wing of the
Communist Party of Nepal. In 1984, he participated in the
14th convention of the Communist Party of Nepal. He was
active in the 1990 People's Movement as a Central Committee
Member of the United Left Front. Pokharel was born in the
Khotang District in 1959, a district in the eastern hills.
His current home district is the Morang District, in the
eastern Terai.
HUGINS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR EAID NP
SUBJECT: FAR-LEFT LEADER APPOINTED MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND
POPULATION
People's Front Gets Health Ministry -- Again
--------------
1. (SBU) On April 29, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
appointed People's Front Nepal (PFN) leader Giriraj Mani
Pokharel as Minister for Health and Population. Although the
Seven-Party Alliance and the Maoists had agreed that the
far-left party would have two representatives in the Interim
Cabinet -- including one minister and one state minister --
the PFN, which is split into three factions, initially
refused to propose any candidates for the posts. Outgoing
Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Amik Sherchan was
reportedly angry that the PFN did not retain a deputy
premiership in the new government. As a result, for nearly a
month, Prime Minister Koirala held the Health portfolio
himself.
Comment
--------------
2. (SBU) What difference, if any, the switch in leadership
will make for the functioning of the Health Ministry is not
yet clear. Sherchan's status as Deputy Prime Minister did
not appear to give his ministry any more clout or resources.
Pokherel's appointment leaves three positions, all state
ministerships, in what is now a 23-person cabinet still
unfilled: one each for the Prime Minister's Nepali Congress,
the Maoists and the People's Front.
Biographic Information
--------------
3. (SBU) New Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani
Pokherel is one of the two PFN party vice presidents, but he
is not one of the nine PFN MPs in the Interim Parliament
established on January 15, 2007. Pokherel was awarded a
Master's degree in Commerce in 1982 and a Bachelor's degree
in Law in 1985 from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. He
started his political career in 1980 as a member of the All
Nepal National Free Student Union, a student wing of the
Communist Party of Nepal. In 1984, he participated in the
14th convention of the Communist Party of Nepal. He was
active in the 1990 People's Movement as a Central Committee
Member of the United Left Front. Pokharel was born in the
Khotang District in 1959, a district in the eastern hills.
His current home district is the Morang District, in the
eastern Terai.
HUGINS