PM PLANS TO REQUEST UNMIN EXTENSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001254 DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2018 TAGS: PGOV UN NP SUBJECT: PM PLANS TO REQUEST UNMIN EXTENSION Classified By: AMBASSADOR NANCY J. POWELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) Summary. UN Special Representative Ian Martin briefed local P-5 representatives December 1 that PM Dahal intends to request soon an extension of the current UN Mission in NEPAL (UNMIN) mandate, which expires on January ¶23. It was unclear whether or not the opposition Nepali Congress would be consulted. Dahal was optimistic that the Special Committee charged with oversight of insurgent integration and rehabilitation issues would be formed soon and that the minor non-combatants would leave the cantonments in the near future. None of the diplomats present shared his optimism on either count. P-5 representatives will reconvene after the UN needs assessment team visit December 4-12. End summary. ¶2. (C) UK Ambassador Hall hosted another gathering of the local P-5 representatives and UNMIN officials to review the situation regarding UNMIN mandate extension and formation of the Special Committee on integration and rehabilitation issues. Special Representative Ian Martin briefed on his November 30 meeting with PM Dahal. The PM told Martin he was de-linking formation of the Special Committee and the decision on extending UNMIN's mandate and expected to forward a request for a six-month extension soon. He did not directly respond to Martin's question on whether or not the opposition would be consulted on the decision. Dahal told Martin he expected the integration of Maoist forces to take at least a year or longer, but that the extension request would be for only six months. Hall commented that NEPAL Army officers had also indicated a quick decision on the mandate issue in meetings with senior British military officials last week. Dahal told Martin that the discharge of the minors from the cantonments would go ahead soon. The UN Secretary General,s Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict is currently visiting Nepal. ¶3. (C) According to Martin, the French have indicated that they will make the Secretary General's next report public on January 9 and hold a Security Council meeting the following week. Martin's draft report will be due in New York on December 15. He has counseled the Nepalis that they need to be specific in their extension request, particularly if they wish to pursue UNMIN technical support for the Special Committee. Both the British and French have indicated that their representatives will question closely the lack of Nepali action during the past six months and will expect details on Nepali plans for the coming mandate period. ¶4. (C) On the Special Committee, Dahal told Martin that he would convene a meeting of the three major parties in the next two days to finalize plans for the formation of the committee. He based his optimism on readouts of Indian Foreign Minister Mukherjee's discussions with former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Koirala. (Note: Nepali Congress senior leaders were unaware of such a meeting on November 30 and the meeting does not appear to have taken place to date.) None of the P-5 representatives thought Dahal's optimism was well-placed and expected further delays in the formation of the committee. ¶5. (C) UNMIN will host a needs assessment mission December 4-12 to determine the outlines of required technical support for the Special Committee. In the absence of the committee, they will consult with military and party officials as well as the international community. UNDP will continue to provide technical support on rehabilitation issues. ¶6. (C) P-5 representatives will continue to advocate early action on the mandate request, formation of the Special Committee, and release of the minors and other non-combatants. They will re-convene after the departure of the needs assessment mission. POWELL