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