Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KATHMANDU1257
2008-12-03 09:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: MAOIST WOMAN ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF ASSEMBLY
how-toVZCZCXRO7261 OO RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #1257 3380950 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 030950Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9511 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6739 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7033 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2346 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 5079 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6262 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2747 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0232 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4387 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2211 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3384 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001257
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM KDEM KWMN NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST WOMAN ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF ASSEMBLY
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Maoist Subedi Elected CA Vice Chairman
--------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001257
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM KDEM KWMN NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST WOMAN ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF ASSEMBLY
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Maoist Subedi Elected CA Vice Chairman
--------------
1. (U) On November 28, a sizable majority of Nepal's
Constituent Assembly (CA) elected a Communist Party of Nepal
(Maoist) (CPN-M) woman Member of Parliament (MP),Purna
Subedi, as Vice Chairman. In the fourth round of voting on
single candidates, Subedi received the support of 346 MPs
from four of the six parties in the governing coalition,
including the Maoists, and the Communist Party of Nepal -
United Marxist Leninist (UML),as well as from some minor
parties, but not the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF).
(Note: Out of a total current membership of 593, 505 members
took part in the voting. End note.) Prior rounds had failed
to produce majorities for three minor party contestants.
Since Subedi received a majority, voting did not proceed on
the remaining two minor party candidates. The Nepali
Congress (NC),UML and MPRF did not nominate candidates for
the post; all but one of the candidates was a woman.
Immediately following the announcement of her election,
Subedi took the oath of office and secrecy from CA Chairman
Subash Nemwang (UML). (Note: Although Subash Nemwang was
elected CA Chairman unanimously on July 24, the post of vice
chairman had remained vacant. End note.)
Biography
--------------
2. (SBU) Purna Kumari Subedi, a Brahmin, was directly elected
as a CA member from Banke-4 (mid-western Nepal) in April
2008. She served as an appointed CPN-M member of the Interim
Parliament established in January 2007. Subedi was involved
with the Maoists throughout the 10-year insurgency and headed
the People's Government in Banke District. She was born in
1958 in Lalchaur village of Kaski District (western Nepal)
and lived for some years in Chitwan District after her
marriage in 1985. Subedi has said her priorities are to
assist the landless and to facilitate infrastructure
development.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) According to the Interim Constitution, in the absence
of the Chairman the Vice Chairman chairs the Assembly. The
position is thus primarily symbolic. Subedi is the second
woman to hold the equivalent post. The Deputy Speaker of the
Interim Parliament (and of the 1999 Parliament revived in
2006) was also a woman, the NC's Chitra Lekha Yadav. At a
time when the Maoists claim to be making overtures to the NC
as the second-largest party to join the government, or at
least to participate in the decisionmaking process, NC CA
Member Nabindra Joshi told Emboff November 28 that party
members were disappointed that the Maoists claimed the Vice
Chair for themselves. NC ended up not even nominating a
candidate when it became apparent that the CPN-M and the UML
had agreed that a Maoist would get the nod.
POWELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM KDEM KWMN NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST WOMAN ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF ASSEMBLY
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Maoist Subedi Elected CA Vice Chairman
--------------
1. (U) On November 28, a sizable majority of Nepal's
Constituent Assembly (CA) elected a Communist Party of Nepal
(Maoist) (CPN-M) woman Member of Parliament (MP),Purna
Subedi, as Vice Chairman. In the fourth round of voting on
single candidates, Subedi received the support of 346 MPs
from four of the six parties in the governing coalition,
including the Maoists, and the Communist Party of Nepal -
United Marxist Leninist (UML),as well as from some minor
parties, but not the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF).
(Note: Out of a total current membership of 593, 505 members
took part in the voting. End note.) Prior rounds had failed
to produce majorities for three minor party contestants.
Since Subedi received a majority, voting did not proceed on
the remaining two minor party candidates. The Nepali
Congress (NC),UML and MPRF did not nominate candidates for
the post; all but one of the candidates was a woman.
Immediately following the announcement of her election,
Subedi took the oath of office and secrecy from CA Chairman
Subash Nemwang (UML). (Note: Although Subash Nemwang was
elected CA Chairman unanimously on July 24, the post of vice
chairman had remained vacant. End note.)
Biography
--------------
2. (SBU) Purna Kumari Subedi, a Brahmin, was directly elected
as a CA member from Banke-4 (mid-western Nepal) in April
2008. She served as an appointed CPN-M member of the Interim
Parliament established in January 2007. Subedi was involved
with the Maoists throughout the 10-year insurgency and headed
the People's Government in Banke District. She was born in
1958 in Lalchaur village of Kaski District (western Nepal)
and lived for some years in Chitwan District after her
marriage in 1985. Subedi has said her priorities are to
assist the landless and to facilitate infrastructure
development.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) According to the Interim Constitution, in the absence
of the Chairman the Vice Chairman chairs the Assembly. The
position is thus primarily symbolic. Subedi is the second
woman to hold the equivalent post. The Deputy Speaker of the
Interim Parliament (and of the 1999 Parliament revived in
2006) was also a woman, the NC's Chitra Lekha Yadav. At a
time when the Maoists claim to be making overtures to the NC
as the second-largest party to join the government, or at
least to participate in the decisionmaking process, NC CA
Member Nabindra Joshi told Emboff November 28 that party
members were disappointed that the Maoists claimed the Vice
Chair for themselves. NC ended up not even nominating a
candidate when it became apparent that the CPN-M and the UML
had agreed that a Maoist would get the nod.
POWELL