Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KATHMANDU407
2008-04-11 13:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
how-toVZCZCXRO0021 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #0407 1021352 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 111352Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8310 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2352 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2027 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4774 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 6738 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5987 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6421 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0089 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 4122 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 3822 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000407
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ELECTION SITREP FIVE
REF A: KATHMANDU 400; REF B: KATHMANDU 401; REF C:
KATHMANDU 402; REF D: KATHMANDU 404
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000407
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ELECTION SITREP FIVE
REF A: KATHMANDU 400; REF B: KATHMANDU 401; REF C:
KATHMANDU 402; REF D: KATHMANDU 404
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) SINCE OUR LAST SITREP (REF D),BALLOT COUNTING
CONTINUED ACROSS NEPAL THIS AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL
REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT VIOLENCE HAVE OCCURRED. ALL U.S.
MISSION OBSERVER PERSONNEL ARE SAFE AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
BALLOT COUNTING CONTINUES
--------------
2. (U) BALLOT COUNTING CONTINUED THIS AFTERNOON IN 26
DISTRICTS (71 CONSTITUENCIES). U.S. MISSION OBSERVERS IN THE
COUNTING CENTERS IN THE KATHMANDU VALLEY REPORTED THAT
THE COUNT WAS ORDERLY AND PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED.
REPORTS FROM OBSERVERS OUTSIDE KATHMANDU REPORT
MOSTLY PEACEFUL COUNTING, ALTHOUGH THERE IS AT LEAST ONE
REPORT OF VIOLENCE IN THE FORM OF BURNING TIRES BY
COMMUNIST PARTY OF NEPAL - UNITED MARXIST-LENINIST (UML)
AND MAOIST PARTY MEMBERS BECAUSE OF ACCUSATIONS OF
BALLOT BOOTH CAPTURING BY THE NEPALI CONGRESS AND THE
MADHESI PEOPLE'S RIGHTS FORUM.
3. (U) THE ELECTION COMMISSION ANNOUNCED AT 1800 LOCAL
TIME THAT, AS OF 1700, 60 POLLING STATIONS WOULD NEED TO
HAVE A RE-VOTE, UP FROM 33 EARLIER, DUE TO IRREGULARITIES,
INCLUDING KILLINGS, THE CAPTURING OF POLL CENTERS BY
POLITICAL PARTIES, EXPLOSIONS, GUNSHOTS AND DESTRUCTION
OF BALLOT BOXES AND OTHER POLLING MATERIAL. THIS NUMBER
MAY RISE AS MORE DISCREPANCIES ARE FOUND DURING THE
COUNTING PROCESS. THE RETURNING OFFICER FOR EACH
CONSTITUENCY WILL DECIDE UPON A DATE FOR THE RE-VOTE FOR
EACH STATION.
ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF VIOLENCE AND BALLOT COUNTING
OBSTRUCTION
-------------- --------------
4. (U) BROADCAST AND MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE SPORADIC
VIOLENCE IN THE TERAI AND HILLS DISTRICTS. IN THE TOWN OF
BIRGUNJ, PARSA DISTRICT, THERE WERE REPORTS OF A SMALL
BOMB GOING OFF INJURING TWO PEOPLE. IN DARKHA TOWN,
DHADING DISTRICT, THERE ARE REPORTS OF A MAOIST-AFFILIATED
YOUTH GROUP, THE YCL, FIRING AT A NEPALI CONGRESS (NC)
PARTY MEMBER. EFFORTS TO RESCUE THE NC PARTY MEMBER BY
HELICOPTER FAILED. NO OTHER DETAILS WERE REPORTED.
5. (U) THE THIRTY-THREE U.S. MISSION PERSONNEL THAT HAVE
BEEN DEPLOYED AROUND THE KATHMANDU VALLEY AND ACROSS
NEPAL TO MONITOR ELECTIONS ACTIVITY ARE ALL SAFE AND
ACCOUNTED FOR. ALL OBSERVERS DEPLOYED OUTSIDE
KATHMANDU HAVE NOW RETURNED TO THE CAPITAL.
6. (U) EMBASSY KATHMANDU WILL CLOSE ITS ELECTION
OPERATIONS CENTER AT 1900 LOCAL (0915 EASTERN STANDARD
TIME),DUE TO THE SLOW PACE OF POLLING RETURNS.
POWELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ELECTION SITREP FIVE
REF A: KATHMANDU 400; REF B: KATHMANDU 401; REF C:
KATHMANDU 402; REF D: KATHMANDU 404
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) SINCE OUR LAST SITREP (REF D),BALLOT COUNTING
CONTINUED ACROSS NEPAL THIS AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL
REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT VIOLENCE HAVE OCCURRED. ALL U.S.
MISSION OBSERVER PERSONNEL ARE SAFE AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
BALLOT COUNTING CONTINUES
--------------
2. (U) BALLOT COUNTING CONTINUED THIS AFTERNOON IN 26
DISTRICTS (71 CONSTITUENCIES). U.S. MISSION OBSERVERS IN THE
COUNTING CENTERS IN THE KATHMANDU VALLEY REPORTED THAT
THE COUNT WAS ORDERLY AND PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED.
REPORTS FROM OBSERVERS OUTSIDE KATHMANDU REPORT
MOSTLY PEACEFUL COUNTING, ALTHOUGH THERE IS AT LEAST ONE
REPORT OF VIOLENCE IN THE FORM OF BURNING TIRES BY
COMMUNIST PARTY OF NEPAL - UNITED MARXIST-LENINIST (UML)
AND MAOIST PARTY MEMBERS BECAUSE OF ACCUSATIONS OF
BALLOT BOOTH CAPTURING BY THE NEPALI CONGRESS AND THE
MADHESI PEOPLE'S RIGHTS FORUM.
3. (U) THE ELECTION COMMISSION ANNOUNCED AT 1800 LOCAL
TIME THAT, AS OF 1700, 60 POLLING STATIONS WOULD NEED TO
HAVE A RE-VOTE, UP FROM 33 EARLIER, DUE TO IRREGULARITIES,
INCLUDING KILLINGS, THE CAPTURING OF POLL CENTERS BY
POLITICAL PARTIES, EXPLOSIONS, GUNSHOTS AND DESTRUCTION
OF BALLOT BOXES AND OTHER POLLING MATERIAL. THIS NUMBER
MAY RISE AS MORE DISCREPANCIES ARE FOUND DURING THE
COUNTING PROCESS. THE RETURNING OFFICER FOR EACH
CONSTITUENCY WILL DECIDE UPON A DATE FOR THE RE-VOTE FOR
EACH STATION.
ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF VIOLENCE AND BALLOT COUNTING
OBSTRUCTION
-------------- --------------
4. (U) BROADCAST AND MEDIA REPORTS INDICATE SPORADIC
VIOLENCE IN THE TERAI AND HILLS DISTRICTS. IN THE TOWN OF
BIRGUNJ, PARSA DISTRICT, THERE WERE REPORTS OF A SMALL
BOMB GOING OFF INJURING TWO PEOPLE. IN DARKHA TOWN,
DHADING DISTRICT, THERE ARE REPORTS OF A MAOIST-AFFILIATED
YOUTH GROUP, THE YCL, FIRING AT A NEPALI CONGRESS (NC)
PARTY MEMBER. EFFORTS TO RESCUE THE NC PARTY MEMBER BY
HELICOPTER FAILED. NO OTHER DETAILS WERE REPORTED.
5. (U) THE THIRTY-THREE U.S. MISSION PERSONNEL THAT HAVE
BEEN DEPLOYED AROUND THE KATHMANDU VALLEY AND ACROSS
NEPAL TO MONITOR ELECTIONS ACTIVITY ARE ALL SAFE AND
ACCOUNTED FOR. ALL OBSERVERS DEPLOYED OUTSIDE
KATHMANDU HAVE NOW RETURNED TO THE CAPITAL.
6. (U) EMBASSY KATHMANDU WILL CLOSE ITS ELECTION
OPERATIONS CENTER AT 1900 LOCAL (0915 EASTERN STANDARD
TIME),DUE TO THE SLOW PACE OF POLLING RETURNS.
POWELL