Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KATHMANDU602
2008-05-28 11:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: STILL ON THE BRINK OF A REPUBLIC
how-toVZCZCXRO4888 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #0602 1491140 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281140Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8576 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6514 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 6838 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2131 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 4876 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6080 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2456 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0144 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4201 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 3890 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2082 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3236 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 000602
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: STILL ON THE BRINK OF A REPUBLIC
REF: KATHMANDU 593
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
First Constituent Assembly Meeting Delayed
------------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000602
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: STILL ON THE BRINK OF A REPUBLIC
REF: KATHMANDU 593
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
First Constituent Assembly Meeting Delayed
--------------
1. (C) As of close of business on May 28, the first sitting
of the Constituent Assembly (CA),which is supposed to
declare Nepal a republic per the Interim Constitution, had
not yet taken place. All 25 parliamentary parties reportedly
reached agreement on May 27 on the creation of a presidency
as the new head of state to replace the monarchy, but not on
the powers of the presidency. Negotiations among the seven
parties in the Interim Government, including the Maoists,
over those powers as well as the 26 nominated members of the
Assembly are ongoing at the Prime Minister's official
residence . The cabinet is on standby at the residence to
approve any compromise. The Assembly's session was
originally scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time at the
Birendra International Conference Center. The start was
rescheduled until 3 p.m., but then delayed again. During the
day, Kathmandu's streets were largely free of cars (the
Nepali Government has declared May 28, 29, and 30 holidays to
mark Nepal becoming a republic). In spite of the Assembly's
failure to declare Nepal a republic, processions and
gatherings across town have remained peaceful.
More CA Members Sworn In
--------------
2. (U) Two Maoist members who did not attend the May 27
swearing-in ceremony -- Mohan Baidya (aka Kiran) and Forest
and Soil Conservation Minister Matrika Yadav -- took their
oaths in the morning giving the CA a current total of 568
members. Apparently, accused murderer Baban Singh, one of
the Assembly's two independents, was sworn in on May 27 after
all.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The parties are under the gun. If they do not declare
Nepal a republic by midnight on May 28, they will be in
apparent violation of the Interim Constitution. Acting
General Secretary of the Constituent Assembly Manohar
Bhattarai told Emboff May 28 that the Assembly had to act
"today." More importantly, the parties and the Nepali
Government run the risk that currently peaceful pro-republic
gatherings will turn violent. According to an EMBASSY source
at the Prime Minister's residence, Maoist leaders, who are
facing internal dissension over the creation of a presidency,
have proposed to keep the presidential powers undefined for
now in order to move ahead with the declaration of the
republic. Their Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal
- United Marxist Leninist counterparts are opposed. Post
expects the parties will reach a compromise and begin the
session the evening of May 28.
POWELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: STILL ON THE BRINK OF A REPUBLIC
REF: KATHMANDU 593
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
First Constituent Assembly Meeting Delayed
--------------
1. (C) As of close of business on May 28, the first sitting
of the Constituent Assembly (CA),which is supposed to
declare Nepal a republic per the Interim Constitution, had
not yet taken place. All 25 parliamentary parties reportedly
reached agreement on May 27 on the creation of a presidency
as the new head of state to replace the monarchy, but not on
the powers of the presidency. Negotiations among the seven
parties in the Interim Government, including the Maoists,
over those powers as well as the 26 nominated members of the
Assembly are ongoing at the Prime Minister's official
residence . The cabinet is on standby at the residence to
approve any compromise. The Assembly's session was
originally scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time at the
Birendra International Conference Center. The start was
rescheduled until 3 p.m., but then delayed again. During the
day, Kathmandu's streets were largely free of cars (the
Nepali Government has declared May 28, 29, and 30 holidays to
mark Nepal becoming a republic). In spite of the Assembly's
failure to declare Nepal a republic, processions and
gatherings across town have remained peaceful.
More CA Members Sworn In
--------------
2. (U) Two Maoist members who did not attend the May 27
swearing-in ceremony -- Mohan Baidya (aka Kiran) and Forest
and Soil Conservation Minister Matrika Yadav -- took their
oaths in the morning giving the CA a current total of 568
members. Apparently, accused murderer Baban Singh, one of
the Assembly's two independents, was sworn in on May 27 after
all.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The parties are under the gun. If they do not declare
Nepal a republic by midnight on May 28, they will be in
apparent violation of the Interim Constitution. Acting
General Secretary of the Constituent Assembly Manohar
Bhattarai told Emboff May 28 that the Assembly had to act
"today." More importantly, the parties and the Nepali
Government run the risk that currently peaceful pro-republic
gatherings will turn violent. According to an EMBASSY source
at the Prime Minister's residence, Maoist leaders, who are
facing internal dissension over the creation of a presidency,
have proposed to keep the presidential powers undefined for
now in order to move ahead with the declaration of the
republic. Their Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal
- United Marxist Leninist counterparts are opposed. Post
expects the parties will reach a compromise and begin the
session the evening of May 28.
POWELL