Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU1164
2009-12-24 08:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: MAOISTS ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO REOPEN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001164
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO REOPEN
REF: A. KATHMANDU 01152
B. KATHMANDU 01147
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001164
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO REOPEN
REF: A. KATHMANDU 01152
B. KATHMANDU 01147
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
1. (C) Summary: The United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist
(UCPN-M) ended its nationwide general strike on December 22,
but said political negotiations are increasingly difficult
because the other parties are "puppets" of India. As an act
of "good faith" and to spur negotiations, the Maoists
unilaterally decided to stop blocking Parliament, which has
not met regularly since May 2009. Senior Maoist leader
Mahara told Charge December 23 that extremists in the other
parties are gaining ground. Mahara promised to investigate
the attack on a USAID contractor's office during the strike.
End Summary.
Shutdown Over, Shifting Focus to India
--------------
2. (C) In a December 23 meeting with Charge, Maoist foreign
affairs director Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the Maoists are
planning "phase four" of their agitation. The details have
not been decided, but it will culminate with an "indefinite
nationwide shutdown" beginning January 24, if the other
political parties refuse to accede to Maoist demands. As a
unilateral act of "good faith," Mahara said the Maoists would
stop their protests in Parliament and allow it to operate
unimpeded. (Note: Parliament reopened on December 23.)
India is the true power behind the current government, Mahara
claimed, and any negotiations with the other parties should
take place through India.
3. (C) Charge stated the reopening of Parliament would be
viewed as a constructive step, but stressed that the Maoist
strikes hurt the same Nepali people that the Maoists purport
to represent. Charge expressed concern that the Maoists had
lost the ability to control their cadres during protests,
citing the violent attack on a Nepali policeman on December
20. The general population joins the protests not because
they support the Maoists but because they fear retribution.
Mahara said the Maoist leaders were "discussing how bandhs
affect the poor and looking at ways to minimize this affect,"
and promised to pass along the U.S. opinion during
discussions.
USAID Office Attack
--------------
4. (C) Charge protested the attack against the office of a
USAID partner, Winrock International, in Surkhet where Maoist
supporters caused approximately $1,000 in damage (ref A).
Mahara said he would investigate the incident and said the
Maoists punish those involved. Charge noted that those who
commit crimes should be held accountable through Nepal's
legal system--not through parallel systems of party
punishment.
Extremists Gaining Ground
--------------
5. (C) "Anti-Maoist" extremists in the Nepali Congress (NC)
and Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (UML)
parties now have the upper hand, Mahara said, and are
blocking progress on the peace process or a new constitution.
In contrast, the Maoist party is united, and has "never
deviated" from the position that the peace process and the
constitution must be finished quickly.
Still Want Off the Terrorist Lists
--------------
6. (C) Charge reiterated that for the past 18 months the
United States has waited for the Maoists to fulfill the
requirements necessary for removal from the U.S. "terrorist
lists." Charge told Mahara that we would present Maoist
Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" with a written list
of the terrorist benchmarks. Mahara thought this would be a
positive step and promised to "take it up with Prachanda and
ask for action."
KATHMANDU 00001164 002 OF 002
Comment
--------------
7. (C) The Maoists appear to be pursuing a two-track
approach. On the one hand, they are offering an olive branch
by allowing Parliament to reopen and unilaterally deciding to
discharge of the disqualified combatants (ref B). On the
other hand, the threat of indefinite strikes looms large and
Maoist anti-India rhetoric has increased. This may reflect a
carefully balanced Maoist strategy or divisions within the
party. With other political parties emboldened by India's
support, political agreement is unlikely in the short-term.
In typical Nepali style, we predict that neither side will
feel pressure to take negotiations seriously until the
January 24 Maoist deadline approaches.
BERRY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO REOPEN
REF: A. KATHMANDU 01152
B. KATHMANDU 01147
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
1. (C) Summary: The United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist
(UCPN-M) ended its nationwide general strike on December 22,
but said political negotiations are increasingly difficult
because the other parties are "puppets" of India. As an act
of "good faith" and to spur negotiations, the Maoists
unilaterally decided to stop blocking Parliament, which has
not met regularly since May 2009. Senior Maoist leader
Mahara told Charge December 23 that extremists in the other
parties are gaining ground. Mahara promised to investigate
the attack on a USAID contractor's office during the strike.
End Summary.
Shutdown Over, Shifting Focus to India
--------------
2. (C) In a December 23 meeting with Charge, Maoist foreign
affairs director Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the Maoists are
planning "phase four" of their agitation. The details have
not been decided, but it will culminate with an "indefinite
nationwide shutdown" beginning January 24, if the other
political parties refuse to accede to Maoist demands. As a
unilateral act of "good faith," Mahara said the Maoists would
stop their protests in Parliament and allow it to operate
unimpeded. (Note: Parliament reopened on December 23.)
India is the true power behind the current government, Mahara
claimed, and any negotiations with the other parties should
take place through India.
3. (C) Charge stated the reopening of Parliament would be
viewed as a constructive step, but stressed that the Maoist
strikes hurt the same Nepali people that the Maoists purport
to represent. Charge expressed concern that the Maoists had
lost the ability to control their cadres during protests,
citing the violent attack on a Nepali policeman on December
20. The general population joins the protests not because
they support the Maoists but because they fear retribution.
Mahara said the Maoist leaders were "discussing how bandhs
affect the poor and looking at ways to minimize this affect,"
and promised to pass along the U.S. opinion during
discussions.
USAID Office Attack
--------------
4. (C) Charge protested the attack against the office of a
USAID partner, Winrock International, in Surkhet where Maoist
supporters caused approximately $1,000 in damage (ref A).
Mahara said he would investigate the incident and said the
Maoists punish those involved. Charge noted that those who
commit crimes should be held accountable through Nepal's
legal system--not through parallel systems of party
punishment.
Extremists Gaining Ground
--------------
5. (C) "Anti-Maoist" extremists in the Nepali Congress (NC)
and Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (UML)
parties now have the upper hand, Mahara said, and are
blocking progress on the peace process or a new constitution.
In contrast, the Maoist party is united, and has "never
deviated" from the position that the peace process and the
constitution must be finished quickly.
Still Want Off the Terrorist Lists
--------------
6. (C) Charge reiterated that for the past 18 months the
United States has waited for the Maoists to fulfill the
requirements necessary for removal from the U.S. "terrorist
lists." Charge told Mahara that we would present Maoist
Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" with a written list
of the terrorist benchmarks. Mahara thought this would be a
positive step and promised to "take it up with Prachanda and
ask for action."
KATHMANDU 00001164 002 OF 002
Comment
--------------
7. (C) The Maoists appear to be pursuing a two-track
approach. On the one hand, they are offering an olive branch
by allowing Parliament to reopen and unilaterally deciding to
discharge of the disqualified combatants (ref B). On the
other hand, the threat of indefinite strikes looms large and
Maoist anti-India rhetoric has increased. This may reflect a
carefully balanced Maoist strategy or divisions within the
party. With other political parties emboldened by India's
support, political agreement is unlikely in the short-term.
In typical Nepali style, we predict that neither side will
feel pressure to take negotiations seriously until the
January 24 Maoist deadline approaches.
BERRY