Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU2
2009-01-02 09:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: COMPROMISE ON ARMY INTEGRATION SPECIAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000002
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PTER MARR KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: COMPROMISE ON ARMY INTEGRATION SPECIAL
COMMITTEE
REF: A. 08 KATHMANDU 1163
B. 08 KATHMANDU 1154
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000002
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PTER MARR KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: COMPROMISE ON ARMY INTEGRATION SPECIAL
COMMITTEE
REF: A. 08 KATHMANDU 1163
B. 08 KATHMANDU 1154
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (U) On December 26, Nepal's four major political parties
agreed to equal representation on the Army Integration
Special Committee (AISC). The question now is whether the
parties can finalize the AISC's leadership and terms of
reference. If successful, this would end a stalemate that
has prevented the committee from addressing the integration
of the former Maoist combatants into Nepal's security forces.
Parties Compromise on Composition of Special Committee
-------------- --------------
2. (U) On December 26, Nepal's four largest political
parties in the Constituent Assembly reached a compromise on
the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC),the first
major movement in regards to the committee since its
establishment, after long delays, on October 28. According
to media reports, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist),the
Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist (UML),the
Nepali Congress (NC),and the Madhesi People's Rights Forum
(MPRF) agreed to have two representatives each on the
committee. The parties also decided to finalize the terms of
reference through consensus.
Unresolved Leadership Issue
--------------
3. (C) As of January 2, disagreements over the chairmanship
of the AISC continue. The Maoists have proposed that Prime
Minister Pushpa Dahal lead the expanded AISC. The UML is
unwilling to give up the chairmanship. The NC, meanwhile,
strongly prefers that a non-Maoist head the powerful body.
Prakash Mahat, a senior NC leader, told Emboff January 2 that
the NC ultimately would follow the decision the Maoists and
UML make.
Stalemate Stalled Committee
--------------
4. (U) The AISC, which Article 146 of Nepal's interim
constitution empowers to supervise, integrate, and
rehabilitate former Maoist combatants, has had a rocky start
(reftels). The other political parties objected to the
Maoists heading the committee and delayed its creation. In
late October, three of the four largest parties agreed to a
five-person AISC under the leadership of Home Minister and
Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam of the UML. Defense
Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa (Maoist),Peace and Reconstruction
Minister Janardan Prabhakar Sharma (Maoist),MPRF leader
Mohammad Habibullah, and one person from the NC were to round
out the AISC. The NC refused to appoint a representative.
The main opposition party, believing that it had not been
adequately consulted about the committee, balked at allowing
two Maoists on the AISC. It also rejected the terms of
reference set by the Maoist-led government because they were
not consistent with the terms set out in the June 2008
agreement to amend the interim constitution and move forward
with the peace process.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The apparent willingness of the major political
parties to compromise on the body that will tackle the
integration issue is a positive step, but only a beginning.
Increasing the number of AISC members from five to eight and
allowing each party equal representation is likely to foster
more goodwill among politicians and the population at large
than would a committee, tasked to devise an integration
KATHMANDU 00000002 002 OF 002
scheme, that is 40 percent Maoist. Particularly promising is
the ostensible change of heart by the Nepali Congress. On
January 1, the NC agreed to end its boycott of parliamentary
proceedings after the Prime Minister committed to addressing
the NC's nine-point demands, including the return of property
seized by Maoist cadres. We hope these developments are the
beginning of a new phase of political cooperation rather than
a blip before the return to the quarreling status quo. With
former combatants idling in cantonments, army recruitment in
limbo, and time ticking for a new constitution, the political
parties can ill afford to delay.
POWELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PTER MARR KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: COMPROMISE ON ARMY INTEGRATION SPECIAL
COMMITTEE
REF: A. 08 KATHMANDU 1163
B. 08 KATHMANDU 1154
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (U) On December 26, Nepal's four major political parties
agreed to equal representation on the Army Integration
Special Committee (AISC). The question now is whether the
parties can finalize the AISC's leadership and terms of
reference. If successful, this would end a stalemate that
has prevented the committee from addressing the integration
of the former Maoist combatants into Nepal's security forces.
Parties Compromise on Composition of Special Committee
-------------- --------------
2. (U) On December 26, Nepal's four largest political
parties in the Constituent Assembly reached a compromise on
the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC),the first
major movement in regards to the committee since its
establishment, after long delays, on October 28. According
to media reports, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist),the
Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist (UML),the
Nepali Congress (NC),and the Madhesi People's Rights Forum
(MPRF) agreed to have two representatives each on the
committee. The parties also decided to finalize the terms of
reference through consensus.
Unresolved Leadership Issue
--------------
3. (C) As of January 2, disagreements over the chairmanship
of the AISC continue. The Maoists have proposed that Prime
Minister Pushpa Dahal lead the expanded AISC. The UML is
unwilling to give up the chairmanship. The NC, meanwhile,
strongly prefers that a non-Maoist head the powerful body.
Prakash Mahat, a senior NC leader, told Emboff January 2 that
the NC ultimately would follow the decision the Maoists and
UML make.
Stalemate Stalled Committee
--------------
4. (U) The AISC, which Article 146 of Nepal's interim
constitution empowers to supervise, integrate, and
rehabilitate former Maoist combatants, has had a rocky start
(reftels). The other political parties objected to the
Maoists heading the committee and delayed its creation. In
late October, three of the four largest parties agreed to a
five-person AISC under the leadership of Home Minister and
Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam of the UML. Defense
Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa (Maoist),Peace and Reconstruction
Minister Janardan Prabhakar Sharma (Maoist),MPRF leader
Mohammad Habibullah, and one person from the NC were to round
out the AISC. The NC refused to appoint a representative.
The main opposition party, believing that it had not been
adequately consulted about the committee, balked at allowing
two Maoists on the AISC. It also rejected the terms of
reference set by the Maoist-led government because they were
not consistent with the terms set out in the June 2008
agreement to amend the interim constitution and move forward
with the peace process.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The apparent willingness of the major political
parties to compromise on the body that will tackle the
integration issue is a positive step, but only a beginning.
Increasing the number of AISC members from five to eight and
allowing each party equal representation is likely to foster
more goodwill among politicians and the population at large
than would a committee, tasked to devise an integration
KATHMANDU 00000002 002 OF 002
scheme, that is 40 percent Maoist. Particularly promising is
the ostensible change of heart by the Nepali Congress. On
January 1, the NC agreed to end its boycott of parliamentary
proceedings after the Prime Minister committed to addressing
the NC's nine-point demands, including the return of property
seized by Maoist cadres. We hope these developments are the
beginning of a new phase of political cooperation rather than
a blip before the return to the quarreling status quo. With
former combatants idling in cantonments, army recruitment in
limbo, and time ticking for a new constitution, the political
parties can ill afford to delay.
POWELL