MAOIST DEFENSE MINISTER REFUSES TO EXTEND SERVICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000235


DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PTER IN NP
SUBJECT: MAOIST DEFENSE MINISTER REFUSES TO EXTEND SERVICE
TERM OF EIGHT GENERALS

Classified By: AMBASSADOR NANCY J. POWELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B/D)


1. This is an action request. See paragraph 9.

Summary
--------------


2. (C) The Nepalese Defense Minister refused to approve term
extensions for eight brigadier generals of the Nepal Army and
the officers were forced into mandatory retirement at
midnight, March 16, 2009. Many opine that the Defense
Minister is attempting to assert his control over the Nepal
Army. (Note: Much of the content of this cable was first
published as IIR 6 867 0088 09, but due to a messaging
glitch, did not disseminate to all addresses).

Eight Brigadiers Automatically Retired
--------------


3. (C) According to Embassy sources, the Defense Minister,
Ram Bahadur Thapa, who is a Maoist, refused to approve term
extensions for eight brigadier generals of the Nepal Army
(NA). As of midnight, March 16, 2009, these generals were
automatically retired. Six of the eight are war college
graduates, having attended a war college in the U.S., UK,
China, India or Pakistan. War college attendance is a
prerequisite for promotion to Major General. The Ministry of
Defense gave no reason for refusing to extend the generals in
the official letters it issued March 19 denying the
extensions. (Note: Brigadier Generals have an initial term of
four years and can be extended by another three years, for a
total of seven years. Depending on the availability of open
major general positions, a qualified brigadier general can
expect to be promoted sometime between three and seven years.
These eight officers were at their four-year mark as
brigadiers. End Note)


4. (U) The Brigadier Generals affected are: Nara Bahadur
Kandel, Commandant of the Military Academy; Narendra Rawal,
Commandant of NA Staff College; Kumar Budathoki, Director of
Welfare; Pawan Pande, Director of Military Intelligence;
Pradeep Rana, Director of Research and Development; Shiva
Poudel, Director of Artillery; Ramesh Bista, Commandant
Military School; and Raju Pratap KC, Chief of Staff of the
(Kathmandu) Valley Division. Pande is a 2008 graduate of the
National War College.

Efforts To Reverse Decision Unsuccessful
--------------


5. (C) During the week of March 16-20, Chief of Army Staff
(COAS) General Rookmangud Katawal held internal meetings with
his Primary Staff Officers and retired Generals on the issue.
He also called on President Ram Baran Yadav, and met briefly
with Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Dahal, as well as key
members of the opposition Nepali Congress (NC),and of the
two other major parties in the governing coalition ) the
Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist (UML) and
the Madhesi People,s Rights Forum (MPRF) -- to attempt to
get the decision overturned. The COAS has instructed the
generals in question to continue reporting to duty in
civilian clothes for the time being.


6. (C) President Yadav was reportedly very upset about the
situation, but urged the Chief to talk to the government.
(Note: As President, Yadav is the supreme commander of the
Nepal Army. End note.) Former Prime Minister G.P. Koirala
issued a strong statement in favor of the generals on March

16. The President of the UML, Jhalanath Khanal, and the MPRF
also spoke out in the press against the government,s
decision. After convening a meeting on March 18 with the
seven largest political parties, former Prime Minister G.P.
Koirala met with Prime Minister Dahal on March 19 and asked
that the decision be overturned. Media reports state that
the Prime Minister told Koirala the Defense Minister,s
decision would stand.


Why the Defense Minister Refused the Extensions
-------------- --


7. (C) Embassy contacts opine that the Defense Minister
refused to extend the service terms in an attempt to reassert
civilian control over the NA after his serious dispute with
COAS Katawal, over the recently completed recruitment process
in the NA. Others opine that this is a clear sign that the
Maoists want to gut the NA and thereby destabilize Nepal,s
democratic system. Press reports allege that the Maoist
Central Committee and the seven division commanders of the
Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA)--who were in Kathmandu
for meetings when the decision was made--pressured Minister
Badal into his decision. (Comment: Exactly how the decision
was made is unclear, but the Maoist leaders, including Prime
Minister Dahal, are now speaking with one voice saying the
decision will not be overturned.) Possible reasons behind the
Defense Minister's refusal are: To reassert civilian control
over the NA; to destabilize and weaken the NA; to politicize
the NA; as revenge for the recruitment standoff; succumbing
to pressure from PLA leaders and party; lack of concern for
movement on the peace process; and lastly, a plan devised by
the number two in the NA, Lieutenant General Kul Khadka, to
provoke the COAS and hasten his removal allowing Khadka to
become COAS.

India,s Position
--------------


8. (C) The Ambassador discussed the development with the
Indian Ambassador on March 20. Ambassador Sood met PM Dahal
on March 17 to express concerns about the impact of the
decision on the peace process. Dahal provided a lengthy and
not totally plausible explanation of the chain of events
around the decision. At that time he appeared to be
considering extending some of the generals but according to
Sood's contacts, has now drawn a red line and will not
consider any compromise. Sood did not believe the other
parties could create enough pressure to reserve the decision.
He had no plans to see the PM again.

Proposed Talking Points
--------------


9. (C) Ambassador seeks approval to use the following
outline with the Prime Minister. An appointment could occur
as early as Sunday, therefore please pass a clearance message
through the unclassified system over the weekend.

--Considering the sensitivities surrounding the peace
process, this step seems very ill-advised. We are concerned
that other members of the Army Integration Special Committee
will take this decision as a sign of poor faith, limiting the
possibility of any progress on integration and rehabilitation
and the peace process generally.

--We would like to understand better how this decision was
made.

--The U.S. is concerned about the impact on the Army,s
participation in UN peacekeeping missions. Our strong
support for Nepal,s role is based on the Nepal Army,s
professionalism of its officer corps. This decision
eliminates professional officers with a breadth of UNPKO
experience.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) Post is very concerned about the impact of this
apparently arbitrary retirement of these senior officers on
the peace process and the NA. The move is certain to
exacerbate tensions between the parties and with key issues
involving military integration and the fate of the Maoist
army looming, refusal to consider strong opposition to the
move could prove a dangerous development for Nepal's peace
process. The dismissal without cause sends the message to
the Army that professional military education and experience
are no longer the determining factors for upward progression
in the Army. Of particular concern is the dismissal of Brig
Gen Pawan Pande*a 2008 graduate of the U.S. National War
College*who is considered one of the best officers in the NA
and a possible future COAS.


POWELL