Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU329
2009-04-22 09:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF NOT FIRED YET
how-toVZCZCXRO6003 OO RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #0329 1120935 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 220935Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0074 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6916 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7233 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2555 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 5277 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6426 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2984 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0246 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4568 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2292 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3487 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 000329
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MARR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF NOT FIRED YET
REF: A. KATHMANDU 320
B. KATHMANDU 325
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Latest Developments On Army Chief
---------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000329
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MARR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF NOT FIRED YET
REF: A. KATHMANDU 320
B. KATHMANDU 325
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Latest Developments On Army Chief
--------------
1. (C) As of close of business on April 22, the Maoist-led
Government of Nepal (GON) had not relieved embattled Chief of
Army Staff (COAS) General Rookmangud Katawal of his duties.
The latest developments (since Ref B) include:
-- At a brief cabinet meeting the morning of April 22,
ministers were given copies of the GON's letter to Katawal,
and Katawal's written response. Ministers did not take any
decisions.
-- The evening of April 21, approximately 5,000 Maoists or
their supporters from Maoist-affiliated organizations
gathered in central Kathmandu with the aim of celebrating
Katawal's firing, or protesting if the cabinet decided to
permit Katawal to stay on, but the planned cabinet meeting
did not take place. According to the police, speakers
threatened that a decision to retain Katawal could lead to
further protests, including entering NA headquarters and
"dragging Katawal out."
-- President Ram Baran Yadav reportedly told Prime Minister
Dahal April 22 that he should try to find consensus with
other parties.
-- Local media is reporting that Communist Party of Nepal -
United Marxist Leninist (UML) President Jhalanath Khanal is
cutting short his trip to China and returning to Kathmandu on
April 22. However, UML contacts told Emboff that Khanal will
not be returning until early afternoon on April 23. Khanal's
party rival, K.P. Oli, has been outspoken in his criticism of
the Maoist threat to relieve the COAS. The UML standing
committee is expected to meet after Khanal's return.
Comment
--------------
2. (C) The army chief appears to have dodged the bullet for
at least one more day. Both of the Maoists' primary
coalition partners (UML and the MPRF) and the President are
at the very least extremely hesitant about Katawal's
immediate removal, and the Nepali Congress is staunchly
opposed. On April 22, the Prime Minister's Office called to
invite the Ambassador and selected other ambassadors to a
morning briefing April 23 on the "current issue." The PM
appears to want to take the international community's pulse
before he takes the next step.
POWELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MARR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF NOT FIRED YET
REF: A. KATHMANDU 320
B. KATHMANDU 325
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Latest Developments On Army Chief
--------------
1. (C) As of close of business on April 22, the Maoist-led
Government of Nepal (GON) had not relieved embattled Chief of
Army Staff (COAS) General Rookmangud Katawal of his duties.
The latest developments (since Ref B) include:
-- At a brief cabinet meeting the morning of April 22,
ministers were given copies of the GON's letter to Katawal,
and Katawal's written response. Ministers did not take any
decisions.
-- The evening of April 21, approximately 5,000 Maoists or
their supporters from Maoist-affiliated organizations
gathered in central Kathmandu with the aim of celebrating
Katawal's firing, or protesting if the cabinet decided to
permit Katawal to stay on, but the planned cabinet meeting
did not take place. According to the police, speakers
threatened that a decision to retain Katawal could lead to
further protests, including entering NA headquarters and
"dragging Katawal out."
-- President Ram Baran Yadav reportedly told Prime Minister
Dahal April 22 that he should try to find consensus with
other parties.
-- Local media is reporting that Communist Party of Nepal -
United Marxist Leninist (UML) President Jhalanath Khanal is
cutting short his trip to China and returning to Kathmandu on
April 22. However, UML contacts told Emboff that Khanal will
not be returning until early afternoon on April 23. Khanal's
party rival, K.P. Oli, has been outspoken in his criticism of
the Maoist threat to relieve the COAS. The UML standing
committee is expected to meet after Khanal's return.
Comment
--------------
2. (C) The army chief appears to have dodged the bullet for
at least one more day. Both of the Maoists' primary
coalition partners (UML and the MPRF) and the President are
at the very least extremely hesitant about Katawal's
immediate removal, and the Nepali Congress is staunchly
opposed. On April 22, the Prime Minister's Office called to
invite the Ambassador and selected other ambassadors to a
morning briefing April 23 on the "current issue." The PM
appears to want to take the international community's pulse
before he takes the next step.
POWELL