NEPAL'S PRESIDENT STRESSES COMMITMENT TO PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000530 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM NP SUBJECT: NEPAL'S PRESIDENT STRESSES COMMITMENT TO PEACE PROCESS REF: KATHMANDU 364 Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In his June 12 meeting with Assistant Secretary Blake, President Ram Baran Yadav underscored his commitment to the peace process, a new constitution, and, most importantly, the rehabilitation and reintegration of former Maoist combatants. The President defended his decision to reinstate the Chief of the Army Staff. He expressed doubt over whether the Maoists would remain engaged in the peace process. He said the political parties would have to reach a consensus in order to resolve the issue of the Terai. Yadav stressed his commitment to democracy as well as his hopes for Nepal's new government and welcomed continued U.S. assistance. Assistant Secretary Blake emphasized the critical importance to Nepal of completing the peace process, drafting a new constitution, resolving the issue of army integration, and building a peaceful and stable democracy. He said the United States would continue its positive relations with Nepal. End Summary. Former Combatants a Priority -------------- ¶2. (C) President Ram Baran Yadav emphasized on June 12 to Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake that his priority was to see a new constitution and completion of the peace process. Specifically, he is focused on the rehabilitation and reintegration of former combatants of the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA). President Yadav expressed frustration the Government of Nepal (GON) had yet to address the future of the almost 20,000 verified combatants and an additional 4,000 minors and disqualified in the cantonments. He stated that quickly taking care of the latter should come first; assimilating some of the former into the Nepal Army could come later. Yadav said the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist Combatants should set the criteria for integration-related aspects of the peace process and constitution, noting that the representation of all four of the major political parties on the committee would grant it authority to make these decisions. COAS Controversy -------------- ¶3. (C) Yadav defended his reinstatement of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS),General Rookmangud Katawal, after then-Prime Minister Pushpa Dahal fired him on May 3 (reftel). Yadav asserted that he had discussed Katawal's situation multiple times with Dahal, hoping to resolve the dispute between the COAS and the Maoist Prime Minister with an eye on the peace process. Yadav said that, in spite of all of his efforts, he could not reach an agreement with Dahal. So when Dahal fired the COAS in early May -- without consulting either the President or the cabinet -- Yadav gave the order for Katawal to continue his duties. Yadav told Blake that the Interim Constitution was clear that the President has authority over the Army and the appointment of its chief. He acknowledged that the constitution also states that this authority is dependent on a recommendation by the cabinet, yet blamed Dahal for skipping that step. Replying to Blake's inquiry about Katawal's term, Yadav said that Katawal would continue as COAS until his retirement in September 2009. (Note: General Khadka, whom Dahal appointed as Acting COAS, is to retire on June 21. End note.) Yadav said he expected Katawal to follow tradition and take leave during his last month in the Army, allowing the third-in-command, General Gurung, to take over as COAS. Maoists' Dedication to Peace Process Questionable -------------- -------------- KATHMANDU 00000530 002 OF 002 ¶4. (C) When asked whether he expected the Maoists to remain engaged in the peace process, the President said that was a difficult call. Yadav pointed out that the Maoists may have accepted the peace process on paper, but they have not demonstrated full commitment. He bemoaned the Maoists' continued acts of abductions, killings, and extortion. The President, in his most forceful and animated moment of the meeting, advised Blake to tell Dahal to denounce violence. Yadav emphasized that the situation called for "straight talk." Political Parties Responsible for Terai -------------- ¶5. (C) Yadav, who was the senior Madhesi leader in the Nepali Congress when he was elected President, placed the responsibility on the political parties to resolve the ongoing unrest in the Terai. Yadav said that the six largest parties in the Constituent Assembly would have to come to a consensus and reach out to the people "to stress the need of the nation." The GON alone would be unable to enforce a peaceful solution without cooperation from the parties on a local level. The President's Foreign Policy Advisor, Hari Sharma, further explained that the Terai's problems were both political and related to rule of law. The advisor said that improving the rule of law was the responsibility of all the people in the Terai, but only the parties could settle political conflicts. Democracy... and a U.S. Role -------------- ¶6. (C) Yadav referred to himself as a "committed democrat" and stated that multiparty democracy, human rights, and the rule of law should prevail in Nepal. Lamenting his country's inability to form a stable government, the President said he was trying to figure out how to coordinate a consensus. He was unable to provide specifics, however, when Blake asked what form a viable consensus might take. Instead, he described newly-elected Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal as an experienced politician who would try his best to move the peace process forward. Blake conveyed the U.S. position that finishing the peace process, promulgating a new constitution, making a decision about integration and rehabilitation of combatants, and building a peaceful and stable democracy were of critical importance to Nepal. Yadav declared the United States a "best friend" of Nepal and said that the United States, as a "champion of democracy and human rights," had international influence and was in the position to help Nepal politically and economically. The President also made a plug for the return of the Peace Corps to Nepal. Blake affirmed that the United States looks forward to continuing positive relations with Nepal. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Yadav, with whom post last met during the visit of then Assistant Secretary Boucher in February, struck us as considerably more confident this time around. He made no reference to the politics of his own former party, the Nepali Congress. He was, however, noticeably resentful toward former PM Dahal and the Maoists. The Nepali President implied that the Maoist-led government had been a waste of time and that he was anxious to give his full support to Prime Minister M.K. Nepal. Although Yadav holds a largely ceremonial position, events over the past several months have indicated that cooperation between the Prime Minister and the President is essential for the stability of the fledgling republic. We hope that, with Yadav's backing, the new Prime Minister will be able to move beyond the political strife that has delayed the finalization of his government for four weeks and take the peace process forward. POWELL