Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU530
2009-06-19 06:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL'S PRESIDENT STRESSES COMMITMENT TO PEACE

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER KDEM NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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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
-------

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