Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU600
2009-07-07 09:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL PARLIAMENT PROCEEDINGS RESUME
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000600
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV ECON MARR KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL PARLIAMENT PROCEEDINGS RESUME
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000600
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV ECON MARR KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL PARLIAMENT PROCEEDINGS RESUME
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On July 6, with the mid-July budget deadline looming,
the Maoists reached agreement with the Nepali Congress (NC)
and the Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist
(UML) to end their two-month obstruction of the Parliament
and allow the budget to be presented.
Deal Struck
--------------
2. (C) In the deal, which according to Embassy sources was
struck between former Prime Minister G.P. Koirala (NC) and
former Prime Minister Pushpa Dahal (Maoist),it was provided
that the Dahal and Prime Minister Madhav Nepal (UML) would
both address the Constituent Assembly (CA). Prime Minister
Nepal agreed to take the initiative to deal with the Maoist
demand for "civilian supremacy" -- that is the issue of
President Yadav's allegedly unconstitutional reinstatement of
Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal -- within a month.
The Maoists further agreed to allow the winter session to be
concluded (prorogued) and the new budget session called.
(Note: The fiscal year ends on July 15, and the budget
should be presented before then.)
Maoist Stance
--------------
3. (C) In his nearly two-hour-long speech on July 6 to the
Assembly, Dahal defended his party's obstruction of the CA
since his government fell in early May and sharply criticized
the UML-led government. He announced his support for
Koirala's proposal of a high-level political mechanism to
take the peace process forward and said the discharge of
minors and disqualified from Maoist cantonments would start
from July 7.
Government's Response
--------------
4. (C) In his speech immediately afterward, PM Nepal
defended his government against the Maoist accusation that it
lacked public support, citing the 359 votes he received in
the 601-member CA when he was elected on May 23. In
addition, he affirmed his commitment to civilian supremacy
and political consensus. Chairman Nemwang read out letters
from the President regarding the cabinet and then prorogued
the session. The budget session is scheduled to begin July
8.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) International and, more importantly, domestic
pressure, appears to have finally compelled the parties to
reach a deal to end Nepal's political impasse. Former PM
Dahal portrayed the Maoists' decision to allow the Parliament
to resume as a step to prevent conspiracies by "reactionary
forces" and to save the peace and constitution-drafting
processes. However, it was clear from the vitriol he leveled
at the current government that he took this step reluctantly.
The UML and NC allowed him and his party to save some face
by agreeing within a month to address the issue of civilian
supremacy, but Dahal has little else to show for the
two-month obstruction. He also warned that his party would
unleash a "hurricane" if the issue of civilian supremacy was
not addressed properly within the time frame. The political
wrangling is far from over.
POWELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV ECON MARR KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL PARLIAMENT PROCEEDINGS RESUME
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On July 6, with the mid-July budget deadline looming,
the Maoists reached agreement with the Nepali Congress (NC)
and the Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist
(UML) to end their two-month obstruction of the Parliament
and allow the budget to be presented.
Deal Struck
--------------
2. (C) In the deal, which according to Embassy sources was
struck between former Prime Minister G.P. Koirala (NC) and
former Prime Minister Pushpa Dahal (Maoist),it was provided
that the Dahal and Prime Minister Madhav Nepal (UML) would
both address the Constituent Assembly (CA). Prime Minister
Nepal agreed to take the initiative to deal with the Maoist
demand for "civilian supremacy" -- that is the issue of
President Yadav's allegedly unconstitutional reinstatement of
Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal -- within a month.
The Maoists further agreed to allow the winter session to be
concluded (prorogued) and the new budget session called.
(Note: The fiscal year ends on July 15, and the budget
should be presented before then.)
Maoist Stance
--------------
3. (C) In his nearly two-hour-long speech on July 6 to the
Assembly, Dahal defended his party's obstruction of the CA
since his government fell in early May and sharply criticized
the UML-led government. He announced his support for
Koirala's proposal of a high-level political mechanism to
take the peace process forward and said the discharge of
minors and disqualified from Maoist cantonments would start
from July 7.
Government's Response
--------------
4. (C) In his speech immediately afterward, PM Nepal
defended his government against the Maoist accusation that it
lacked public support, citing the 359 votes he received in
the 601-member CA when he was elected on May 23. In
addition, he affirmed his commitment to civilian supremacy
and political consensus. Chairman Nemwang read out letters
from the President regarding the cabinet and then prorogued
the session. The budget session is scheduled to begin July
8.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) International and, more importantly, domestic
pressure, appears to have finally compelled the parties to
reach a deal to end Nepal's political impasse. Former PM
Dahal portrayed the Maoists' decision to allow the Parliament
to resume as a step to prevent conspiracies by "reactionary
forces" and to save the peace and constitution-drafting
processes. However, it was clear from the vitriol he leveled
at the current government that he took this step reluctantly.
The UML and NC allowed him and his party to save some face
by agreeing within a month to address the issue of civilian
supremacy, but Dahal has little else to show for the
two-month obstruction. He also warned that his party would
unleash a "hurricane" if the issue of civilian supremacy was
not addressed properly within the time frame. The political
wrangling is far from over.
POWELL