Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU726
2009-08-04 09:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: MAOIST DEMONSTRATIONS BEGINNING AUGUST 7
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000726
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST DEMONSTRATIONS BEGINNING AUGUST 7
REF: KTM 697
Classified By: Charge de Affaires Jeffrey Moon, a.i. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000726
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST DEMONSTRATIONS BEGINNING AUGUST 7
REF: KTM 697
Classified By: Charge de Affaires Jeffrey Moon, a.i. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Unified Communist Party of
Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) party announced they will begin
demonstrations in the streets and in parliament August 7,
unless the coalition government meets a series of demands.
The Maoists are demanding a parliamentary debate on the issue
of "civilian supremacy" by August 6, and are demanding
participation in a consensus government under their
leadership. Both demands are highly unlikely to be met by
the deadline. Post is carefully watching the demonstration
planning process and is prepared for possible disruptions to
mission activities. END SUMMARY.
Maoists Issue Ultimatum, Threaten To Launch People,s Movement
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) On August 2, the UCPN-M announced a schedule for
protests to pressure the Government of Nepal (GON) to meet a
series of demands, including a discussion about "civilian
supremacy" over the Nepal Army and the inclusion of the
Maoists in a consensus government under their leadership.
The Maoists initially plan to hold peaceful street
demonstrations and prevent parliamentary proceedings in the
Constituent Assembly (CA). The protests are to begin on
August 7 and continue through mid-September. The Maoists
have threatened to launch a third Jana Andolan ("People,s
Movement") if the GON does not bow to their demands.
3. (SBU) When the Maoists in early July ceased their
Kathmandu-wide protests and allowed parliament to resume
operations to facilitate passage of the budget for the fiscal
year beginning July 15, the Maoist leadership issued an
ultimatum with a deadline of August 6. The Maoists demanded
the GON to address the legitimacy of President Yadav,s
reinstatement of the Chief of the Army Staff, General
Katawal. Joint Secretary Mukunda Sharma, the spokesperson
for the CA, told Emboff on August 4 that the CA has no plans
to address either demand on the floor of parliament.
Protest Schedule
--------------
4. (C) Baburam Bhattarai, the number three in the Maoist
party, reportedly is in charge of planning the
demonstrations. (Comment: Post expects the Bhattarai-led
protests to be more organized than the scattershot events of
the past month. End comment.) UNMIN Officer Yohn Medina
told Emboff on August 4 that they see the protest schedule as
merely a Maoist negotiating tool in the ongoing discussions
regarding the creation of a high-level inter-party working
group to address peace process and constitution drafting
issues. According to press reports, the Maoists, protest
schedule is as follows:
--August 7: Obstruct parliament, hold street agitation, and
conduct publicity campaign to inform the public about the
protest.
--August 9: Nationwide protest demonstrations, sit-in
programs, and "corner meetings."
--August 9-26: Boycott presidential programs, and hold black
flags up during presidential programs.
--September 11: Hold mass gatherings in Kathmandu.
--September 15: Hold mass gatherings against government in
major cities.
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) It is unclear whether the Maoists intend the
demonstrations to be merely a propaganda exercise or a more
serious attempt to press their political agenda. Post does
not anticipate that the demonstrations will erupt into a
"People's Movement," but will nonetheless monitor events
KATHMANDU 00000726 002 OF 002
carefully and be prepared for possible disruption to mission
activities. Ironically, the demonstrations are scheduled to
begin just one day before General Katawal will hand
day-to-day operations over to his successor and begin a one
month vacation prior to his formal retirement (reftel).
Katawal will fade from the scene with or without
demonstrations, but Maoist efforts to disrupt the current
government and find a way back into power will continue
unabated.
MOON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST DEMONSTRATIONS BEGINNING AUGUST 7
REF: KTM 697
Classified By: Charge de Affaires Jeffrey Moon, a.i. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Unified Communist Party of
Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) party announced they will begin
demonstrations in the streets and in parliament August 7,
unless the coalition government meets a series of demands.
The Maoists are demanding a parliamentary debate on the issue
of "civilian supremacy" by August 6, and are demanding
participation in a consensus government under their
leadership. Both demands are highly unlikely to be met by
the deadline. Post is carefully watching the demonstration
planning process and is prepared for possible disruptions to
mission activities. END SUMMARY.
Maoists Issue Ultimatum, Threaten To Launch People,s Movement
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) On August 2, the UCPN-M announced a schedule for
protests to pressure the Government of Nepal (GON) to meet a
series of demands, including a discussion about "civilian
supremacy" over the Nepal Army and the inclusion of the
Maoists in a consensus government under their leadership.
The Maoists initially plan to hold peaceful street
demonstrations and prevent parliamentary proceedings in the
Constituent Assembly (CA). The protests are to begin on
August 7 and continue through mid-September. The Maoists
have threatened to launch a third Jana Andolan ("People,s
Movement") if the GON does not bow to their demands.
3. (SBU) When the Maoists in early July ceased their
Kathmandu-wide protests and allowed parliament to resume
operations to facilitate passage of the budget for the fiscal
year beginning July 15, the Maoist leadership issued an
ultimatum with a deadline of August 6. The Maoists demanded
the GON to address the legitimacy of President Yadav,s
reinstatement of the Chief of the Army Staff, General
Katawal. Joint Secretary Mukunda Sharma, the spokesperson
for the CA, told Emboff on August 4 that the CA has no plans
to address either demand on the floor of parliament.
Protest Schedule
--------------
4. (C) Baburam Bhattarai, the number three in the Maoist
party, reportedly is in charge of planning the
demonstrations. (Comment: Post expects the Bhattarai-led
protests to be more organized than the scattershot events of
the past month. End comment.) UNMIN Officer Yohn Medina
told Emboff on August 4 that they see the protest schedule as
merely a Maoist negotiating tool in the ongoing discussions
regarding the creation of a high-level inter-party working
group to address peace process and constitution drafting
issues. According to press reports, the Maoists, protest
schedule is as follows:
--August 7: Obstruct parliament, hold street agitation, and
conduct publicity campaign to inform the public about the
protest.
--August 9: Nationwide protest demonstrations, sit-in
programs, and "corner meetings."
--August 9-26: Boycott presidential programs, and hold black
flags up during presidential programs.
--September 11: Hold mass gatherings in Kathmandu.
--September 15: Hold mass gatherings against government in
major cities.
Comment
--------------
4. (SBU) It is unclear whether the Maoists intend the
demonstrations to be merely a propaganda exercise or a more
serious attempt to press their political agenda. Post does
not anticipate that the demonstrations will erupt into a
"People's Movement," but will nonetheless monitor events
KATHMANDU 00000726 002 OF 002
carefully and be prepared for possible disruption to mission
activities. Ironically, the demonstrations are scheduled to
begin just one day before General Katawal will hand
day-to-day operations over to his successor and begin a one
month vacation prior to his formal retirement (reftel).
Katawal will fade from the scene with or without
demonstrations, but Maoist efforts to disrupt the current
government and find a way back into power will continue
unabated.
MOON