Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU737
2009-08-07 10:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: MAOIST PROTEST CAMPAIGN BEGINS QUIETLY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000737
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PTER ASEC CASC NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST PROTEST CAMPAIGN BEGINS QUIETLY
REF: A. KTM 732
B. KTM 726
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Jeffrey Moon. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000737
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PTER ASEC CASC NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST PROTEST CAMPAIGN BEGINS QUIETLY
REF: A. KTM 732
B. KTM 726
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Jeffrey Moon. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Maoists' month-long protest campaign
began quietly on August 7 with small-scale, inconsequential
protests, but sources confirm Maoist preparations to mobilize
supporters in coming weeks for peaceful demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the government coalition decided the previous
evening not to address Maoist political demands and security
forces are meeting to develop a plan for responding to Maoist
protests. Maoists have announced additional protests
scheduled for August 9.
RAINY DAY
--------------
2. (U) Heavy rain prevented Maoists from staging protests on
the morning of August 7, but peaceful demonstrations were
scheduled for the evening in front of the Constituent
Assembly (CA) and in a major park during the afternoon. The
expected turnout is unknown. The CA has not decided if it
will cancel the day's session, set to begin at 1700 local
time. The Maoists told press they will hold larger protests
in an increased number of locations on August 9.
RALLYING SUPPORTERS
--------------
3. (C) Post has received multiple reports that Maoists are
actively mobilizing their main constituent groups--the Young
Communist League (YCL),trade unions, and ethnic minorities.
Parshuram Tamang, chairman of the small ethnic minority
Tamsaling Nepal Rastriya Party, told Charge he had been
approached by Maoist leaders seeking his group's support for
the protests. Tamang also said he had been unable to
schedule meetings with other Tamang groups because they had
been "mobilized" by Maoist activists to assist in
demonstrations in the field. There are similar unconfirmed,
reports from Nepal's ethnic minority communities and union
groups.
SECURITY RESPONSE
--------------
4. (U) The Prime Minister and representatives of the 22
parties in the government coalition met on the evening of
August 6 to coordinate the government's response to Maoist
demands. The coalition agreed not to satisfy the Maoists,
but did not specify how the government would respond to
protests.
5. (C) Sanat Basnet, Inspector General of Police of the
Armed Police Force, told Emboff the Home Ministry was meeting
to coordinate a security response to the protests and to
determine what level of response to use. Police and security
forces traditionally have not tried to stop Maoist protests
as long as they remain non-violent.
WILD CARDS
--------------
6. (U) The August 7 editions of the English-language
"Himalayan Times" and "Republica" newspapers speculated that
demonstrations could take on a life of their own and turn
violent if allowed to continue.
7. (C) Padma Ratna Thuladar, human rights activist and
former Minister of Health and Labor, expressed similar
sentiments and told Charge on August 7 that the YCL, the
Maoist's militia wing, has on occasion staged violent
protests contrary to the orders of Maoist leaders. He feared
the YCL might intentionally or unintentionally instigate
violence beyond the control of Maoist leaders.
COMMENT
--------------
8. (SBU) The first day of protests passed without major
incident, but no political compromise is within reach. Post
KATHMANDU 00000737 002 OF 002
is concerned that an accidental conflict between police and
protestors might occur unintentionally, sparking more extreme
anti-government protests and energizing currently inactive
Maoist supporters. Post has issued a warden message warning
of the potential dangers of political demonstrations.
MOON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PTER ASEC CASC NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST PROTEST CAMPAIGN BEGINS QUIETLY
REF: A. KTM 732
B. KTM 726
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Jeffrey Moon. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Maoists' month-long protest campaign
began quietly on August 7 with small-scale, inconsequential
protests, but sources confirm Maoist preparations to mobilize
supporters in coming weeks for peaceful demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the government coalition decided the previous
evening not to address Maoist political demands and security
forces are meeting to develop a plan for responding to Maoist
protests. Maoists have announced additional protests
scheduled for August 9.
RAINY DAY
--------------
2. (U) Heavy rain prevented Maoists from staging protests on
the morning of August 7, but peaceful demonstrations were
scheduled for the evening in front of the Constituent
Assembly (CA) and in a major park during the afternoon. The
expected turnout is unknown. The CA has not decided if it
will cancel the day's session, set to begin at 1700 local
time. The Maoists told press they will hold larger protests
in an increased number of locations on August 9.
RALLYING SUPPORTERS
--------------
3. (C) Post has received multiple reports that Maoists are
actively mobilizing their main constituent groups--the Young
Communist League (YCL),trade unions, and ethnic minorities.
Parshuram Tamang, chairman of the small ethnic minority
Tamsaling Nepal Rastriya Party, told Charge he had been
approached by Maoist leaders seeking his group's support for
the protests. Tamang also said he had been unable to
schedule meetings with other Tamang groups because they had
been "mobilized" by Maoist activists to assist in
demonstrations in the field. There are similar unconfirmed,
reports from Nepal's ethnic minority communities and union
groups.
SECURITY RESPONSE
--------------
4. (U) The Prime Minister and representatives of the 22
parties in the government coalition met on the evening of
August 6 to coordinate the government's response to Maoist
demands. The coalition agreed not to satisfy the Maoists,
but did not specify how the government would respond to
protests.
5. (C) Sanat Basnet, Inspector General of Police of the
Armed Police Force, told Emboff the Home Ministry was meeting
to coordinate a security response to the protests and to
determine what level of response to use. Police and security
forces traditionally have not tried to stop Maoist protests
as long as they remain non-violent.
WILD CARDS
--------------
6. (U) The August 7 editions of the English-language
"Himalayan Times" and "Republica" newspapers speculated that
demonstrations could take on a life of their own and turn
violent if allowed to continue.
7. (C) Padma Ratna Thuladar, human rights activist and
former Minister of Health and Labor, expressed similar
sentiments and told Charge on August 7 that the YCL, the
Maoist's militia wing, has on occasion staged violent
protests contrary to the orders of Maoist leaders. He feared
the YCL might intentionally or unintentionally instigate
violence beyond the control of Maoist leaders.
COMMENT
--------------
8. (SBU) The first day of protests passed without major
incident, but no political compromise is within reach. Post
KATHMANDU 00000737 002 OF 002
is concerned that an accidental conflict between police and
protestors might occur unintentionally, sparking more extreme
anti-government protests and energizing currently inactive
Maoist supporters. Post has issued a warden message warning
of the potential dangers of political demonstrations.
MOON