Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU929
2009-10-09 11:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: CONTROVERSIAL GENERAL'S PROMOTION ON HOLD

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL MARR PINR NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHKT #0929 2821154
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 091154Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0881
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7152
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7486
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2822
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 5527
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6635
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3276
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4794
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2430
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3683
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000929 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL MARR PINR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CONTROVERSIAL GENERAL'S PROMOTION ON HOLD

REF: KTM 00906

Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Jeffrey A. Moon. Reasons 1.4 (
b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000929

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL MARR PINR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CONTROVERSIAL GENERAL'S PROMOTION ON HOLD

REF: KTM 00906

Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Jeffrey A. Moon. Reasons 1.4 (
b/d).


1. (SBU) Nepal's Cabinet deferred on October 8 a decision on
the promotion of Army Major General Toran Singh. Singh, who
is alleged to be complicit in human rights abuses, was under
consideration for promotion to Lieutenant General (reftel).
The Cabinet reportedly discussed Singh's appointment but said
it needed more time to study human rights allegations.


2. (SBU) Rumors of Singh's promotion have circulated since
June. If promoted, Singh would be the second-in-command in
the Nepal Army. The government conducted an internal
investigation of Singh's alleged human rights violations and
failed to come to any conclusions about his guilt or
innocence.


3. (C) During a series of receptions October 3-4, Charge told
Prime Minister M.K. Nepal, Nepali Congress party leader G.P.
Koirala, Chief of the Army Staff General Gurung, Home
Minister Bhim Rawal, Defense Minister Bidya Bhandari, Energy
Minister Prakash Mahat, and Federal Minister Minendra Rizal
that the United States had serious concerns about the
promotion of Singh. He noted that Singh's promotion could
have negative consequences for the future of U.S.-Nepal
military cooperation.


4. (C) Comment: At the moment, Singh's promotion appears to
be on hold. Powerful forces within Nepali politics and the
Nepal Army support Singh, and this issue could reappear.
Post will continue to monitor the situation and stress to
Nepal counterparts the U.S. concerns regarding Singh's human
rights record.
MOON