Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU929
2009-10-09 11:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: CONTROVERSIAL GENERAL'S PROMOTION ON HOLD
VZCZCXRO6589 PP RUEHCI 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
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