Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU984
2009-10-29 08:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: MAOIST CHAIRMAN SEEKS TERRORIST DE-LISTING

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER KDEM NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000984 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST CHAIRMAN SEEKS TERRORIST DE-LISTING

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 SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000984

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST CHAIRMAN SEEKS TERRORIST DE-LISTING

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


1. (C) Summary: Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal (aka
Prachanda) told Charge he would like to build confidence and
relations between the Maoist party and the United States.
Dahal also expressed interest in taking steps to remove his
party from the U.S. terrorist exclusion lists. He insisted
the Maoists remain committed to concluding the peace process,
including the discharge of disqualified combatants, but
failure to reach consensus with the coalition political
parties would force the Maoists to mobilize. End summary.

Removal from Terrorist Exclusion Lists
--------------

2. (C) During an early morning meeting at Pushpa Kamal
Dahal's residence on October 28, the Maoist chairman told
Charge he was eager to develop relations between the Maoists
and the United States and to readdress the party's removal
from U.S. terrorist exclusion lists. Dahal questioned why
previous discussions with the U.S. side had stalled. He
noted his desire to resume discussion and build confidence
between the Maoists and the United States. Charge said all
of the criteria U.S. officials had given the Maoists
remained, and now was the time to move beyond general
discussion to specific actions. Charge said this would be
difficult to accomplish if the Maoists used undemocratic
methods to force their way into power.

Challenges to Peace Process
--------------

3. (C) Dahal insisted the Maoists want the peace process to
succeed and are willing to compromise with the other parties
to draft the constitution, but there are "ups and downs,
twists and turns" to challenge progress. He alluded to "some
elements" in the coalition parties who, uncomfortable with
the process because they would not benefit politically, took
"unconstitutional steps" to prevent the Maoists from leading
the government. The Maoist chairman criticized the
parliament for not allowing the Maoists to discuss the
President's role and civilian supremacy over the Nepal Army.
He also complained the Government of India is hesitant to
support the Maoists. He said the United States, along with

the Europeans and the UN, could play an important, supportive
role.


4. (C) Charge cautioned Dahal to "be careful what you wish
for" -- and to be mindful of precedents the Maoists have set
as the opposition. Other parties might reciprocate protests,
vandalism and blockades if the Maoists were to return to
power. Charge pointed to an attack by the Maoist Young
Communist League (YCL) against Nepali Congress (NC) leader
Sher Bahadur Deuba in Chitwan on October 27, which injured
approximately 20 NC and YCL activists. (Note: Deuba was not
injured, but his vehicle was damaged.) Dahal said the YCL
had told him the NC activists had attacked them first. He
said the Maoists have issued an ultimatum on the current
political negotiations and would be forced to mobilize --
albeit peacefully. He said he hoped to reach a consensus
with the coalition parties in "four or five days."


5. (C) Dahal declared that "some people" like to create
conflict and provoke the Maoists to take to the streets, but
the Maoists have concluded that peace is the way to go.
Dahal claimed the Maoists tried to establish a peaceful,
disciplined way to protest. He reiterated his party could
use more U.S. cooperation in pursuing peaceful goals. Almost
as an afterthought, Dahal added the Maoists have begun
internal discussions on how to re-open parliament even if a
consensus could not be reached. He said the Maoists would
focus on the current government's failures if they could not
talk about the President's actions. He asked Charge not to
publicize the Maoists' tentative willingness to back down.

Discharge of Disqualified from Cantonments
--------------

6. (C) Dahal said there is no controversy within the Maoist
party regarding integration and rehabilitation of former

KATHMANDU 00000984 002 OF 002


combatants, but the other parties needed not to act against
the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Accord. Sidestepping
Charge's question about what exactly would be required for
the Maoists to take steps to discharge 4,008 disqualified
combatants from the cantonments, the Maoist chairman said the
process could be finalized within a month. Charge stated the
international community is ready to provide support, but the
Maoists would have to prove their commitment. Dahal said he
needed to discuss the specifics with the UN Mission in Nepal
and the UN Development Program (the latter of which would
fund rehabilitation for minors),after which the process
could proceed.

Comment
--------------

7. (C) The Maoist chairman answered Charge's questions
vaguely and provided no insight into his party's
maneuverings. He seemed dismissive of the idea that what
goes around comes around, and he appeared to see no
discrepancy between spouting commitment to the peace process
and being "forced" to obstruct the functioning of government.
Post remains skeptical of the Maoists' true devotion to the
peace process -- all of the recent actions of the party and
its leader indicate their only goal is return to power.
Nevertheless, we are encouraged by Dahal's confession that
the Maoists would consider a compromise if the political
parties refuse the ultimatum to discuss civilian supremacy in
parliament and to step aside for the Maoists to take over.
MOON