Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE100692
2009-09-28 14:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
SCA ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 24,
how-toVZCZCXRO6001 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH DE RUEHC #0692/01 2711513 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281453Z SEP 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 3643 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0572 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 6027 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1781 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 3774 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 6933 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 9785 RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD PRIORITY 0114 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 3406 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 2790 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7898
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 100692
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2019
TAGS: NP PGOV PREF PREL
SUBJECT: SCA ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 24,
2009 MEETING WITH NEPALI PRIME MINISTER NEPAL AND FOREIGN
MINISTER KOIRALA
Classified By: SCA A/S ROBLAKE
(SBU) Participants:
U.S.
Assistant Secretary Robert O. Blake, Jr.
Don Camp, UNGA Senior Area Advisor
Peter McSharry, Bureau Notetaker
Nepal
Prime Minister M.K. Nepal
Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala
Foreign Secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya
Perm Rep to the UN Madhan Raman Acharya
Nepali Mission Notetaker
4. (C) SUMMARY. In SCA A/S Blake's September 24 meeting
with Prime Minister M.K. Nepal and Foreign Minister Sujata
Koirala on the margins of the UN General Assembly, Prime
Minister Nepal stated that the integration of Maoist
combatants would be completed within a maximum of six months,
and prior to the completion of the constitution drafting
process. Nepal noted that only qualified Maoist combatants
could be integrated into the Nepal Army, and raised the
possibility that a border security force could be created to
accept some of the Maoist fighters. Both Nepal and Foreign
Minister Koirala stressed that the international community
needed to pressure the Maoists to cooperate with the peace
process. END SUMMARY.
--------------
ARMY INTEGRATION
--------------
5. (C) Prime Minister Nepal stated that it was important to
solve the army integration issue soon, as this would allow
the Nepal Army (NA) to leave the barracks. He noted that the
Special Committee overseeing integration and rehabilitation
had met three times so far and was working on a "code of
conduct" for Maoist combatants in the cantonments. Nepal
stated that Maoist combatants faced several options. Those
who wished to do "political work" could leave the cantonments
and join the Unified Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M).
Other former combatants could either integrate with the NA or
be rehabilitated. Nepal stated that the Government of Nepal
(GON) would provide money for further education, vocational
training, or to resettle combatants in their home villages.
He further commented that the "victims" of the conflict
needed rehabilitation, as well. The GON has provided care to
the Maoists, Nepal said, but victims of the conflict also
require assistance, or else trouble would result.
6. (C) Nepal emphasized that the integration process must be
completed prior to the completion of the constitution
drafting process, and set a six month period for completing
integration. He further stated that the GON could not
integrate all the Maoist combatants into the NA, as Nepal
could not have a huge army. He noted that the GON needed to
decide on the eventual size of the NA, offering his personal
view that a force of 50,000 troops is the optimal strength
for the army. Nepal said that the GON must also identify who
exactly should be integrated into the NA, noting the need to
include Dalits and minorities, so that the NA reflected
society. He stated that the Technical Committee was
currently surveying the opinions of the NA, the political
parties and others, regarding the size and composition of the
army. He noted that Maoist leader Prachanda has stated that
4,000- 5,000 Maoist combatants should be integrated into the
NA. However, Nepal emphasized that Maoists must be qualified
to be integrated into the NA, and that the number of
integrated could be anywhere between 1,000 to 5,000
combatants. Nepal further raised the possibility of creating
a border security force that could absorb some of the Maoist
combatants, thereby keeping the NA intact and "uncontaminated
by politics."
--------------
STATE 00100692 002 OF 002
SUBJECT: SCA ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 24,
2009 MEETING WITH NEPALI PRIME MINISTER NEPAL AND FOREIGN
MINISTER KOIRA
CONSTITUTION DRAFTING
--------------
7. (C) Nepal pointed to the recent election of the chairman
of the Constitutional Committee as good news, and noted that
the Maoists participated in this election. He remarked that
a subcommittee has also been formed, and that the chairman of
this committee was selected from the opposition. Stating
that there were still nine months left in which to complete
the drafting of the constitution, Nepal said that two key
issues needed to be addressed: federalism and the type of
government system. (Note: there are approximately eight
months left before the constitution drafting deadline.) He
pointed to inclusion as another key issue. He stated that
the GON has discussed the creation of a high-level mechanism,
which would include leaders of the three main parties, adding
that Prachanda supported this initiative. According to
Nepal, this body would deal with critical issues in the
constitution drafting process, as well as with the overall
peace process.
--------------
ASSESSMENT OF MAOISTS
--------------
8. (C) Asked by Blake for his assessment of the Maoist role,
Nepal stated that there are "ifs and buts" regarding the
Maoists. If all parties put pressure on the Maoists, Nepal
stated, then the Maoists will cooperate. He emphasized that
there was a need to give a clear message, and that the
international community needed to keep pressure on the
Maoists. Foreign Minister Koirala seconded this view. Nepal
further noted that the Maoists have a strong left wing that
still wishes to capture state power. Nepal stated that the
Maoists wished to control the judiciary, thus showing that
they had not changed their mindset. He commented that
meetings with the Maoists went smoothly, but that outside,
the Maoists made trouble. We must watch the Maoists, he
warned. In response to Blake,s expression of concern over
the activities of the Maoist Young Communist League (YCL),
Nepal stated that the YCL is a destabilizing factor and that
the GON should file cases against, and punish, YCL members
who violate the law.
--------------
NEPAL ARMY
--------------
9. (C) Nepal commented that the Nepal Army needed lethal
arms for peacekeeping missions, as well as more training.
Blake responded that the USG would like to do more with Nepal
on defense cooperation, but that the Nepal Army needs to have
movement on human rights issues. Blake stated that we
particularly welcomed the new Chief of Army Staff's positive
statements regarding respect for human rights. Blake also
expressed USG appreciation for Nepal's contributions to
peacekeeping missions.
--------------
ADOPTIONS AND TIBETANS
--------------
10. (C) Blake welcomed the efforts of the Ministry of Women,
Children and Social Welfare in re-starting adoptions. He
also emphasized our interest in helping register Tibetan
refugees in Nepal.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2019
TAGS: NP PGOV PREF PREL
SUBJECT: SCA ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 24,
2009 MEETING WITH NEPALI PRIME MINISTER NEPAL AND FOREIGN
MINISTER KOIRALA
Classified By: SCA A/S ROBLAKE
(SBU) Participants:
U.S.
Assistant Secretary Robert O. Blake, Jr.
Don Camp, UNGA Senior Area Advisor
Peter McSharry, Bureau Notetaker
Nepal
Prime Minister M.K. Nepal
Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala
Foreign Secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya
Perm Rep to the UN Madhan Raman Acharya
Nepali Mission Notetaker
4. (C) SUMMARY. In SCA A/S Blake's September 24 meeting
with Prime Minister M.K. Nepal and Foreign Minister Sujata
Koirala on the margins of the UN General Assembly, Prime
Minister Nepal stated that the integration of Maoist
combatants would be completed within a maximum of six months,
and prior to the completion of the constitution drafting
process. Nepal noted that only qualified Maoist combatants
could be integrated into the Nepal Army, and raised the
possibility that a border security force could be created to
accept some of the Maoist fighters. Both Nepal and Foreign
Minister Koirala stressed that the international community
needed to pressure the Maoists to cooperate with the peace
process. END SUMMARY.
--------------
ARMY INTEGRATION
--------------
5. (C) Prime Minister Nepal stated that it was important to
solve the army integration issue soon, as this would allow
the Nepal Army (NA) to leave the barracks. He noted that the
Special Committee overseeing integration and rehabilitation
had met three times so far and was working on a "code of
conduct" for Maoist combatants in the cantonments. Nepal
stated that Maoist combatants faced several options. Those
who wished to do "political work" could leave the cantonments
and join the Unified Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M).
Other former combatants could either integrate with the NA or
be rehabilitated. Nepal stated that the Government of Nepal
(GON) would provide money for further education, vocational
training, or to resettle combatants in their home villages.
He further commented that the "victims" of the conflict
needed rehabilitation, as well. The GON has provided care to
the Maoists, Nepal said, but victims of the conflict also
require assistance, or else trouble would result.
6. (C) Nepal emphasized that the integration process must be
completed prior to the completion of the constitution
drafting process, and set a six month period for completing
integration. He further stated that the GON could not
integrate all the Maoist combatants into the NA, as Nepal
could not have a huge army. He noted that the GON needed to
decide on the eventual size of the NA, offering his personal
view that a force of 50,000 troops is the optimal strength
for the army. Nepal said that the GON must also identify who
exactly should be integrated into the NA, noting the need to
include Dalits and minorities, so that the NA reflected
society. He stated that the Technical Committee was
currently surveying the opinions of the NA, the political
parties and others, regarding the size and composition of the
army. He noted that Maoist leader Prachanda has stated that
4,000- 5,000 Maoist combatants should be integrated into the
NA. However, Nepal emphasized that Maoists must be qualified
to be integrated into the NA, and that the number of
integrated could be anywhere between 1,000 to 5,000
combatants. Nepal further raised the possibility of creating
a border security force that could absorb some of the Maoist
combatants, thereby keeping the NA intact and "uncontaminated
by politics."
--------------
STATE 00100692 002 OF 002
SUBJECT: SCA ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 24,
2009 MEETING WITH NEPALI PRIME MINISTER NEPAL AND FOREIGN
MINISTER KOIRA
CONSTITUTION DRAFTING
--------------
7. (C) Nepal pointed to the recent election of the chairman
of the Constitutional Committee as good news, and noted that
the Maoists participated in this election. He remarked that
a subcommittee has also been formed, and that the chairman of
this committee was selected from the opposition. Stating
that there were still nine months left in which to complete
the drafting of the constitution, Nepal said that two key
issues needed to be addressed: federalism and the type of
government system. (Note: there are approximately eight
months left before the constitution drafting deadline.) He
pointed to inclusion as another key issue. He stated that
the GON has discussed the creation of a high-level mechanism,
which would include leaders of the three main parties, adding
that Prachanda supported this initiative. According to
Nepal, this body would deal with critical issues in the
constitution drafting process, as well as with the overall
peace process.
--------------
ASSESSMENT OF MAOISTS
--------------
8. (C) Asked by Blake for his assessment of the Maoist role,
Nepal stated that there are "ifs and buts" regarding the
Maoists. If all parties put pressure on the Maoists, Nepal
stated, then the Maoists will cooperate. He emphasized that
there was a need to give a clear message, and that the
international community needed to keep pressure on the
Maoists. Foreign Minister Koirala seconded this view. Nepal
further noted that the Maoists have a strong left wing that
still wishes to capture state power. Nepal stated that the
Maoists wished to control the judiciary, thus showing that
they had not changed their mindset. He commented that
meetings with the Maoists went smoothly, but that outside,
the Maoists made trouble. We must watch the Maoists, he
warned. In response to Blake,s expression of concern over
the activities of the Maoist Young Communist League (YCL),
Nepal stated that the YCL is a destabilizing factor and that
the GON should file cases against, and punish, YCL members
who violate the law.
--------------
NEPAL ARMY
--------------
9. (C) Nepal commented that the Nepal Army needed lethal
arms for peacekeeping missions, as well as more training.
Blake responded that the USG would like to do more with Nepal
on defense cooperation, but that the Nepal Army needs to have
movement on human rights issues. Blake stated that we
particularly welcomed the new Chief of Army Staff's positive
statements regarding respect for human rights. Blake also
expressed USG appreciation for Nepal's contributions to
peacekeeping missions.
--------------
ADOPTIONS AND TIBETANS
--------------
10. (C) Blake welcomed the efforts of the Ministry of Women,
Children and Social Welfare in re-starting adoptions. He
also emphasized our interest in helping register Tibetan
refugees in Nepal.
CLINTON