US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU396

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000396 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND S/CT 
LONDON FOR POL - GURNEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2014 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, NP, U.S-Nepali Relations 
SUBJECT: NEPAL:  S/CT COORDINATOR AMB. COFER BLACK 
REAFFIRMS USG SUPPORT IN MEETINGS AT FOREIGN MINISTRY 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 0279 
 
     B. KATHMANDU 0280 
 
Classified By: AMB. MICHAEL E. MALINOWSKI.  REASON:  1.5 (B,D). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (C) On March 3 Ambassador J. Cofer Black, Coordinator for 
Counterterrorism, accompanied by Ambassador Michael 
Malinowski, held separate meetings with de facto Foreign 
Minister Ambassador Bekh Bahadur Thapa and Foreign Secretary 
Madhu Raman Acharya.  Ambassador Black reconfirmed USG 
support for Nepal's struggle against terror.  Both Thapa and 
Acharya expressed deep appreciation for USG assistance, which 
they cited as critical to the progress made thus far against 
the Maoist insurgency.  Thapa acknowledged that Nepal's 
complaints to European governments about private support for 
the Maoists have borne little fruit.  While the Indians have 
increased their cooperation in cracking down on Maoists 
operating on their soil, Thapa noted, "they could enforce 
what they say more effectively."  End summary. 
 
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GON APPRECIATES U.S. SUPPORT 
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2.  (SBU) On March 3 Ambassador J. Cofer Black, Coordinator 
for Counterterrorism (S/CT), accompanied by Ambassador 
Michael Malinowski, met separately with Ambassador-at-large 
and de facto Foreign Minister Dr. Bekh Bahadur Thapa and 
Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya.  Ambassador Black 
underscored USG support for Nepal's fight against terror 
perpetrated by Maoist insurgents.  He stressed that he came 
as a representative of the Department of State and the U.S. 
Government to demonstrate his nation's appreciation of the 
challenges facing Nepal and admiration for its steadfastness 
against the scourge of terror.  There is no room in the 
civilized world for the Maoists' gratuitous violence, 
Ambassador Black said, and Nepal's courageous struggle has 
earned the USG's sympathy and interest.  He hoped to learn 
how the USG could continue to support the Government of Nepal 
(GON) in this important effort.  He urged the GON to sign and 
ratify all 12 international counterterrorism conventions. 
 
 
3.  (SBU)  Secretary Acharya and Ambassador Thapa each 
expressed deep appreciation for U.S. support in countering 
the insurgency.  The GON has made significant strides against 
the Maoists, both said, thanks in large part to U.S. security 
assistance, noting that the insurgents have been unable to 
launch a major attack against GON forces since breaking the 
ceasefire in August (Note:  On March 2 the Maoists attacked 
the district headquarters in the eastern district of Bhojpur. 
 Details septel.  End note.).  As a result, the GON is able 
to shift its focus to containing the conflict and to 
exploring the possibility of conducting elections in some 
locations, Thapa said.  Security assistance from friendly 
nations such as the U.S., UK, and India have boosted the 
capacity and confidence of the Army and police, Thapa said, 
leading to a "general sense of optimism . . . that we are 
moving ahead."   Following his recent visits to remote areas 
of western Nepal (Ref A), King Gyanendra has directed the GON 
to restore services and reassert law and order in the parts 
of the country most directly affected by the insurgency, 
Thapa noted.  Continued USG support will be needed, he 
emphasized, to follow up on these promising steps. 
 
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INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR MAOISTS? 
----------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C)  Thapa noted that from time to time the Maoists make 
statements--which are quickly seized upon by the 
international community--that they are ready to resume 
negotiations.  The Prime Minister has made clear on a number 
of occasions that "the door is still open for talks," he 
continued, but since the Maoists already have broken off 
talks unilaterally twice before, the GON must carefully 
scrutinize the sincerity of such statements.  In the past, 
the Maoists have used ceasefires to build up their depleted 
strength and supplies, he added. 
 
5.  (C) Ambassador Black asked Ambassador Thapa for his 
assessment of the Maoists' success in winning international 
sympathy.  Individuals and some NGOs in "certain Northern 
European liberal democracies" are comparatively sympathetic 
to the Maoists, Thapa conceded.  Sometimes such NGOs may 
channel funding to Maoist sympathizers in the guise of 
workshops and seminars for the underprivileged or some other 
development effort, he indicated.  When the GON brings such 
matters to the attention of the governments concerned, Thapa 
said, they say they are unable to prohibit such activities in 
their pluralistic societies.  The GON could do more to 
improve public relations efforts to educate the international 
community about Maoist atrocities and perfidy, he 
acknowledged. 
 
6.  (C) Ambassador Black asked if the GON were satisfied with 
the extent of Indian cooperation to counter the insurgency. 
While noting the February 8 arrests of two top Maoist leaders 
in India (Ref B), Thapa cited a general perception that key 
Maoists have free mobility on Indian soil and easily maintain 
contact with like-minded organizations in India.  Although he 
described "recent positive signals" from the Government of 
India, Thapa reflected that the situation would improve if 
"they could enforce what they say more effectively." 
Cooperation with Indian security officials has progressed 
over the past six months, he reported, but added that unless 
the GON tightens its borders, weapons and new recruits will 
continue to flow back and forth between the two neighbors. 
 
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THAPA TO WASHINGTON? 
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7.  (U)  Ambassador Thapa said that he hopes to visit 
Washington after he travels to Geneva to address the UN 
Commission on Human Rights later in the month.  Ambassador 
Black said that he would welcome his visit.  (Note: 
According to press reports and Ministry sources, Ambassador 
Thapa is expected to be named Foreign Minister on March 4. 
End note.) 
 
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COMMENT 
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8.  (C)  Both Acharya and Thapa sounded optimistic notes in 
their assessments of progress against the insurgency, and 
each referred to as-yet unscheduled elections as an 
increasingly brighter prospect.  Besides apparent 
improvements in the capacity of the security forces, signs of 
more robust bilateral cooperation between India and Nepal on 
security issues may be largely responsible for these 
heightened hopes.  As Thapa noted, however, the open border 
shared by India and Nepal presents greater challenges for the 
GON--and greater opportunities for the Maoists--than these 
modest improvements can sufficiently counter. 
 
9.  (U)  Ambassador Black has cleared this message. 
MALINOWSKI