US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU408

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000408 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND INR/B 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, NP, Government of Nepal (GON) 
SUBJECT: NEPAL: KING APPOINTS BHEKH THAPA AS FOREIGN 
MINISTER AND RESHUFFLES PORTFOLIOS 
 
REF: 03 KATHMANDU 1664 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  ON MARCH 3, NEPAL'S KING, ON THE 
RECOMMENDATION OF PRIME MINISTER SURYA BAHADUR THAPA, 
APPOINTED DR. BHEKH BAHADUR THAPA AS FOREIGN MINISTER AND 
HEALTH MINISTER.  RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HOME MINISTRY WAS 
TRANSFERRED FROM THE PRIME MINISTER TO MINISTER FOR 
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION, KAMAL THAPA.  BHEKH 
THAPA'S APPOINTMENT AS FOREIGN MINISTER IS A VOTE OF 
CONFIDENCE IN HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE. 
THE SHIFT IN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HOME MINISTRY MIGHT BE 
DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ATTENTION THIS POWERFUL 
MINISTRY REQUIRES.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU) IN AN ANTICIPATED MOVE ON MARCH 3, KING GYANENDRA 
APPROVED THE PRIME MINISTER'S RECOMMENDATION OF DR. BHEKH 
BAHADUR THAPA AS FOREIGN MINISTER.  THE KING ALSO 
TRANSFERRED THE HEALTH AND HOME MINISTRY PORTFOLIOS FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER'S PURVIEW TO THAT OF MINISTER OF 
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION KAMAL THAPA AND DR. BHEKH 
BAHADUR THAPA, RESPECTIVELY.  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION 
FOLLOWS. 
 
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DR. BHEKH BAHADUR THAPA: 
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND HEALTH 
-------------------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Since August 25, 2003, Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa 
has served as Nepal's Ambassador-at-large with cabinet 
rank.  During this period, the Prime Minister held the 
Foreign Minister portfolio.  As Ambassador-at-large, Thapa 
has participated as de-facto Foreign Minister in such fora 
as the SAARC Summit in January and the BIMST-EC conference 
in February.  He also took an active role in negotiating 
with the Bhutanese government on the Bhutanese refugee 
issue, as well. 
 
Thapa was previously the Ambassador to India, considered 
Nepal's most important diplomatic posting, from 1997 to 
2003.  Dr. Thapa has served twice as Nepal's Ambassador to 
the United States, arguably the second most important 
diplomatic post, first from 1980-1985 and more recently in 
1996.  He also served as the United Nations Resident 
Coordinator in Sri Lanka from 1986 to 1990, and then was 
appointed for a two-year term as Senior Advisor for 
Administration at the UN Development Program in Geneva. 
 
In 1994, Dr. Thapa ran for office in the mid-term polls as 
an independent candidate from Tanahu district, but was 
defeated by the local Nepali Congress Party candidate. 
 
Dr. Thapa served as the Minister of State for Finance in 
1975, was promoted to Minister of Finance in 1976, and 
remained in the post until 1978.  Previously he held the 
senior civil service position in the Ministry of Finance 
as Secretary from 1969 to 1971.  Thapa also served as the 
Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal's central bank, in 
1967, and as the Member Secretary of the National Planning 
Commission from 1961 to 1967. 
 
Dr. Thapa was born on March 4, 1937 in Tanahu district. 
He earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Claremont University, 
California in 1965.  With his convivial and sophisticated 
manner, Thapa is well liked within Kathmandu's diplomatic 
circles.  He is married to Reeta, a physician and public 
health policy specialist.  They have one son and two 
daughters.  Thapa enjoys golf and speaks excellent 
English. 
 
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KAMAL THAPA: MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS, 
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) KAMAL THAPA (B. 4 AUG 1955) IS A CAREER 
POLITICIAN WHO IS REPORTEDLY CLOSE TO THE PALACE AND HAS 
BEEN INVOLVED IN MOST OF THE MAJOR POLITICAL INITIATIVES 
BACKED BY THE PALACE IN RECENT YEARS.  HE SERVED AS ONE OF 
THE GOVERNMENT'S NEGOTIATORS DURING THE LAST ROUND OF 
PEACE TALKS WITH THE MAOISTS IN 2003.  THOUGH ONE OF THE 
MORE POWERFUL MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY 
(RPP) AS GENERAL SECRETARY, THAPA EARNED A REPUTATION AS 
AN OPPORTUNIST IN 1996 WHEN HE REPEATEDLY CHANGED SIDES 
DURING PARLIAMENTARY MANEUVERING TO BRING DOWN THE SHER 
BAHADUR DEUBA GOVERNMENT.  HIS ELEVATION TO THE RANK OF 
FOREIGN MINISTER IN JUNE 1997 PROBABLY REFLECTED MORE THEN- 
PRIME MINISTER CHAND'S INTEREST IN LOCKING THAPA INTO THE 
GOVERNMENT THAN ANY HIGH ESTEEM FOR HIS ABILITIES.  THAPA 
REMAINED IN THE POST UNTIL APRIL 1998, WHEN THE CHAND 
GOVERNMENT FELL. 
 
THAPA WAS APPOINTED AS THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE RPP IN 
MAY 2003.  THAPA WAS ALSO ACTIVE DURING THE PANCHAYAT 
YEARS, RISING TO MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MINISTER OF 
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTER OF HOUSING AND PHYSICAL 
PLANNING.  THAPA WAS A MEMBER OF NEPAL'S NATIONAL SOCCER 
TEAM AND, IN 1984, VISITED THE UNITED STATES TO ATTEND THE 
LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS.  OF THE CHETTRI CASTE, THAPA IS 
MARRIED WITH ONE SON AND THREE DAUGHTERS.  IN MARCH 2004, 
HIS SON WAS ISSUED A DIVERSITY VISA FOR IMMIGRATION TO THE 
UNITED STATES.  THAPA RECEIVED A MASTERS DEGREE IN 
POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM NEPAL'S TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY IN 
1977 AND SPEAKS EXCELLENT ENGLISH AND HINDI. 
 
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COMMENT 
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5. (SBU) DR. BHEKH BAHADUR THAPA IS A CONSUMMATE DIPLOMAT 
WHO HAS PERFORMED WELL DURING IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL 
EVENTS, SUCH AS THE SAARC SUMMIT IN JANUARY AND THE BIMST- 
EC CONFERENCE IN FEBRUARY.  HIS APPOINTMENT AS FOREIGN AND 
HEALTH MINISTER IS LIKELY A RESULT OF THESE SUCCESSES. 
REMOVAL OF THE HOME MINISTRY FROM THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
PORTFOLIO MAY SIGNIFY NOTHING OTHER THAN THE HIGH SECURITY 
AND OTHER DEMANDS THIS IMPORTANT MINISTRY REQUIRES AND 
THAT THE AGING PM IS UNABLE TO DELIVER.  END COMMENT. 
 
MALINOWSKI