US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU789

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000789 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS, LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY, NSC FOR MILLARD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, CASC, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST LEADERS URGE PARTIES TO JOIN COMMON 
CAUSE 
 
1. (SBU) As political party protests continue for the third 
week in Kathmandu, Maoist leaders Baburam Bhattarai and 
Pushpa Kumar Dahal (alias Prachanda) issued a public 
statement on April 21 encouraging the parties to persevere 
and to join in common cause against Nepal's monarchy.  They 
write, "it has become a historical need at this juncture for 
both the parliamentary and leftist revolutionary powers to 
carry out joint agitation..."  The Maoists also urge Nepalese 
army and police personnel to "revolt and join the people." 
The Maoist leaders' only mention of foreign governments was 
to request international support for a "democratic republic" 
in Nepal and a political and financial embargo on the 
monarchy. 
 
2. (SBU) Intended perhaps to support the political parties' 
agitation, the Maoist statement outlines their activities 
planned for the coming month.  Between April 22 to May 1, the 
insurgents will launch a "Campaign for a Republic," including 
torch processions and burning effigies of the King.  The 
following week features the "Nationwide People's Action" to 
protest against the monarchy.  From May 10-17, the Maoists 
intend to impose a blockade of all government vehicles in 
district headquarters and the Kathmandu Valley, as well as to 
prevent the Government of Nepal (GON) from collecting taxes 
across all districts.  The statement also declares a 
three-day nation-wide closure, or bandh, for May 18-20. 
 
3. (SBU) Comment.  This most recent Maoist statement echoes 
the last one issued by Prachanda on April 2, which had also 
supported the political party demonstrations -- then only in 
their second day.  The major political leaders rejected the 
first Maoist offer and are unlikely to spend undue attention 
on the new statement since they have nothing to gain from 
sharing the spotlight now focused on party demonstrators.  By 
publicly supporting the political parties, however, the 
Maoists may feed fears in the government that daily 
confrontations with demonstrators might drive the agitating 
parties into the arms of the Maoists.  In fact, however, the 
parties know that the Maoists have no intention of 
cohabitating with other parties, except as a short-term 
tactic.  The parties also are aware that Maoist agents 
provacateurs already are exploiting the street demonstrations 
by infiltrating them to raise levels of violence.  The 
Maoists themselves likely are content to sit back and allow 
the political parties to expend their financial and human 
resources against the government and erode the King's 
prestige through their calls for a republic.  Maoist talk of 
a "democratic republic" is clearly just that, however.  End 
Comment. 
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