US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1902

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001902 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2014 
TAGS: PTER, ETTC, EFIN, NP, NL, EUN 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/NEPAL: DEMARCHE ON MAOIST VIOLENCE 
 
REF: STATE 159970 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: The Dutch are in discussion with EU 
colleagues regarding designation of the Maoists, but expect 
to release a "balanced" statement condemning violence on both 
sides as an interim measure.  They expect the Maoists will be 
designated this Fall.  End Summary. 
 
Dutch Presidency Statement Expected This Week 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Poloff met with Wilfred Mohr, Head of South Asia 
Division, July 27 to discuss reftel message.  Econoff also 
delivered the points separately on July 23 to Wouter Jurgens, 
Senior Policy Adviser responsible for terrorist financing 
issues in the MFA's Political Affairs Department, and on July 
27 to Margreet Wenting, Senior Policy Advisor in the 
Department of Financial Integrity at the Finance Ministry. 
 
3. (C) Mohr confirmed that the EU had followed up its June 
discussion of the situation at last week's COREPER, and said 
the Dutch Presidency is preparing to issue a statement on the 
matter this week.  Mohr expected the statement to take a 
"compromise position" calling on all parties to refrain from 
excessive violence, and to conduct themselves in a manner 
consistent with respect for human rights.  Mohr said the UK 
was most active toward getting the Maoists designated, and 
the Germans and Swedes most hesitant (although he thought the 
UK had already alleviated the German areas of "criteria" 
reluctance). 
 
"Balanced Approach" 
------------------- 
 
4. (C) Mohr said that the problem encountered in EU 
discussion was that there was pressure for a "balanced 
approach" since both sides were guilty of violent acts (he 
said "the army goes a bit too far") and some EU member states 
doubt the sincerity of the GON's attempts to move forward 
with respect to human rights.  Mohr singled out the GON's 
creation of the Human Rights Office, which he said "has no 
teeth" and said that the already-existing Human Rights 
Commission "does excellent work."  He wondered why the GON 
would then create a separate, less active Human Rights 
Office, implying that this demonstrated that they do not 
intend to improve the situation as much as they could. 
 
Strategy Toward Designation 
--------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Mohr seemed fairly certain that the Maoists would be 
designated by the EU this Fall.  The Dutch will issue a 
Presidency statement, putting pressure on both sides, which 
should lead the GON to move forward with a cease-fire and 
initiate peace negotiations.  At that point, an EU review 
would be held, as the result of which Mohr expected the 
Maoists would be designated.  Mohr commented, however, that 
if the Maoists would be prepared by that time to commence 
peace negotiations with the GON, the EU would have trouble 
designating them -- but he did not believe this was likely to 
occur by the fall.  Mohr asked whether the U.S. had a 
strategy in place for de-listing the Maoists if they began to 
engage with the GON in peace negotiations. 
 
Not Condemning Maoists 
---------------------- 
 
6. (C) When poloff asked whether the Dutch or EU had 
condemned Maoist terrorism, Mohr provided a July 6 statement 
released in Kathmandu by the Danish Embassy (EU Presidency 
representation in Nepal) in which the EU heads of mission 
welcomed the formation of a new interim government, and 
called on the GON to ensure early negotiations with the 
Maoists.  He conceded that this did not in fact condemn the 
Maoists.  He also conceded that while the GON could not be 
construed as conducting "terrorist" acts, the Maoists were in 
fact engaging in random violent acts. 
 
SOBEL