US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU1745

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001745 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS, DS/IP/SA 
NSC FOR GREEN/DORMANDY 
LONDON FOR POL-BELL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, NP, Government of Nepal (GON) 
SUBJECT: NEPALI CONGRESS LEADER KOIRALA EXERTS POWER AFTER 
RESTRICTED FROM ENTERING AIRPORT 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
1. (U) On August 28, after Royal Nepal Army (RNA) personnel 
barred former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress Party 
President Girija Prasad Koirala from entering the domestic 
terminal of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), a 
Nepali Congress-affiliated organization called a general 
closure (bandh) for Kathmandu Valley on August 29.  The RNA 
explained that the security personnel at the airport were not 
informed about Koirala's visit and had been following 
standard procedures.  The GON formed a five-member 
investigation committee to probe into this matter.  The RNA 
and the government have apologized to Koirala.  End Summary. 
 
RNA STOPS NEPALI CONGRESS PRESIDENT AT THE AIRPORT 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
2. (U) On August 28, Koirala tried to catch a domestic flight 
to Bhairahawa to attend public meetings in the western 
districts of Rupandehi and Kapilbastu.  After RNA personnel 
stopped Koirala at the TIA, the Nepali Congress Party (NCP) 
issued a press statement condemning the incident, and 
appealed to all Nepalese to peacefully and strongly protest 
against the incident, alleging that it violated the 
fundamental rights of the people.  The NCP urged all 
democrats, political parties, human rights organizations, 
members of the business community and civil society to unite 
in favor of democracy and wage a strong agitation against 
regression, and called for a one-day bandh. 
 
3. (U)  Rajendra Thapa, spokesman at the RNA Directorate of 
Public Information, said that the security personnel 
stationed at the airport had not been informed about 
Koirala's visit.  The RNA issued a press release on August 
28th stating that the security guards at the airport had 
tried to stop a car speeding towards the car park, but it did 
not pay any heed and proceeded towards the domestic terminal 
building of TIA.  According to the RNA, after the car 
stopped, a person rolled down the window and said that they 
were going towards the terminal but without mentioning who 
was in the car.  After being denied access to the terminal, 
the car turned and departed.  The RNA statement further said, 
if it has prior information, VIPs are escorted with due 
respect towards the terminal.  The RNA apologized for the 
inconvenience caused to former Prime Minister Koirala. 
 
4. (C) For security reasons, at the domestic terminal, all 
vehicles park at the parking lot and passengers walk to the 
terminal.  However, vehicles carrying important persons are 
allowed to go up to the terminal provided that they have 
prior security clearance.  Embassy sources said that 
Koirala's security detail had called ahead to give notice. 
RNA sources blame a private who may not have gotten the word; 
and when the private turned away, Koirala's car drove away. 
 
GOVERNMENT APOLOGIZES AND OPENS INVESTIGATION 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Mohammad Mohsin, Minister for Information and 
Communications and government spokesperson told the local 
press that "it was unfortunate, and that the government would 
take up the incident with serious concern."  On August 28, 
the GON formed a five-member committee headed by Medini 
Prasad Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, 
Tourism and Civil Aviation, to probe into the incident. 
Mohsin told the Ambassador on August 31, "this a storm in a 
teacup." 
 
6. (U) On August 29, the Nepal Student Union, a student wing 
of the NCP, called for the closure of the Kathmandu Valley. 
The protesting NCP workers burned tires at different places 
in the valley and vandalized dozens of vehicles.  The NC 
activists also held rallies in Biratnagar, Birgunj 
Bhairahawa, Rajbiraj, Kailali and Jhapa. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
7. (C) The RNA made a mistake; by preventing a former fighter 
for democracy from traveling inside the country to address a 
political rally, the RNA may have given Koirala the national 
jolt he needed to capture some positive press and prove he is 
still relevant to the system.  NCP leader Koirala has already 
begun using the airport flub to reestablish his national 
leadership, which had been on the wane both within and 
outside his party.  The bandh on August 29 showed Koirala can 
still energize the Nepali population if given sufficient 
ammunition. 
 
8. (C) The timing of the NCP's action may also have a 
personal/political element to it.  Later this week, the 
Supreme Court is expected to decide whether Koirala has to 
respond to a series of questions raised by the Commission for 
the Investigation for the Abuse of Authority (CIAA).  Rather 
than appear before the CIAA to answer corruption charges, 
Koirala and several others brought a case before the Supreme 
Court to protect themselves from giving testimony.   Koirala 
may try to use the "undemocratic" treatment at the airport as 
an example of the governmental authorities' mistreatment of 
him, and try to portray any Supreme Court decision against 
him in a similar light. 
MORIARTY