US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN1594

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001594 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, KTFN 
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO FREEZING MAOIST ASSETS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 213824 
 
Emboff, drawing on reftel points, spoke on October 19 to 
Maurice Biggar, Deputy Director for International Terrorism & 
Illicit Drugs, and his colleague, Eoin Duggan at the DFA. 
Biggar stated that the last EU Clearinghouse Meeting on 
Terrorism took place in June and the decision was made to 
postpone officially condemning the Maoists in Nepal. 
However, recent events in Nepal have changed the situation 
and the Clearinghouse will review the situation at the next 
meeting.  After 9/11, all terrorism responses have been 
handled at the EU level instead of by individual countries. 
Biggar explained that they would prefer to keep it at the EU 
level and that they won't independently freeze assets or 
condemn the group unless the EU collectively deems it 
necessary.  This is largely due to the fact that the GOI can 
not act alone as a member of the EU and not because of a lack 
of conviction in stopping terrorism financing.  On the 
contrary, Biggar emphasized the need for a political solution 
sooner rather than later.  He says the key issue is whether 
or not labeling the group as terrorists will indeed put 
pressure on the group to negotiate or if it will only 
aggravate the situation.  That being said, the EU and the GOI 
have the Maoist insurgency in Nepal under active 
consideration. 
KENNY