US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU968

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000968 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, ASEC, PINR, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: Maoist Leader Calls For Talks; King Calls in 
Parliament to Extend Emergency 
 
REFERENCE: Kathmandu 695 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  A Maoist leader sent a letter to 
Nepal's main political parties May 14 calling for talks 
with the government.  The Prime Minister's political 
advisor called the offer a ploy to allow the insurgents to 
regroup.  The opposition echoed the same sentiment, adding 
that the Maoists were feeling the effects of international 
pressure.  The King has called in Parliament May 23 to 
consider extending the state of emergency.  A May 17 all- 
party meeting to discuss an extension was inconclusive, 
but reportedly security forces pushed hard to a 
continuation and the PM is willing to go along.  Maoists 
used the occasion of three rounds of talks in late 2001 to 
regroup and plan attacks against army installations.  End 
Summary. 
 
Maoists Ask for Talks 
--------------------- 
 
2. (U) Maoist leader Prachanda sent a letter to Nepal's 
main political parties May 14 calling for talks to resolve 
the ongoing conflict in Nepal.  [Post's translation of the 
Nepali-language text follows paragraph 7.]  Prachanda's 
message came in response to recent statements by leaders 
of Nepal's major political parties appealing for peace 
talks.  His statement emphasizes the need to take control 
of Nepal's army away from the Royal Palace and give it to 
"the people," and berates "feudal reactionary elements" 
for plotting to hand the country over to a foreign power 
and for requesting foreign military intervention. 
 
A Ploy, PM's Advisor Says 
------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's political 
advisor, in meeting with Poloff, characterized the 
overture as a "ploy" and said the Maoists were not 
sincere.  They would only use peace talks as an 
opportunity to regroup, consolidate and plan further 
attacks. 
 
Opposition Party Also Skeptical 
------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Nepal's main opposition party, CPN-UML, was 
studying the statement and had not yet decided on its 
response, the UML spokesperson told us.  [Note:  The UML 
felt confident of the letter's authenticity.]  Previous 
Maoist statements were not sincere, he said, and this 
might be another "ill-intentioned tactic."  Prachanda's 
latest letter might be intended to dissuade the U.S., U.K. 
and India from providing military assistance, he added. 
The UML judged that the Maoists were on the defensive - 
although their core force was not destroyed, they were 
confined to remote areas - and now was the time to build 
up Nepal's security forces, not to go in for talks. 
 
PM to Seek Extension of Emergency 
--------------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) The King has called a special session of 
Parliament for May 23 to consider extending the state of 
emergency in effect since November 26, 2001.  The Prime 
Minister called an all-party meeting at his office May 17 
to discuss the matter.  A reporter from Nepal's official 
news agency told us that the heads of the army and police 
had requested an extension, while the political parties 
had argued against it.  In reply, PM Deuba reportedly said 
that while personally he did not support a continued 
emergency, the government should heed the security forces' 
request.  The reporter concluded that the result of the 
meeting was unclear, but speculated that the government 
would seek an extension. 
 
6. (SBU) After the meeting, the PM's political advisor 
told us that the government would recommend an extension. 
He added that even though opposition parties might speak 
out against the emergency, they would do so to cater to 
their own constituencies and in fact supported an 
extension.  [Note:  Reportedly the heads of the Nepali 
Congress Party, UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Pakshye (RPP) 
- the three largest parties - all missed the meeting due 
either to prior commitments or illness.  End Note.] 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. (SBU) The Maoists used last year's negotiations as an 
opportunity to regroup and to plan the devastating attacks 
against army installations in November.  Many believe - 
including those in the GON - that they would likely behave 
similarly should the government agree to hold talks with 
them now.  Security forces apparently continue to push for 
an extension of the emergency even after Parliament 
enacted a new law giving them expanded powers even when an 
emergency is not in effect (Reftel).  That the leaders of 
the three largest political parties stayed away from the 
meeting gives them some deniability and cover in the all- 
too-likely event they may use the request for extension as 
an opportunity for political posturing.  Ultimately, 
however, Parliament looks likely to go along when they 
meet late next week. 
 
Text of Prachanda's May 14 Statement 
------------------------------------ 
 
(U) Begin Text: 
 
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) 
Central Committee 
 
Dear Mr. Chairman/President/General Secretary, 
 
Today the country is in a most serious economic, political 
and cultural crisis.  On the basis of social scientific 
norms and historical experience, it can undoubtedly be 
said that the insufficiency of the capitalist democratic 
revolution has been the main cause behind the pain and 
trouble faced by Nepali society.  As long as the military 
power, which is a major wing of any government, is not 
placed under the control of the representatives of the 
people, any democracy in any form or under any name cannot 
be a long-lasting or real democracy.  Although this 
scientific reality has been proven in several instances, 
the tradition of negligence and [false] compromises in 
Nepalese politics has been a major and serious flaw in 
bringing the control of the military force from the feudal 
palace to the people.  Despite many limitations, problems 
and weaknesses, the armed movement of our party is an 
expression of the historic need to bring the military 
force ultimately under the control of the people in order 
to provide self-sufficiency to the capitalist republican 
revolution. 
 
Today the feudal elements with their traditional military 
force are again trying to impose tyranny on the people by 
attacking the main spirit of the achievements made through 
the historic People's Movement of 1990.  In our analysis, 
the dreadful attacks on the 1990 achievements began on the 
day of the Narayanhity Palace massacre [June 1, 2001]. 
All the ups and downs since then are the essential results 
of that.  Looking at the drama of [last year's] 
negotiations - which had no political alternative and no 
settlement - and the mobilization of the Royal Nepal Army 
against the people, we were compelled to continue the 
armed struggle.  Today the feudal army is encountering 
heavy losses in the battles at the real fronts due to the 
dedication, bravery and sacrifice exhibited by the people 
in protest of the so-called emergency and the Royal Nepal 
Army.  Putting price tags on the heads of Maoist leaders 
and demanding foreign military interference, the feudal 
regressive elements are now busy endeavoring to give away 
the country to foreign powers.  This is a dreadful attack 
on the freedom and sovereignty of Nepal and the Nepalese 
people.  This exercise has intensified the existing crisis 
of the country to a very great extent. 
 
To free the country from this national crisis, the need of 
a united initiative from the partner political powers of 
the historic 1990 people's movement, now both in 
parliament and outside of parliament, has increased many 
times over.  Our party has been pointing seriously to this 
need since the palace murder scandal.  That we have never 
closed the door to talks leading to a positive political 
way out is a fact not hidden to anyone.  Our party has, in 
a very positive sense, welcomed the appeal by seven 
political parties, including your party in the parliament, 
for the resolution of the existing crisis through talks 
and dialogue in a political manner.  The wish of almost 
all political parties, social organizations, human rights 
groups, intellectuals and the public for a peaceful 
political exit has been publicized.  It is a matter of 
pleasure and pride for all of us that the whole nation has 
been on the side of talks and a political settlement.  It 
is time now that a solid step is taken on the basis of the 
people's current opinion.  Therefore, we are writing this 
letter with the objective of maintaining uniformity in the 
process of moving the country in the right direction by 
freeing the country from the existing crisis through 
formal and informal discussions on bilateral and 
multilateral bases. 
 
Prachanda 
President, Central Committee 
Nepal Communist Part (Maoist) 
May 14, 2002 
 
End Text. 
 
MALINOWSKI