US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI2635

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002635 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KDEM, NP, IN, India-Nepal 
SUBJECT: MEA ON NEPAL: HUMAN RIGHTS IMPORTANT, BUT 
DEMOCRACY CRITICAL 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 731 
     B. KATHMANDU 728 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt.  Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
 1.  (C) Summary: India's highest priority with respect to 
Nepal remains the full restoration of democracy, not one or 
two human rights improvements, MEA Joint Secretary (Nepal, 
Bhutan) Ranjit Rae told PolCouns and Poloff on April 7. 
Although "very uncomfortable" with a UNCHR Item Nine 
resolution, the GOI expects Nepal to agree to the basic 
framework provisions, but is concerned about too much 
international focus on human rights at the expense of 
democracy.  His current assessment of the situation was that 
it was "intrinsically unchanged," although he considered the 
Maoists to have been emboldened psychologically.  Following 
NC President GP Koirala's release, the GOI was waiting to see 
what steps the political parties take, but has not endorsed 
any particular formulation for reviving the political 
process.  Rae reiterated New Delhi's eagerness to stay in 
touch with us on USG plans.  End Summary. 
 
Stay Focused 
------------ 
 
2.  (C) Rae began by noting that the MEA had recently 
responded to an EU demarche on the UNCHR by stating that 
India was concerned about human rights in Nepal, but not 
willing to let King Gyanendra "off the hook" on restoring 
democracy.  While Rae expected Nepal to agree to the general 
provisions of a possible Item Nine resolution in Geneva, he 
was worried that the King would use his accommodation to "get 
the international community to back off without restoring 
democracy."  The King should not get the impression that by 
meeting human rights demands he is "off the hook" on 
democracy issues, Rae argued, criticizing the EU approach as 
"piecemeal."  The international community should be clear on 
its objectives, Rae asserted. 
 
No Signs of Change 
------------------ 
 
3.  (C) The J/S observed that the situation in Nepal was 
"intrinsically unchanged," although there are rumors that 
some advisers were urging the King to begin a dialogue with 
the political parties, and New Delhi continues getting 
messages from royal envoys who insist that the King 
recognizes the untenability of the current situation.  Rae 
added, however, that this could be simply the result of 
pressure from the UNCHR meeting, rather than a real shift in 
thinking.  Rae did not believe that the Maoists had gained 
any ground militarily, but politically they probably had. 
Although life in the Kathmandu valley seems normal, the 
blockades have been very successful in the rest of the 
country and tourism has dried up.  The Maoists were thus 
psychologically emboldened.  Rae also expressed concern that 
the GON was preoccupied with keeping Kathmandu "sanitized," 
and as a result has ignored the rest of the country. 
 
4.  (C) Rae described the Indian approach as encouraging 
meetings of the political parties, especially now that 
Koirala was free.  New Delhi was not, however, suggesting any 
particular formula, such as the revival of Parliament.  Rae 
told PolCouns that New Delhi has cautioned the parties 
against joining the Maoists, who are keen to unite, as that 
would afford the Maoists political importance.  The GOI would 
like to see discussion result in a solution in which the King 
does not lose face, Rae noted.  Curious about the current 
state of USG military training for the RNA, Rae explained 
that while the GOI had stopped most shorter courses, India's 
long-term military training programs, such as that at the 
Wellington Staff College, continued, as did intelligence 
cooperation, particularly with respect to border security. 
 
Not Worried About the Chinese 
----------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) It was the Indian understanding that the question of 
arms sales "never came up" during Chinese FM Li's visit to 
Kathmandu (ref B), Rae continued, adding that the GOI had 
discussed this issue with the PRC before the trip, but not 
had any exchange with the Chinese since then.  Rae expected 
Nepal to be one of the topics of discussion during Prime 
Minister Wen's visit to India April 9-11 (septel). 
 
US and India On the Same Page 
----------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) PolCouns explained that the US opposes any UNCHR 
resolution that could have the effect of legitimizing the 
Maoists.  Rather, we hoped to use the threat of an Item Nine 
resolution to put pressure on the King.  Reinforcing that the 
US is not wavering from our position that the King must 
restore democracy, PolCouns highlighted the importance of the 
US and India remaining engaged on this issue.  Rae agreed and 
emphasized New Delhi's eagerness to stay in touch with 
Washington regarding our long-term plans, including any 
contingencies if the King fails to move back towards 
democracy by the end of his supposed 100-day interregnum. 
MULFORD