US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU1309

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001309 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS 
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2012 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: MAOIST PARTY PLENUM DECRIES ELECTIONS; CASTIGATES 
U.S. 
 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS.  REASON:  1.5(B,D). 
 
 1.  (C) Summary:  An undated Maoist press release, signed by 
Party President Prachanda, reported the successful conclusion 
of a Party plenum.  The Nepali-language release outlines the 
contents of a "political and organizational proposal" 
presented by Prachanda which highlights a purported U.S. plot 
to "capture" South Asia and "encircle" China; criticizes the 
government's scheduling of elections as a false "drama"; and 
renews previous calls for an interim government and a 
constituent assembly.  The statement appears to be an attempt 
to influence the Government of Nepal (GON) to postpone 
elections in favor of establishing a constituent assembly. 
End summary. 
 
2.  (C) An undated Maoist press release, signed by Party 
President Prachanda, reported the successful conclusion of a 
Party plenum.  (Note:  The release does not state where or 
when the meeting, whose probable participants are on the 
Nepali Government's most wanted list, took place, but one 
leftist party leader insists the location was in India.  The 
release began appearing in local media in late June.  End 
note.)  The statement reports the presentation of a 
"political and organizational proposal" by Prachanda.  The 
proposal, entitled "New Situation and New Responsibility," 
charges that the U.S., in order to deflect attention from 
domestic political and economic problems, is planning "a 
volcanic clash between imperialism and the victimized 
countries" by capturing South Asia and encircling China.  The 
American plans, Prachanda contends, offer "a new historic 
role" for South Asians to unite to defeat imperialism. 
 
3.  (U) Most of the proposal's vitriol, however, is reserved 
for the "feudal, tyrannical power" of the Palace, the 
"terror" perpetrated by the Royal Nepal Army (RNA), and the 
Palace's "worthless servant" Prime Minister Sher Bahadur 
Deuba.  The Maoist broadsheet charges that this triad 
connived to preserve the state of emergency and dissolve 
Parliament to frustrate purported support from political 
parties, including the Maoists, and others "for dialogue and 
a peaceful, positive way out."  Calling mid-term elections 
when the country is locked in "a deadly civil war" was a 
"wicked move," Prachanda's statement says, and heaps 
criticism on the Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist 
Leninist (UML), the largest Opposition party, for agreeing to 
participate.  (Note:  A week after the release appeared in 
the press, one UML party worker was killed, five severely 
beaten, and five abducted by Maoists in Rukum District.  End 
note.)  Maoist comrades, along with supporters "of the 
historic people's movement of 1990" should unite in "another 
historic movement in order to establish an interim government 
. . . and elections for the constituent assembly." 
 
4.  (U) Prachanda's statement further alleges that the 
"People's Liberation Army" has improved markedly during the 
six months since the imposition of the state of emergency, 
noting progress in equipment, training and expansion to a 
brigade level.  The Maoists could quickly finish off the RNA 
"if it does not receive support from foreign imperialists," 
the release charges, adding "the RNA's morale survives only 
on the backing of America and the UK."  He also reported 
decisions to make "important changes in organizational 
structure" and "military mobilization." 
 
5.  (C)  Comment:  This latest press release was remarkable 
for its length (more than three pages of text, single-spaced) 
and for language even more tortured and convoluted than 
usual.  Although a censorious phrase or two directed at the 
U.S. is standard fare in Maoist propaganda, the discussion of 
purported U.S. regional ambitions--and our "plan" to encircle 
China--is new.  (Given the America-against-South Asia flavor 
of the accusations, India, which is usually coupled with the 
U.S. as enemies of the people in most Maoist diatribes, 
merited not even a mention this time.)  Although recent 
Maoist statements usually contain oblique references to 
talks, this is the first time since the state of emergency 
that we've seen such explicit renewed calls for dialogue, an 
interim government, and a constituent assembly.  The intense 
criticism of the proposed November 13 general elections is 
yet another indication that the insurgents intend actively to 
sabotage them.  The references to dialogue may be intended to 
signal Maoist willingness to be involved in a constituent 
assembly, should one be constituted if elections are 
postponed.  The leader of the leftist UML, which reportedly 
maintains back-channel contacts with the Maoists, told the 
Ambassador that he had firm evidence that the party plenum 
was held in India, probably with the knowledge of Indian 
intelligence agencies. 
MALINOWSKI