US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU1407

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001407 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
MANILA FOR OFDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, ASEC, CASC, PINR, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: Press Release Shows Maoists Feeling Heat 
 
 
1. (SBU) In a July 18 press release, Prachanda, President 
of Nepal's Maoist Central Committee, called for a 
political solution to the present conflict in the form of 
a new interim government and expressed the Maoists' 
willingness to be flexible.  Making what appears to be a 
pitch to mainstream political parties, Prachanda 
criticized Nepal's monarchy and its military, but stated 
that a recent split in the ruling party was not part of a 
"conspiracy" against democracy.  The statement is negative 
on the national elections slated for later this year, but 
leaves open the possibility of elections if the Maoists 
decide the political environment has improved, i.e., if an 
interim government is formed to oversee elections. 
Notably, the statement makes no mention of the Maoists' 
demands for a republic and a constituent assembly. 
 
2. (SBU) Observers viewed the message as a rehash of past 
Maoists statements, and only "a little bit new."  All 
agreed that the ongoing mobilization of Nepal's military 
and, more directly, recent efforts by India to crack down 
on Maoists operating on its territory, had begun to put 
the squeeze on the insurgents.  One local editor suggested 
that Maoist leaders living in India expect to be taken 
next. 
 
3. (SBU) The release is widely considered genuine, but one 
observer commented that he would wait a few days--to see 
if the Maoists publish a retraction--before passing 
judgement on its authenticity. 
 
4. (U) Post's unofficial translation of the release 
follows. 
 
Begin Text: 
 
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) 
Central Committee 
 
Press statement 
 
The string of events from the time of the Palace massacre 
to the present have made clear the fact that the feudal 
regressive elements, on the backing and directions of 
foreign reactionaries, under a planned conspiracy, have 
been attempting to unleash extreme tyranny against Nepal 
and the Nepali people.  Taking advantage of the weaknesses 
of the political parties that participated in the historic 
1990 People's Movement, the feudal regressive elements one 
after another have been attacking the people's civil and 
political achievements.  Now it is becoming clearer and 
clearer that the fictitious dissolution of the Parliament 
and the announcement of the so-called mid-term elections, 
when the country has been in a very difficult and adverse 
situation, are nothing but the conspiracy's final moves. 
The plan to hold elections on a mountain of corpses and in 
pools of blood, not providing a positive political 
solution for millions of Nepali people struggling for a 
progressive transformation of Nepali society under the 
flags of the Maoist movement, is in itself a wicked 
conspiracy.  When all the political parties both in and 
outside parliament, intellectual society, and all the 
people, unite against the emergency and for talks and a 
positive political solution, right at that point the 
Parliament was dissolved in the middle of the night, as if 
by a criminal.  This has amplified many times the 
seriousness of the conspiracy.  We have, very seriously, 
been making it clear that the feud between Girija Prasad 
Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba are not the reason behind 
this, but rather that the feudal palace and the Royal Army 
headquarters have raised arms against the people. 
 
In this situation, to think that it will be fruitful to 
take part in the so-called mid-term elections, instead of 
raising the voices of all the political parties, 
intellectual society and the people, in a united manner, 
against the so-called emergency and for the creation of an 
appropriate environment for a positive political solution 
and proper elections, and against the feudal regressive 
elements, will be nothing but something like putting 
oneself in the nets of an extremely cruel hunter.  In our 
view, if all the pro-people forces side with the nation 
and the people in a united order, without being 
destabilized by the intimidation and conspiracy of the 
feudal regressive forces, and make just one step forward, 
doors to solving all the problems of the country will 
simultaneously open.  Opposition to the so-called 
emergency, talks for the positive political solution, 
dialogue, interim government, and the agreed-upon election 
procedures can, under its leadership, be the minimum basis 
for the resolution of the problems for now.  The fact that 
we are ready to resolve the existing problems of the 
country in a flexible manner in accordance with talks, 
dialogue and consensus with all the political parties and 
pro-people powers, was made clear by the letter that we 
had sent to all the political parties, both in and outside 
parliament, and intellectuals before the so-called 
emergency reached the six-month point.  We are still firm 
today on those kind of initiatives as well as a political 
solution. 
 
But if someone seeks security in the web of the feudal 
regressive elements, they betray the country and the 
people at this difficult and sensitive historical moment, 
and the result of that will be decided by history.  We 
don't consider entangling [oneself] in the web and thereby 
staining history anything other than a highly despicable 
act.  Therefore, we in total seriousness strongly appeal 
to all the pro-people forces in the country to unite 
against the so-called emergency and for a positive 
political solution. 
 
Shrawan 2, 2059 (July 18, 2002) 
 
Prachanda, President, Central Committee, NCP (Maoist) 
 
End Text. 
 
MALINOWSKI