US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU1408

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001408 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ASEC, PGOV, PHUM, NP, Maoist Insurgency, India Relations 
SUBJECT: GROWING NEPAL-INDIA COOPERATION AGAINST MAOISTS 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 1407 
     B. KATHMANDU 1314 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5(b),(d) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  The recent arrest of four Nepali Maoists in 
New Delhi and their immediate extradition to Nepal, confirmed 
by the Indian Embassy here, is one of many signs of growing 
Nepal-India cooperation on efforts against the Maoist 
insurgency in Nepal.  The four were members of a 
Maoist-affiliated organization banned by the GOI as of July 
1; their names were on a list provided by Nepal.  The Indian 
Embassy has indicated that they wish to conclude an 
extradition treaty with Nepal at an early date.  India has 
reportedly stepped up security along the border between the 
two countries, and, at Nepal's request, agreed to conduct 
joint border patrols.  End Summary. 
 
Maoists Arrested as Nepal-India Cooperation Grows 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
2. (C) The Indian Embassy confirmed on July 18 that four 
Maoists arrested by police in New Delhi had been handed over 
to Nepal.  The four were arrested in the Indian capital July 
11 and immediately passed to Uttar Pradesh police, who turned 
them over to their Nepalese counterparts at the border the 
same day, First Secretary V.V. Rao told us.  This incident 
received substantial media play in Nepal's press, as have 
other recent actions suggestive of greater bilateral 
cooperation directed against Nepal's Maoist insurgents.  The 
extradition of the four also won praise from Nepal's Foreign 
Ministry. 
 
Members of Group Recently Banned at Nepal's Request 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
3. (C) The four, all members of the Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta 
Samaj (ABNES, or All-India Nepali Unity Society), a political 
front of Nepal's Maoist party, were arrested at a political 
meeting in New Delhi.  One, Partha Chhetri, a.k.a. Ram Karki, 
reportedly played a leading role in the Maoists' public 
relations efforts.  Another, Maheshwor Dahal, is reportedly 
the son of a Maoist leader named Iswori Dahal, a member of 
the Central Committee.  Nepal's press has highlighted India's 
July 1 announcement of the ban of ABNES.  The Indian Embassy 
confirmed that the organization was banned at the GON's 
request. 
 
India Acts on Nepal's Lists, Seeks Extradition Treaty 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
4. (C) In arresting the four, India was acting on a list of 
Maoists provided by Nepal, Rao said.  India would continue to 
act on information it receives from Nepal, and moreover would 
detain and deport any other Maoists who came to their 
attention.  Rao added that the recent visit of Nepal's King 
Gyanendra to India (Ref B) had given new impetus to a 
long-standing effort to reach agreement on an extradition 
treaty between the two countries.  India hoped a deal could 
be struck "as soon as possible," Rao stated, and the issue 
would likely be taken up during an expected visit to Nepal by 
new Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha in the 
coming weeks.  (Note:  Nepal's Chief Secretary also has 
commented on preparations to conclude a Nepal-India 
extradition treaty.  End Note.) 
 
Stay Order Came Too Late 
------------------------ 
 
5. (C) Asked about media reports relating that the High Court 
in Delhi had ordered the GOI to halt the extradition of the 
four, Rao explained that a stay order had been issued to 
prevent their repatriation but only after they had already 
been turned over to Nepal police.  Because it was not a 
directive, the stay order would not apply to future cases of 
Nepalis arrested in India, Rao asserted. 
 
Border Patrols Stepped Up, Also at Nepal's Urging 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
6. (C) Responding to another recent request from Nepal, India 
has agreed to conduct joint border patrols, Rao maintained. 
Additionally, India has employed additional manpower to 
regulate movement across the Nepal-India border.  The volume 
of movement across the open border made it difficult to 
monitor everyone, but India was working on modalities to step 
up monitoring.  In addition to the police, customs and 
immigration officers who had always manned the borders, India 
had added "special security forces" to monitor the frontier, 
Rao concluded. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. (C) Increased cooperation between Nepal and India on 
counter-insurgency measures is a welcome sign, and recent 
Maoist statements (Ref A) indicate that the insurgents have 
already begun to feel the pinch.  Post believes that India 
should be encouraged, whenever and wherever possible, to 
continue to make life difficult for the Maoists.  The Indian 
Embassy to Nepal has welcomed our interest in their efforts 
to date. 
MALINOWSKI