US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU1192

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 001192 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2025 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, PINS, IN, NP, Political Parties, Maoist Insurgency, India Relations 
SUBJECT: NEPALI FM: INDIA BROKERING MAOIST-POLITICAL 
PARTIES AGREEMENT 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 1097 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: CHARGE ELISABETH I. MILLARD, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1. (C)  CDA telephoned FM Pandey on June 3 to express concern 
over reports that security services prevented UML Central 
Committee member Jhalanath Khanal from boarding a plane for 
Delhi on June 2.  (Note: Khanal had told us on May 30 that he 
was going to India for medical treatment.  According to 
British Ambassador Bloomfield, the Government of India was 
also planning to meet with Khanal during his stay in Delhi. 
End Note). 
 
2. (C)  Pandey said His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMGN) 
had allowed a number of other individuals to travel to India, 
including NC leader G.P. Koirala, for whom he had instructed 
Nepal's embassy in Delhi to provide transportation and any 
other required support. 
 
3. (C)  Turning to Khanal, Pandey said HMGN had received 
"very credible" reports from three sources in India that the 
GOI was seeking to bridge the differences between the Maoists 
and Nepal's political parties, including the UML.  Two UML 
officials were currently in India, former Deputy PM Bam Dev 
Gautam and Kumar Khanga (NFI).  Pandey said the GOI had 
facilitated meetings between these officials and Maoist 
leader Baburam Bhattarai.  According to the information the 
Nepalis had received, the Maoists and these UML 
representatives had agreed that a more senior UML presence 
would be needed to reach an understanding, hence the plan to 
dispatch Khanal.  "We could not let that happen," Pandey 
asserted. 
 
4. (C)  Pandey stressed that "there is no going back" on 
HMGN's commitment to lift restrictions on civil liberties. 
He pleaded for USG understanding for Kathmandu's compulsion 
to prevent what it saw as highly dangerous developments in 
New Delhi. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (S)  Pandey's allegations are serious and very worrisome. 
Reports about Maoist activities abound.  British Ambassador 
Bloomfield told CDA on June 2 that an officer in his Embassy 
has a direct contact with Maoist spokesman Mahara. 
Bloomfield said Mahara had contacted the Brit three times 
during the past week and speculated that the Maoists are 
desperately seeking to increase their international 
legitimacy.  He said the Brits, like us, have strongly 
discouraged Nepal's political parties from considering 
entering into some arrangement with the Maoists. 
MILLARD