US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU1324

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001324 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PHUM, NP 
SUBJECT: NEPAL: KOIRALA RETURNS ENERGIZED FROM INDIA 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 04531 
 
Classified By: ADCM Grace Shelton.  Reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
1. (U) Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) 
President Girija Prasad Koirala returned to Kathmandu on June 
15 and revealed to reporters that he had telephone 
conversations with Maoist leaders during his week-long trip 
to India. He reportedly asked the rebels, without receiving a 
reply, to give up violence and support the seven parties' 
campaign to restore democracy. Koirala decried the "hue and 
cry" coming from Nepal's regime, India, and others against 
his talks with Maoists as "meaningless", as leaders of 
political parties should take initiatives to bring the rebels 
to the dialogue table. 
 
2. (C) All NC leaders who had gone to India in self exile 
immediately after the February 1 move by the King returned to 
Nepal with Koirala on June 15. Leaders of other parties are 
expected to return to Nepal soon.  The General Secretary of 
Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) told EmbOff that two NSP leaders 
were still in India, along with two NC (D) leaders and one 
United Marxist Leninist (UML) leader.  He noted that some 
junior level workers from various parties expected to remain 
in India after their leaders returned to Nepal. 
 
3. (C) NC member Romi Gauchan Thakali told EmbOff that 
Koirala, in briefing party members on his trip, indicated he 
was buoyed by the support Government of India officials had 
shown to the political parties' democratic movement. Thakali 
indicated that NC would pursue a double track strategy.  It 
would continue to work within the seven party alliance to 
continue street demonstrations to pressure the King to enter 
dialogue, and would engage in quiet communication with the 
Maoists to try to convince them to enter negotiations and 
rejoin the political mainstream. 
 
4. (C) Comment: A month and a half after the lifting of the 
state of emergency it is a good sign that self- exiled party 
leaders return to Nepal.  However, these leaders continue to 
be deeply distrustful of the King. Koirala returns from India 
with a renewed sensed of gravitas. His presence in Nepal is 
necessary for movement toward reconciliation with the King 
who remains out of the country until June 22. However, 
Koirala might have become more entrenched in his views and 
less likely to compromise. 
MILLARD