US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU1342

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 001342 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NP, AC, PM 
DEPT FOR IN/R/MR 
DEPT FOR SA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
DEPT FOR SA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC, PGOV, PREL, KMDR, NP 
SUBJECT: WEEKLY NEPAL MEDIA REPORT FROM JUNE 14 TO 20, 
2005 
 
 
1. POLITICAL AFFAIRS 
 
Maoists positive over seven parties' call: A day after the 
seven opposition parties called on the Maoists to support 
their ongoing pro-democracy movement, the CPN (Maoist) 
Sunday said it had taken their call in a positive light. 
Issuing a press statement Sunday, Maoist chairman 
Prachanda said the commitment expressed by the seven-party 
alliance towards the movement against "autocratic 
monarchy" and for absolute democracy as well as the 
election to the constituent assembly was a positive 
development.  Prachanda also made clear that his party was 
ready for an alliance with the political parties in their 
ongoing movement while "being committed to the main 
agendas of the [Maoist] party."  "In consideration with 
the historic demand of the movement against 
authoritarianism as well as the request of the seven 
political parties, we hereby give special direction to all 
organs of the party, the People's Liberation Army and the 
new people's government, not to carry out physical attack 
on unarmed persons even if they are criminals," the rebel 
chieftain declared. (www.nepalnews.com and all dailies 
6/20) 
 
7-party alliance issues `join us' call to Maoists: The 
seven-party alliance Saturday issued a clear call to the 
Maoists to "join the mainstream" and adopt a "positive 
attitude" towards the agitation.  After an alliance meet, 
NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC said, "We have called 
the Maoists to come to the mainstream."  The alliance 
urged the CPN-Maoist to enunciate a clear stand on a host 
of issues, including human rights, civil liberties and 
democratic values. (Pro-India "Himalayan Times," E/D, 
6/19, Circulation: over 25,000 and other dailies) 
 
Campaign on to `bail out' Dr Giri: In order to help Vice- 
Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Dr Tulsi Giri, repay 
his bank loan, political parties in the district started a 
novel campaign to collect money for him.  A draft of the 
collected amount was later sent to Dr Giri via the post 
office. (Centrist "Kathmandu Post," E/D, circulation: 
20,000, 6/14) 
 
Lawyers ask Dr Giri to resign: Lawyers on Monday sought 
the resignation of vice chairman of the Council of 
Ministers Dr Tulsi Giri, accusing him of being a willful 
defaulter of a bank loan. Organizing a protest program 
against the Kathmandu District Administration Office, 
which had recently sought an explanation from NBA 
president Shambhu Thapa for holding a rally in prohibited 
areas, the lawyers said such a blacklisted person has no 
right to hold a key government post. (The Himalayan Times, 
6/14) 
 
2. MAOIST INSURGENCY 
 
Maoists kill 2 RNA men: Maoists shot dead two RNA soldiers 
in Aarughat bazaar in Gorkha Saturday afternoon. (Major 
dailies, 6/19) 
 
Maoists indoctrinate over 250 youths in Gulmi: Maoists on 
Wednesday forcibly took away more than 250 local youths 
along with them in Gulmi district to indoctrinate them in 
their militia campaign. (Media reports, 6/17) 
 
People dying after Feb 1 doubles: The number of people 
being killed after King [Gyanendra] usurped power on Feb 1 
has doubled, reported Kantipur daily Thursday.  271 people 
were killed during the month of May, while 175 were killed 
during April, said the report.  "Peace outside Kathmandu 
valley has worsened, though valley is peaceful 
comparatively," said senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, 
the report added.  He said before Feb 1 the people dying 
everyday was three while six are dying everyday nowadays. 
(www.kantipuronline.com, 6/16) 
 
AI for blanket ban on military assistance: Amnesty 
International (AI) called for suspension of international 
arms supplies and military assistance to Nepal until 
Kathmandu takes clear steps to halt rights violations and 
bring those responsible for them to justice. Releasing a 
report on Wednesday, AI has accused the international arms 
suppliers including Britain, India, France, South Africa 
and Belgium, of fueling serious human rights abuses and 
the Maoist conflict. (Major dailies, 6/16) 
 
Maoists kill 7 civilians: In yet another case of 
brutality, Maoists on Monday night killed seven persons 
including wives of three policemen and an infant in 
separate incidents in Dhangadhi and Morang districts. 
(Major reports, 6/15) 
 
8 troops, 8 rebels killed: Fresh clashes between security 
forces and Maoist rebels in Kavre district, Monday 
morning, left at least 14 persons - eight security 
personnel and six rebels - dead, according to the Royal 
Nepalese Army (RNA). Elsewhere, forces killed two Maoists 
in security operations. (Media reports, 6/14) 
 
3.  PRESS FREEDOM 
 
48 scribes arrested in protest rally: Police personnel 
intervened in a peaceful protest rally organized by 
journalists in the government restricted areas of the 
capital city, manhandled them and arrested 48 of them on 
Monday.  They were released on Tuesday. (Major dailies, 
6/14-15) 
 
FNJ decides to boycott cabinet ministers: Federation of 
Nepalese Journalists unveiled second stage of protests 
programs including boycotting public meetings of cabinet 
ministers.  The decision was taken by FNJ at its two-day 
central meeting.  FNJ also called on all media persons to 
boycott Vice-chairman of cabinet Dr. Tulsi Giri and not to 
publish photograph of government's spokesperson and 
Information and Communication Minister Tanka Dhakal, for 
his repressive stand towards the press.  The journalists 
would stage nation-wide sit-in protests on all Sundays for 
a month. (www.kantipuronline.com, 6/20) 
 
4.  OTHERS 
 
RNA asks foreign arms suppliers to provide weapons: After 
major suppliers of arms to Nepal including India, UK and 
US suspended their supply of arms citing King's takeover 
of Feb 1, the government advertised in its state-owned 
newspaper the Rising Nepal Saturday for international arms 
manufacturers to provide weapons. (Major dailies, 6/20) 
 
China delivers five APCs: China delivered five Armored 
Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) 
on Thursday. Nepal had bought them some time back.  The 
cargo plane has brought military equipment from China, he 
said and added the equipment include five APCs. 
Officials, however, are tight-lipped on the delivery. (The 
Himalayan Times, 6/17) 
 
GDP growth down to 2pc: Bogged down by an unexpected 
economic downturn in the non-agriculture sector, the 
growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost 
is likely to fall by around 2 percent - less than half the 
budgetary target for the current fiscal year.  According 
to a preliminary estimate of Central Bureau of Statistics 
(CBS), the GDP growth rate is likely to remain at 2.1 
percent, against the budgetary target of 4.5 percent. The 
growth of agriculture and non-agriculture sectors for the 
current year is expected to remain at 2.8 and 1.6 percent 
against the budgetary target of 3.7 and 4.6 percent 
respectively. (The Kathmandu Post, 6/17) 
Stop arms aid to Nepal: Amnesty International alleged that 
western governments were flouting their own rules and 
contributing to what it called grave human rights abuses 
by selling arms and weapons systems to crisis-torn Nepal. 
In a strong-worded statement issued on Wednesday, the 
London-based watchdog accused Britain, India and the 
United States of supplying thousands of assault rifles to 
the poor country, which is facing a Maoist insurgency and 
said Belgium was selling machine guns and South Africa 
military communications equipment.  "With the conflict 
poised to escalate, any further military assistance would 
be highly irresponsible," Amnesty said, appealing for a 
ban on arms sales to the Himalayan kingdom. 
(www.nepalnews.com, 6/15) 
 
MILLARD