US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU1343

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001343 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
LONDON FOR POL/BELL 
NSC FOR DORMANDY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PHUM, NP, Nepali Government Policy, Government of Nepal (GON) 
SUBJECT: NEPAL: OVER 100 POLITICOS ARRESTED NATIONWIDE 
 
Classified By: Charge Elisabeth Millard, Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
POLITICAL LEADERS AND CADRES ARRESTED 
------------------------------------- 
 
1. (SBU) On June 17, His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMGN) 
arrested 97 political leaders and workers in the course of a 
nationwide protest program launched by the seven political 
parties' alliance.  There were no arrests in Kathmandu, as 
the political parties avoided areas the HMGN has prohibited 
to protests. However, at least three dozen politicos were 
arrested in Dailekh District, though they were all released 
after three hours.  In Tulsipur, Dang District, 12 political 
workers were injured and four were arrested.  Altogether 30 
politicos were arrested from a rally in Baglung District, and 
10 others in Rukum District. The government also arrested 17 
political leaders and cadres in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur 
District.  The Administrative Officer of the Chief District 
Office of Kanchanpur District told EmbOff that all the 17 
arrested have been sent to jail under the Public Security 
Act.  Similar rallies were held in Ilam, Morang, Sarlahi, 
Siraha, Dhading, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Nawalparasi, Banke and 
several other districts.  In Uadayapur and Janakpur, the 
political parties conducted interaction programs as part of 
their ongoing movement against the Royal takeover of February 
1. 
 
POLITICOS DETAINED, RELEASED 
AND SOME BOOKED UNDER PUBLIC SECURITY ACT 
----------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) On June 18, police arrested 14 political leaders 
and workers of the Nepali Congress Party, including the 
General Secretary Sushil Koirala, from a mass meeting 
organized in Rajbiraj, Saptari District.  All were released 
after three hours of detention.  The government also arrested 
29 politicos in Baglung District on June 18. The Assistant 
Chief District Officer Laxmi Prasad Gautam of Baglung 
District told EmbOff that 23 of the protesters were released 
the next day, but the remaining 6 have been booked under the 
Public Security Act. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
3.  (C) Political leaders in Kathmandu have been careful not 
to protest in prohibited areas to avoid arrest.  As there are 
no restricted areas in the districts, the government's arrest 
of politicos in the course of their peaceful protest rallies 
there only helps boost the will of the political parties 
against the King. 
MILLARD