US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU1345

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
LONDON FOR POL/BELL 
NSC FOR DORMANDY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PINS, PGOV, MOPS, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS BACK 7-PARTY APPROACH TO BOYCOTT 
ELECTIONS 
 
Classified By: Charge Elisabeth Millard, Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C) Maoist leader Prachanda announced the Maoist's support 
of the seven party alliance agenda, including the parties' 
June 18 decision to boycott municipal elections and to not 
recognize government appointments at the local and district 
level.  Prachanda also said that he had ordered a halt to all 
violence against unarmed persons, the same day that Maoist 
insurgents levied their largest attack on government forces 
since Siraha in May. End summary. 
 
 
Seven Parties to Boycott Elections 
---------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) Top leaders of the seven-party alliance announced on 
June 18 their decision to boycott the King's proposed 
municipal elections, asserting that the King's 
"unconstitutional government does not have legitimacy." The 
parties' official statement said that elections would "only 
enhance and help cement authoritarian rule."  The parties 
said they would not cooperate with "nominated presidents and 
deputies," and vowed to expel members who support "the King's 
authoritarianism."   The parties called upon the Maoists to 
express commitment not to disrupt educational and normal 
activities, but to join the parties' peaceful movement for 
restoration of absolute democracy, civil liberties, human 
rights, lawful state and all democratic norms and values. 
 
Maoists Support Parties 
----------------------- 
 
3. (U) Maoist leader Prachanda in a statement issued on June 
19 announced the Maoist's support of the seven party alliance 
agenda, including the parties' decision to boycott municipal 
elections and not recognize government appointments at the 
local and district level.  Considering the party alliance's 
request to shun violence and not disrupt the pro-democracy 
movement, Prachanda said he had ordered a halt to all 
violence against unarmed persons "even if they were 
criminals."  However, the statement was silent on the 
parties' demand that the Maoists lay down their arms. It also 
did not provide any reaction to the parties' call for a 
reinstatement of parliament. 
 
Large Scale Maoist Attack 
------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Meanwhile, on June 19, five security personnel and 
three rebels were killed in a late night attack by hundreds 
of Maoist insurgents at government offices in the Diktel 
District Headquarters in Khotang in eastern Nepal.   An RNA 
Operations Officer told EmbOff that 400-500 Maoists attacked 
two separate military targets three kilometers apart, setting 
fire to the District Administrative and District Police 
office buildings destroying property and documents, and 
breaking into the District Jail allowing more than 60 
prisoners to escape. According to the RNA, those released 
were not/not Maoists.  The Maoists also kidnapped one 
policeman.  While this was the largest Maoist attack on 
government forces since Siraha in May, the RNA battalion was 
not in danger of being overrun. 
 
Future Prospects 
----------------- 
 
5. (C) Arjun Narsingh KC, NC spokesperson, said the seven 
parties would agree to constituent assembly elections if 
Maoists were ready to enter the peaceful political process by 
giving up violence.  However, a June 20 Himalayan Times 
editorial cautioned that it may not be helpful to the country 
if the calls from the parties to the Maoists are being used 
"merely to raise the Maoist bogey as a bargaining chip with 
the palace."  Former Speaker of the House of Representatives 
and facilitator for previous Maoist-Government talks and now 
human right's advocate Daman Nath Dhungana cautioned EmbOff 
that he did not know to what extent the parties and the 
Maoist's relationship "was being stage managed."  However, he 
gave India high marks for daring to take initiative to 
facilitate party-Maoist dialogue as the parties and the King 
were so far apart. 
Comment 
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6. (C) Post is closely following the parties relationship 
with the Maoists while continuing to encourage dialogue 
between the parties and the King. The Maoists seem to be 
taking a two-pronged approach pushing for discourse with the 
political parties while simultaneously showing they have the 
military strength to attack RNA positions. 
MILLARD