US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2400

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002400 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS, SA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, NP, Maoist Insurgency, Political Parties 
SUBJECT:  POLITICAL PARTIES: TALKS, NOT ALLIANCE, WITH 
MAOISTS 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2390 
     B. KATHMANDU 2384 (EXDIS-NOTAL) 
     C. KATHMANDU 2388 (EXDIS-NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Amb. James F. Moriarty, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
Dialogue, Not Alliance, with the Maoists 
----------------------------------------- 
 
1. (U) Responding to the Embassy's November 4 Press Statement 
"Embassy Warns Against Maoists-Parties 'Alliance'" (ref A), 
leaders of the Seven-Party Alliance stressed to the media 
that the ongoing dialogue with the Maoists should not be 
construed as an attempt to forge an agreement with the 
insurgents.  Representatives from Nepali Congress (NC), 
Nepali Congress (Democratic) (NC-D), and CPN-UML  stressed 
that the Parties had agreed not to form a pact with the 
Maoists unless the latter gave up violence and accepted 
democracy.  NC General Secretary Ram Chandra Poudel stated 
that the Parties were attempting to bring the Maoists into 
the political mainstream through dialogue.  CPN-UML Central 
Working Committee member Subash Nembang explained to the 
press that the Alliance had agreed at an all-party meeting to 
give some top party leaders responsibility to initiate 
dialogue with the Maoists.  He clarified that they had talked 
only about dialogue, not "collaboration of any sort."  The 
Parties seemed eager to stress that the Embassy reflected a 
continuation of U.S. policy and did not represent a change in 
favor of the Palace. 
 
CPN-UML Acting Head Still for Alliance 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) While most Party leaders reacted to the Embassy's 
warning by emphasizing their caution vis-a-vis the Maoists, 
CPN-UML acting General Secretary Bamdev Gautam told the press 
that there was no alternative but to forge an alliance with 
the Maoists.  He reportedly said "I am in favor of reaching 
an alliance with the Maoists to defeat the King's autocracy." 
 Gautam, who was selected to be one of the leaders to 
initiate dialogue with the Maoists, has publicly claimed to 
have held a meeting with the Maoists during his visit to 
Rolpa District.  (Note: Ref B contains text of reported 
agreement reached between the CPN-UML and the Maoists.  End 
Note.) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
3. (C) The Parties definitely took notice of the warning 
contained in the November 4 Press Statement and have 
reiterated their precondition that before they will enter 
into any closer relationship with the Maoists, the insurgents 
must stop their use of terror, abductions, extortion and 
killings and lay down their weapons.  NC President GP Koirala 
underscored his Party's resistance to closer collaboration 
with the Maoists while they still had weapons (septel).  We 
shall seek out the views of CPN-UML General Secretary MK 
Nepal following his return from India on November 9.  But the 
Parties' growing frustration with the King gives increasing 
support to those who share Bamdev Gautam's views in favor of 
doing whatever it takes to overthrow the monarchy. 
MORIARTY