US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2498

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RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT POLLS

Identifier: 05KATHMANDU2498
Wikileaks: View 05KATHMANDU2498 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Kathmandu
Created: 2005-11-16 10:24:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: PGOV NP
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKT #2498 3201024
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 161024Z NOV 05
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9145
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3661
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 3938
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 8974
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 1895
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3357
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 8797
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002498 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS 
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, NP 
SUBJECT: RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT POLLS 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard; Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
RASTRIYA JANASHAKTI PARTY TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
1. (U) On November 15, the Rastriya Janashakti Party's (RJP) 
Central Committee decided to boycott the municipal elections 
scheduled for February 8, 2006 and the parliamentary polls to 
be held in April 2007.  (Note:  The RJP splintered off from 
the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in March to form a new 
political party.  Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, 
founding Chairman of the RPP, is the Chairman of the RJP. 
The party is based on the principles of multiparty democracy 
and constitutional monarchy.  End note.)  The Central 
Committee meeting concluded that the proposed elections 
announced by the King in October would not be the remedy for 
Nepal's outstanding problems at a time when the country is 
"heading toward unimaginable consequences."  However, the RJP 
nevertheless decided to register with the Election Commission 
to show that the party had faith in the election process. 
 
CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT LACKING 
----------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Hari Bahadur Basnet, Central Committee Member of the 
RJP, told EmbOff that his party was not against the municipal 
elections, but the government must first create a conducive 
environment in which all the political parties could 
participate in the polls.  He added that the election was not 
possible in the present circumstances.  Nawaraj Subedi, 
another RJP Central Committee Member, termed the elections 
meaningless in the absence of participation by the major 
political parties.  However, both Basnet and Subedi 
emphasized that the RJP would register with the Election 
Commission, as they believed in elections. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
3. (C) With the seven-party alliance and now the RJP 
boycotting the elections, the RPP is the only remaining 
sizable nationwide party that may participate in February 8 
municipal elections, unless the King creates a conducive 
environment.  This decision by the RJP, widely viewed as a 
party close to the King, should send a wake-up call to the 
Palace that it is losing the support of even its traditional 
backers. 
MILLARD 

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