US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2517

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002517 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH 
 
NOTE BY CIB: DO NOT PROCESS: PASS TO EAO FOR GUIDANCE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, PHUM, NP 
SUBJECT: UML CADRES REJECT AGREEMENT WITH MAOISTS 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2384 (NOTAL-EXDIS) 
 
     B. KATHMANDU 2418 
     C. KATHMANDU 2492 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty; Reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1. (C) According to UML contacts, more than 400 cadres spent 
two days discussing the agreement initialed by the party's 
leadership with the Maoists to overthrow Nepal's monarchy. 
The group overwhelmingly rejected the pact, recommending 
instead that the alliance of Nepal's major seven political 
parties seek an understanding with the insurgents. 
Participants told us that the UML cadres increasingly favor 
the establishment of a republic in Nepal, and that the group 
authorized its leadership to continue talks with the Maoists 
to bring them into the political mainstream and abandon 
violence.  At the end of the meeting, UML leader MK Nepal 
abruptly left for New Delhi for what he told the press was 
medical appointments.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) 434 cadres of the UML (members of the Central 
Committee and central departments, zonal secretaries, 
national council members, representatives of class 
organizations and district representatives) participated in 
intensive talks November 14-15 about the agreement recently 
reached by Bamdev Gautam with the Maoists "to target the 
autocratic monarchy." (ref A)  According to a participant in 
the discussion, the cadres divided into 22 groups, each being 
tasked with recommending approval or rejection of the pact 
with the Maoists.  Twenty-one groups voiced opposition, and 
only one group said it was in favor of an alliance with the 
Maoists.  The participant said that while the "train had been 
stopped for now," republican sentiments were running strong 
in the party, especially among the young.  Another Central 
Committee member said that the cadres in general did not want 
the UML to act alone vis--vis the Maoists, but rather to act 
in concert with the other members of the seven-party alliance 
of political parties.  CPN-UML party members had recommended 
continued talks with the Maoists to bring them into 
mainstream politics, but had stressed that as long as the 
Maoists continued their violent activities, the UML would not 
join hands with them. 
 
3. (C) At the conclusion of the lengthy meeting, UML leader 
MK Nepal abruptly left for the airport and caught a flight to 
New Delhi, telling party members and the press that he had 
medical appointments there.  Few observers here buy that 
story.  MK Nepal had been back in Kathmandu less than a week 
after an extended stay in the Indian capital.  G.P. Koirala, 
leader of Nepal's other largest political party, has been in 
New Delhi since November 10.  FM Pandey, calling us from 
Tunis (he is accompanying the King on his current foreign 
travels) on November 17, said he had credible information 
that Koirala had met with the Maoists while in India. 
Meanwhile, the press here reported on November 18 that MK 
Nepal and Koirala held discussions in New Delhi the day 
before. 
 
Comment 
------ 
 
4. (C) Nepal's political parties are under serious pressure. 
In addition to their lack of widespread popular support and 
resulting inability to bring large crowds onto the streets, 
they know that they operate in the countryside only on 
 
sufferance of the Maoists.  The Government is seeking to 
undermine all political activity, declaring ever-increasing 
areas restricted to demonstrations.  According to UML 
sources, security services have started obstructing the 
highways leading to Butwal to stop cadres from attending a 
mass demonstration scheduled for November 19.  Given the 
squeeze from all sides, the lengthy sojourns in the Indian 
capital by Nepal's political leaders suggest a desperation to 
hammer out some sort of working arrangement with the Maoists. 
MORIARTY