US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2652

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
DEPT FOR S/CT SLAVEN 
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, NP 
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT INTERESTED IN US COUNTERTERRORISM 
STRATEGY 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 2407 
 
Classified By: Charge Elisabeth Millard. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C) In separate meetings on November 18, Nepali officials 
shared with visiting S/CT South Asia Officer William Slaven 
the actions that His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMGN) was 
taking against terrorism and how those activities 
complemented U.S. counterterrorism strategy.  Nepal is 
focused on three elements: Maoist leadership, joining 
international agreements to deter Nepal from becoming a safe 
haven for terrorists, and working to win the hearts and minds 
of people by improving conditions to deter terrorism. 
Officials stressed that HMGN was working to promote respect 
of human rights.  End Summary. 
 
Targeting Maoist Leadership 
--------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Armed Police Force (APF) Assistant Inspector General 
of Police Shyam B. Thapa agreed with visiting S/CT Slaven 
that focusing on terrorist leadership was important. 
Security service senior officials said HMGN concentrated on 
Maoist leadership and their command and control structure. 
Thapa showed Slaven wall-charts explaining Maoist leadership 
structure and photographs of top Maoist cadre.  Royal 
Nepalese Army (RNA) Director of Military Operations Brig. 
Gen. Ranadhoj Limbu briefed Slaven on Maoist military 
structure, demonstrating a strong understanding of the Maoist 
military commanders. 
 
Denying Terrorists Safe Havens 
------------------------------ 
 
3. (C) Discussing the U.S. counterterrorism strategy that 
included denying safe havens where terrorists could train, 
operate and recruit, Foreign Ministry Joint Secretary Dinesh 
Bhattarai told Slaven that Nepal was "not a safe haven for 
terrorists."  He added that "there is no excuse for 
terrorism."  Bhattarai outlined the six international 
agreements against terrorism to which Nepal was party, 
including the South Asian Association for Regional 
Cooperation's (SAARC) Regional Convention on Suppression of 
Terrorism, which recently came into force with all seven 
SAARC countries of the grouping ratifying it "to wage a joint 
war against the scourge of terrorism."  Bhattarai noted that 
Nepal submitted annual reports to the UN Security Council on 
Resolution 1373, against international terrorism.  Surendra 
Pradan, Director of Banking Operations at Nepal's Central 
Bank, said the bank forwarded all terrorist financing 
information from the USG to its member institutions.  He 
noted that while no institution in Nepal had found any 
terrorist assets to date, Nepal had the legal ability to 
freeze assets if necessary. 
 
Preventing Conditions Fostering Terrorism 
----------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Upon hearing Slaven's explanation that one part of 
U.S. counterterrorism strategy was to prevent conditions that 
fostered terrorism, Home Ministry Security Division Under 
Secretary Kabi Raj Khanal told Slaven about the Government 
 
SIPDIS 
efforts to target Maoist-affected communities.  Khanal 
explained that the concept of Peace and Development 
Committees was intended to mobilize local communities to be 
able to counter Maoists (reftel).  He noted that the 
government had launched the program in 25 village development 
committees (VDCs) last year and planned to launch the program 
in 100 more VDCs this year, although resource constraints had 
prevented the government from extending the program to more 
VDCs.  Khanal said that the program targeted youths who might 
otherwise join the Maoists.  The RNA trained Peace and 
Development Committee members on development and other 
issues, including human rights.  The committees then created 
development programs such as construction of small roads, 
drinking water facilities and community meeting facilities 
using government grant money.  The APF, RNA and Home Ministry 
 
officials agreed with Slaven about the importance that 
respect for human rights played in convincing people to 
support the government rather than terrorists.  The officials 
explained that the human rights cells were working to ensure 
human rights were protected within their respective 
institutions, including the Home Ministry. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (C) Nepali officials were very interested in the U.S. 
counterterrorism strategy.  Nepal's strategy appears to 
include all three elements of the U.S. strategy, but the 
officials had not considered it in that framework before. 
HMGN is engaged in counterterrorism and would be eager to 
receive further information and ideas on this important 
topic. 
 
6. (U) Mr. Slaven departed post before clearing this cable. 
MILLARD