US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2685

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002685 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, NP 
SUBJECT:  MAOISTS EXTEND UNILATERAL CEASE-FIRE ONE MONTH 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 1958 
 
     B. KATHMANDU 2556 
 
Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
1. This is an action request.  Please see para. 5. 
 
Maoists Announce One-Month Extension of Cease-Fire 
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2. (U) On the morning of December 2, the last day of the 
Maoists' original three-month cease-fire (ref A), Maoist 
party chairman Prachanda announced that they would extend the 
unilateral cease-fire by another month.  Prachanda issued a 
statement explaining that an extension of the cease-fire 
would help further the movement against the "autocratic 
monarchy" and give additional time to explore a political way 
out "through a constituent assembly."  He asserted that the 
Maoists had decided to extend the cease-fire in light of the 
demands made by forces within the country and abroad. 
However, he warned that it would not be possible to maintain 
the cease-fire "if the current attitude of the absolutist 
feudal elements continued."  Prachanda noted that the 
three-month cease-fire had provided an opportunity for the 
seven-party alliance and the Maoists to present a new 
"blueprint" to resolve Nepal's crisis. 
 
Political Parties Welcome Extension 
----------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Political party leaders welcomed the extension of the 
cease-fire.  Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) Central 
Committee member Narayan Khadka, CPN-UML Central Committee 
member Kashinath Adhikari, and Nepali Congress (NC) Central 
Committee member Chakra Prasad Bastola separately commented 
to us that the extension was positive.  Khadka and Adhikari 
noted to Emboff that the extension both gave time to, and 
increased pressure on, the government to favorably respond to 
the Parties-Maoist understanding (ref B).  Khadka speculated 
that the Maoists could have decided on a one-month extension 
following discussions with UML party leaders, as a cease-fire 
that ended January 2 would still leave time for Maoist 
violence in the countryside to disrupt the municipal 
elections called by the King for February 8.  However, 
Adhikari stated that after one month the Parties would again 
request the Maoists to extend the cease-fire so the Maoists 
and Parties could continue peace talks.  Khadka also observed 
that, by announcing the extension, the Maoists showed that 
they had respected appeals to do so by the EU, the UN, and 
the international community.  Bastola suggested that the 
Maoists and parties would use the time to "network" with 
international groups that could play a monitoring role.  He 
remarked that the extension would give more time to the 
Maoists to convince others about the sincerity of their 
commitments expressed in the understanding with the political 
parties.  (Note: Despite the cease-fire and the 
understanding, the Maoist violence has not ended.  On 
November 30, they abducted a Nepali leader of a UNDP project 
and seized journalists' equipment in Taplejung District.  End 
Note.)  Bastola added that the understanding was "very 
primitive" and only in its initial stages; it needed a lot of 
clarification. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
4. (C) By extending the cease-fire -- however imperfect -- 
the Maoists have maintained the high ground.  The Parties 
would have been hard-pressed to continue their understanding 
with the Maoists had the latter returned to violence so soon 
- without waiting for a reaction from the King or 
establishing their bona fides.  While the extension has also 
given the King some breathing space, the pressure has indeed 
mounted on him to respond positively. 
 
Action Request 
-------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Embassy suggests the following press guidance for 
use by the Department spokesperson: 
 
We welcome the Maoist one-month extension of the cease-fire. 
We call on the government to respond positively to this 
development.  As we have said many times, there is no 
military solution to the ongoing conflict in Nepal.  Any 
measure that promotes peace in Nepal is to be welcomed.  We 
urge the Maoists to permanently abandon violence and rejoin 
the political mainstream to seek a peaceful resolution. 
MILLARD