Monthly Archives: September 2011

American Diplomatic Cable: A Meeting with Nepal Army Chief Pyar Jung Thapa

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | Leave a comment

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001504

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER MASS NP
SUBJECT: CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF ON HUMAN RIGHTS; MAOISTS

REF: KATHMANDU 1376

Classified By: Charge d’Affaires Larry Schwartz, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).

Charge Presses On Human Rights Improvements
——————————————–

¶1. (C) On June 12, the Charge d’Affaires, accompanied by
A/DCM and ODC Chief, met with Chief of Army Staff General
Pyar Jung Thapa to inform him of the USG decision to return
Captain Indiver Rana to Nepal from U.S-based training due to
our concerns that he was serving in a unit currently facing
serious human right abuse allegations. The Charge urged that
the Nepalese Army (NA) cooperate fully with the investigation
by the UN’s Nepal Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR) into the ill-treatment and disappearance of
detainees from the Maharajgunj barracks during
September-December 2003. The Charge stressed that the
decision to return Captain Rana signaled the seriousness with
which we viewed allegations of human rights abuses. Continue reading →

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Posted in American Diplomatic Cable

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American Diplomatic Cable: Moriarty Meets Girija Prasad Koirala, Complains Against Home Minister Sitaula

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | 2 Comments

2006-06-05 12:02

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 001432

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IN NP
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER BRIEFS AMBASSADOR ON UPCOMING NEW
DELHI VISIT

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES F. MORIARTY, REASONS 1.4 (B/D).

Summary
——-

¶1. (S/NF) Ambassador Moriarty, accompanied by A/DCM Schwartz
met June 5 with Prime Minister G.P Koirala and Senior Foreign
Policy Adviser Chalise on the eve of the Prime Minister,s
upcoming visit to New Delhi. Although press accounts have
speculated that the trip will focus on economic and trade
matters, the Prime Minister immediately volunteered that he
had only one goal for his visit ) to obtain Government of
India (GoI) consent to participation of a “witness” in the
Nepal peace process. Gaunt and repeatedly coughing, the Prime
Minister asked the Ambassador to inform Washington of his
desire to firmly draw the Maoists into the peace process,
while foreclosing Maoist military threats and containing
potentially recalcitrant Nepal Army (NA) elements by engaging
a credible and independent group of foreign witnesses,
preferably including India and the United Nations. End
Summary. Continue reading →

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American Diplomatic Cable: On General Rukmangat Katawal

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | 1 Comment

2006-01-26 10:11

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEBDE RUEHKT #0255/01 0261011
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 261011Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0054
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3857
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3524
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9096
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000255

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DEPT FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL NP
SUBJECT: RNA WORRIED THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO CONSENSUS ON HOW
TO TACKLE INSURGENCY

REF: A. KATHMANDU 172

¶B. KATHMANDU 199

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Civilian Leadership Should Explain Counter-Insurgency Plan
———————————-

¶1. (C) On January 20, Lt. General Katawal, Royal Nepalese
Army (RNA) Chief of General Staff, told the Ambassador he
was worried that the government did not have a unified
strategy for tackling the Maoist insurgency. Katawal
reiterated that there was no purely military solution to the
insurgency; the RNA could only work to create space for a
negotiated political solution. He noted that the civilian
government should lead the effort to inform its citizens
about Nepal’s overall plan to tackle the insurgency. Katawal
stressed that a civilian government needed to explain to the
people what the military was doing and why, especially why
the government needed to restrict civil liberties. Continue reading →

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American Diplomatic Cable: Girija Prasad Koirala and American Ambassador Moriarty

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | Leave a comment

2006-05-09

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001195

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL MASS PINR IN NP
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER KOIRALA ON THE WAY AHEAD

REF: A. KATHMANDU 1191

¶B. NEW DELHI 3048

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
——-

¶1. (C) Prime Minister Koirala appealed May 10 to the
Ambassador for assistance in gaining Indian support for a
third party witness for negotiations with the Maoists and for
international monitors of the cease-fire. Koirala liked the
suggestion of having two witnesses – perhaps an Indian and an
outsider – to be able to observe the negotiations, suggesting
that it be done under a UN rubric. He also suggested
expanding the mandate of the UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) so the UN could act as
an umbrella organization for the cease-fire. Koirala
expected the seven parties to finish their wrangling and
finalize a Cabinet by May 11. The Nepali Congress would lead
the Government of Nepal’s (GON) negotiating team, which would
then report back to a caucus of the seven-party alliance. He
requested that U.S. continue to hold off any security
assistance until the military was definitively brought under
civilian control. End Summary. Continue reading →

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US Diplomatic Cable: Nepal Army Chiefs Discuss Role of the Army and Countering the Insurgency

Posted on September 5, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Created: 2002-03-11 13:23

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 000510

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STATE FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2012
TAGS: MCAP NP PGOV MASS
SUBJECT: NEPAL ARMY CHIEFS DISCUSS ROLE OF THE ARMY AND
COUNTERING THE INSURGENCY

REF: KATHMANDU 379

Classified By: A/DCM HOZA. REASON: 1.5 (B, D).

- – - – - – - – -
SUMMARY:
- – - – - – - – - -

¶1. (C) RNA Chief General Rana and his deputy, Lt. General
Thapa, went out of their way to underline their support for
democracy at a February 28 dinner with emboffs. Rana stated
unequivocally that a coup by the RNA was “out of the
question.” According to Rana, the RNA’s role is to quell
the Maoist insurgencuy, to restore public confidence in the
GON’s ability to provide security to its people, and to give
the GON an opportunity to address widespread poverty and
promote development. His deputy, Lt. General Thapa, was
surprisingly optimistic in the wake of the debacle at
Mangalsen (Reftel A). Thapa stated that the transition from
a “ceremonial and peacekeeping” military to a
counter-insurgency force would take time and that hard
lessons would be learned. He noted that the RNA had enjoyed
several significant successes in the immediate aftermath of
the Mangalsen attack, particularly through the use of
helicopters. Thapa stated that the RNA believes there is a
growing split between the political and military leadership
of the Maoists, and that the symptoms of that split include
greater violence and intimidation of civilians. While
optimistic, Thapa made it clear that significant assistance
from “Nepal’s friends” would be necessary. Continue reading →

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Nepal Army Senior Officers Corrupt: Indian Ambassador to American Officials

Posted on September 5, 2011 by | 1 Comment

In a meeting with American officials on 11 March, 2006 in Kathmandu the then Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee had asserted that corruption in the then Royal Nepal Army (now Nepal Army) was high and the senior commanders were “content to acquire arms on the black or gray market” because that was profitable arrangement for them than the government to government deal. “Senior officers were enriching themselves with funds set aside for procurement,” Mukherjee told the US officials. “They had told the Chinese to up their invoices for small arms by 30 percent.” The Indian ambassador said that the situation in the RNA was bad in view of poor leadership, poor training and low morale. Even foreign countries provided up to ten times more ammunition than provided previously, the army would not be able to defeat the insurgency.  Mukherjee claimed that the corruption factor explained why the RNA leadership had not been overly concerned about India, the UK and the US cutting off arms shipments.

[Then Army Chief Pyar Jung Thapa had acknowledged an acute shortage of ammunition during his meeting with the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, Donald Camp, in March 2006.]
- Phanindra Dahal

Here’s the full text of the US diplomatic cable: Continue reading →

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Posted in Documents, Security

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Foreigner’s Eye: Viewing the East Through Western Lens

Posted on September 3, 2011 by | 1 Comment

[पूर्व हेर्ने पश्चिमी नजर- नेपालीमा तल छ]

neil horning

Neil Horning

By Neil Horning
[विदेशी आँखा- bideshi ankha- Foreigner's Eye]

A few days ago a some friends and I were on a bike ride in Bardiya. As we waited alone on the river bank for the ferry to take us across, over 20 other riders arrived, and it was clear that we all couldn’t fit on at once. So, as the raft approached, ready with a plank for us to role our bikes up, what happened? Did a line form? Did the new arrivals recognize it might be better for everyone if a few people waited for the next crossing? Of course not! We all had to race 10 meters into the water, until we were up to our knees, then fight each other while lifting our bikes over the side. After a lot of jostling and a few stubbed toes, it became clear that this loading process would take longer than two trips across would have. So, we had plenty of time, and nothing to do but stand sweating in the Terrai heat and talk about why this happened. Continue reading →

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Posted in Foreigner in Nepal, Foreigner's Eye

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Maoist Infighting Update

Posted on September 3, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Standing Committee meet ends; Baidya demands Central Committee meet

SEP 03 – The UCPN (Maoist) Standing Committee meeting held at the party headquarters in Paris Dada, Kathmandu concluded on Saturday (today) after party Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya demanded the party Central Committee meeting. The meeting was said to iron out the internal differences surfaced after the party handed over the keys to the arms containers to the Special Committee. The hard-line faction of the Maoists led by Baidya has been protesting against the keys handover. Yesterday, the Baidya camp had even boycotted the SC meeting to express their discontent over the key handover issue. The Maoists have handed over the keys to the containers at all the seven cantonments to the Special Committee on Thursday and Friday. Continue reading →

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Posted in Eye on Maoist, Maoist Politics

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प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराईका दुई पाटा

Posted on September 3, 2011 by | 27 Comments

आजैको कान्तिपुरबाट: उपेन्द्र यादव उवाच

two faces of Baburam Bhattarai

Two Baburams: Baburam Bhattarai, left, talks to a Kantipur journalist four days before the Maoist started "People's War" in 1996. He goes to assume office of the Prime Minister in Singadarbar last week after taking oath to the office and secrecy. Pics by Bikas Rauniar via Kantipur

दिनेश वाग्ले
वाग्ले स्ट्रिट जर्नल
यो लेख आजको कान्तिपुरमा प्रकाशित भएको हो । पत्रिकाकै पन्नामा पढ्ने भए यहाँ क्लिके हुन्छ । 

One Hundred Days of Prime Minister Bhattarai

प्रधानमन्त्री भट्टराईको कार्यकालका प्रथम तीन महिनामा शान्ति प्रकृयामा प्रगति भयो, शुसासनको धज्जी उड्यो, कुटनीतिमा उनलाई केही सफलता मिल्यो । नराम्रा कामको अपजस सबै उनैलाई जानु स्वभाविकै भयो तर राम्रोको जस उनलाईमात्र जादैन ।

मुस्ताङ् चढ्ने, कर्मचारी सरुवा नगर्ने, सरकारी खर्चबाट आफूलाई बधाई विज्ञापन रोक्ने निर्देशनसँगै सबैभन्दा महत्वपूर्ण, शान्ति प्रकृया टुङ्ग्याउन एकलव्य भएर लाग्ने प्रधानमन्त्री बाबुराम भट्टराईका भनाई र केही हदसम्म कामले थुप्रै जनतामाझ उनलाई प्रिय बनाएका छन् । सर्वसाधारणले चिया पसलदेखि इन्टरनेटसम्ममा व्यक्तगरेका सकारात्मक र आशापूर्ण अभिव्यक्तलाई मापक मान्ने हो भने कुनै पनि व्यक्ति प्रधानमन्त्री चुनिंदा जनतामा त्यतिधेरै खुशी र उत्साह ल्याएको यो विरलै हुने घट्ना हो ।

[UWB note: For those who are subscribed to this site but don't understand Nepali: This article, first published in today's Kantipur newspaper, takes an in-depth look at two sides of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai- his surprising popularity in the mass and his inconsistencies and contradictions in his politics.]

२०१५ मा बीपी कोइराला पहिलो जननिर्वाचित प्रधानमन्त्री हुँदा, ०४६ को जनआन्दोलनपछि कृष्णप्रसाद भट्टराई प्रधानमन्त्री नियुक्त हुँदा र ०६५ मा पुष्पकमल दाहाल प्रधानमन्त्री चुनिदा पनि जनतामा लगभग यस्तै खाले आशा र उत्साह सिर्जना भएका थिए । सामान्यतः राजनीतिज्ञहरुलाई शंकाले हेर्ने र घृणा गर्ने कतिपय जनताले नै अहिलेका प्रधानमन्त्री भट्टराईलाई त्यस्ता शब्द प्रयोग गरिरहेका छन् जो सामान्य अवस्थामा प्रेमी या प्रेमिकाका लागि साँचिन्छन् । जस्तै- हृदयका राजा, आशाका केन्द्र, मेरा आइडल । Continue reading →

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Posted in Eye on Maoist, Maoist Politics

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A Day After Handing Over Arms Key, Maoist Hardliners Baidya and Badal Revolt Against Prachanda

Posted on September 2, 2011 by | 3 Comments
maoist baidya cadres protesting

A group of pro-Baidya Maoist cadres protesting in Kathmandu

Prachanda, Baidya men clash in Kavre. Is the Maoist party on the verge of split? If yes, when?

The intra-party rift in the UCPN (M) has widened further with the faction led by Senior Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya on Friday (today) announcing a nationwide campaign against the party decision to hand over the keys of arms containers to the Special Committee. Defying calls by the party leadership, the Baidya faction decided to launch a “national awareness campaign” starting Saturday (tomorrow). Leaders from the faction told Republica newspaper that they would paint walls and hold corner meetings to protest the party establishment´s decision to hand over the keys of the arms containers to the Special Committee. Baidya and General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa on Friday (today) evening issued a statement demanding that the party chairman and the government scrap the decision.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Maoist Politics, Peace Process 2

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