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FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001085 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPALI PARLIAMENT ENDORSES CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 1082 
 
     ¶B. KATHMANDU 1063 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) On April 30, the King swore in a frail G.P. Koirala as 
Nepal's new Prime Minister.  Koirala subsequently addressed 
the House, calling on the Maoists to come for dialogue, and 
shun violence as early as possible.  The House unanimously 
passed Koirala's motion (ref A) supporting a constituent 
assembly election.  On May 1, seven-party alliance leaders 
were still meeting to discuss Cabinet appointments, with the 
goal of announcing the new Cabinet before the next sitting of 
Parliament, scheduled for May 2.  End Summary. 
 
King Administers Oath of Office to New PM 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On the morning of April 30, King Gyanendra 
administered the oath of office to Nepali Congress President 
G.P. Koirala, officially naming him Nepal's Prime Minister in 
a televised ceremony.  Koirala had been scheduled to take the 
oath on April 28, but had postponed the ceremony due to his 
ill health.  Breaking tradition, after taking the oath from 
the King, Koirala did not take an oath from the King's 
Council (Rajparishad).  The Parties have stated that they 
plan to disband the King's Council, because it had encouraged 
the King's autocratic rule. 
 
Prime Minister Urges Maoists to Come for Dialogue 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶3. (U) On the afternoon of April 30, a frail looking 
newly-sworn-in Prime Minister Koirala, after taking time to 
rest, addressed the Lower House of Representatives, calling 
on the Maoists to come for dialogue and shun violence as 
early as possible.  "The House shall execute its 
responsibilities per the wishes of the people expressed 
during the people's movement, the seven-parties' roadmap, and 
the 12-point understanding with the Maoists," Koirala told 
the House.  The Prime Minister also stated that his 
government would present its policy and programs to the House 
soon. 
 
First Motion of Parliament Endorses Constituent Assembly 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶4. (U) As the first business of the new government, the Prime 
Minster presented a motion supporting constituent assembly 
elections.  When the House unanimously passed the motion 
after four hours of discussion in the chamber, members 
applauded for minutes.  Before the vote, leaders of the seven 
party alliance addressed the House in support of the motion. 
MK Nepal, UML General Secretary, told the House that the 
seven parties were making "new history" by passing the 
constituent assembly motion.  "I think this government is the 
interim of an interim government," Nepal said.  He continued, 
"the principle job of this government is to go for 
constituent assembly elections."  Surya Bahadur Thapa, former 
Prime Minister and current President of the Rastriya 
Janashakti Party, told the House that the constituent 
assembly was the "last alternative" to pull the country out 
of crisis.  "Going for a constituent assembly is the need of 
the day and the appropriate political decision," Thapa 
stated.  Pashupati Rana, Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra 
Party, also expressed support for the constituent assembly. 
 
Party Leaders Discuss Future Role of Parliament 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶5. (U)  Political party leaders also described other areas 
they hoped the Parliament would address in the coming days. 
MK Nepal commented that the government's other jobs were to 
bring the Maoists from the path of war to peace, and to 
restructure Nepali society and the state.  He stated that 
"the Maoists should be included in an interim government 
after going for a constituent assembly is confirmed." 
However, he stressed the need for "international monitors" to 
ensure that the arms of both the Maoists and the government 
would be "well managed."  Thapa noted that the government had 
to work on the King-Party conflict, the Maoist problem, and 
rights of minorities.  Rana stated that his party would 
"extend unconditional cooperation in bringing the Maoists to 
the mainstream."  Sher Bahadur Deuba, NC (D) President, 
commented that the House should change the phrase "His 
Majesty's Government of Nepal" to "Nepal Government." 
 
No Word On Cabinet 
------------------ 
 
¶6. (C) The Prime Minister has yet to announce a new Cabinet. 
The delay is rumored to be due to the Nepali Congress (NC) 
Party using the appointments to pressure the Nepali Congress 
(Democratic) Party to reunify with the NC.  Gopal Man 
Shrestha, NC (D) Vice President, told Emboff that seven-party 
alliance leaders were meeting at G.P. Koirala's residence on 
the morning of May 1 to discuss Cabinet appointments. 
Shrestha commented that it would probably be "a small 
Cabinet."  He hoped that the Parties could come to agreement 
in time to announce a Cabinet late on May 1, or before 
Parliament reconvened on May 2, at 1400 local time.  Shrestha 
remained optimistic that his Party would be well represented 
in the Cabinet. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. (C) Some fighting for Cabinet positions is to be expected. 
 That said, such behavior by delaying the formation of a new 
government will encourage the public to doubt whether the 
Parties have changed their old ways, and take some of the 
luster off their victory.  We will continue to urge the 
seven-parties to remain united and focused on addressing key 
issues. 
MORIARTY