VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKT #0945/01 2871150
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141150Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0899
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3282
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7489
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2825
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 5530

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000945 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
E.O. 12958 N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV OPRC NP
SUBJ: MEDIA REACTION: RESPONSE OF NEPALI PRESS 
TO OBAMA's NOBEL PRIZE 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: Nepali media commentators expressed 
surprise at the Nobel Committee's decision to award 
President Obama with the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. 
Reactions were mixed, with some commentators 
claiming that Obama's actions did not yet merit such 
an award. Many commentators concluded that the award 
was in recognition of Obama's promise rather than 
his achievements. END SUMMARY. 
 
--------- 
Positive 
--------- 
 
¶2.  Centrist vernacular daily RAJDHANI (Oct 11) ran 
an editorial titled "NOBEL PEACE PRIZE" that 
commended Obama for his efforts to establish good 
relations with the international community and his 
remarks on world peace, destruction of atomic 
weapons, and nuclear non-proliferation.  Translated 
excerpts: 
 
¶3.  "... He [Obama] started an effort to establish 
cordial relations with the international community 
that had been given second-class treatment by George 
Bush.  However, his leadership is under the scanner 
vis--vis the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and the 
relations with Iran that he inherited from Bush and 
other predecessors.  ... It is natural for the 
Muslim world and other countries to expect a 
positive change from somebody who was able to 
influence the American 'mindset' in favor of change. 
However, promises, expectations, and their 
fulfillment are different matters. ... He has made 
commendable remarks on world peace, destruction of 
atomic weapons, and nuclear non-proliferation.  But 
along with that, America carries the image of an 
intervening imperialist.  It has forced itself and 
its allies into untoward wars, affecting world peace 
and independence.  Before this image is erased or 
before a meaningful evaluation is done in this 
regard, if the chief executive wins the worlds' most 
important recognition or prize, then it would 
continue to be an issue of debate in the days to 
come." 
 
¶4.  "... Maybe the Nobel Committee wants to keep 
itself in a moral capacity in favor of change and 
peace in the world.  A hasty decision can sometimes 
bring the wrong result.  But Obama has himself 
addressed this skepticism.  May the prize be an 
inspiration for him.  Unshaken continuity of his 
campaign, improved worldview of America, efforts to 
win respect and trust of the Third World, and 
American assistance to the wars against hunger, 
disease, and poverty should be the yardsticks [of 
success] for 'Nobel Laureate' Obama.  Debate 
continues as to whether or not he deserved the 
recognition.  And Obama knows it.  That is the best 
part of it." 
 
¶5.  Independent English daily REPUBLICA (Oct 12) 
published a letter to the editor titled "NOBLE 
OBAMA", by a Nepali reader: "I am happy that Barack 
Obama, the US president, was the recipient of Nobel 
peace prize this year.  He certainly deserves the 
honor because Obama is a man of character and 
talent, who wants to advance peace throughout the 
world." 
 
--------- 
Skeptical 
--------- 
 
¶6.  Independent vernacular daily NAGARIK (October 
11) ran an opinion piece by its OP-ED editor titled 
"PRIZE IN ADVANCE."  The piece was skeptical of the 
award decision. 
 
Translated excerpts: 
 
¶7.  "... All these (international diplomacy and 
remarkable efforts in enhancing community-level 
assistance, work on making a nuclear-free world, the 
emphasis on 'multilateral dialogues', efforts to 
develop understanding with Muslim community, efforts 
 
to make climate change a global agenda under United 
Nations) are definitely praiseworthy and important 
issues.  Still, the prize seems to be given in 
haste.  Obama did 'great work' by deciding to 
withdraw troops from Iraq. ... Obama's commitment 
toward peace will be tested by his decision on 
Afghanistan.  Afghanistan is an issue that could not 
have brought him the prize." 
 
¶8.  "The Nobel Committee's decision to award Obama 
appears to be influenced by his leaning toward 
European viewpoints rather than his contribution to 
world peace.  Non-liberal Americans, especially 
Republicans, consider the world to be 'uni-polar' 
under American leadership after the end of Cold War. 
Europeans including Russia, Germany, and France had 
found it hard to accept the American hegemonic 
claim.  Obama has calmed this dispute by promoting 
the United Nations.  Maybe the fulfillment of the 
European 'ego' is another cause for the prize 
selection.  Besides, is it possible that the prize 
decision came to 'erase' the blames of 'racism'?" 
 
¶9.  "It is not that Obama has done nothing.  He has 
given hope with his special effort to bring 
international diplomacy in favor of and closer to 
people.  Obama has contributed in directing the G-20 
leaders, who used to forsake the greater interest of 
the world for the sake of national interests, toward 
a new path of consensus and dialogue.  Obama's 
effort to reinvigorate the fading and waning United 
Nations is also praiseworthy.  But these were not 
enough to bring him the prize.  Therefore, this 
prize appears not to be in recognition of his 
achievements, but in an effort to encourage his 
potential. To keep the dignity of the Nobel Peace 
Prize, Obama faces the additional challenge of 
strongly advancing his agenda of developing world 
peace and understanding." 
 
¶10.  Centrist English daily THE KATHMANDU POST (Oct 
12) ran an opinion piece by its former editor Shyam 
KC, titled "OH OBAMA" that argued Obama did not 
deserve the prize so soon after assuming office. 
 
Excerpts: 
 
¶11.  "... The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize this 
year to U.S. President Barack Obama has predictably 
raked up controversy as never before.  ... Obama is 
the first black president of the world's most 
powerful country.  But is that a qualification for a 
Nobel Prize? And if so, the U.S. Democratic Party 
that nominated him and the people who voted for him 
deserve the kudos more than he does." 
 
¶12.  "... The domination of Europe and the United 
States in the share of the Nobel Peace Prize is all 
too clear, and bespeaks of the political 
considerations rather than actual merit that go into 
the selection process.  Great figures like Mohandas 
Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) were bypassed. 
In 1991, the prize was awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi 
of Myanmar (Burma), one of the very few Asians to be 
so honored.  And this gave rise to a lot of 
questions here in Nepal as to why she should have 
been awarded the prize when our own Ganesh Man Singh 
was in no way an inferior choice, having made more 
sacrifices than she did, and having brought down in 
1990 the Panchayat system seemingly so firmly 
entrenched. Surely political considerations rather 
than actual achievements were the key considerations 
of the Nobel Peace Prize committee then as now." 
 
¶13.  "... It is no surprise that the present choice 
should meet with controversy.  I am personally an 
admirer of the present U.S. president, but think 
that he did not deserve the prize so soon after 
assuming office and without bringing about 
substantial, meaningful and sustainable changes in 
global politics and matters relating to global 
ecology and climate change.  But oh to be Obama. 
Words rather than deeds are enough." 
 
¶14.  Centrist English daily THE KATHMANDU POST 
 
published a letter to the editor, titled "OBAMA'S 
NOBEL" by a Nepali writer: "... The peace prize 
should go to someone who has done something to make 
the world a more hospitable place.  Obama promises 
plenty, but talk is easy, it's action that counts. 
Isn't it paradoxical that the Nobel for peace is 
going to the leader of the country whose troops have 
been responsible for the deaths of thousands of 
innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan? Also, we 
don't see any concrete steps by the U.S. to combat 
climate change even while it is the biggest energy 
consumer in the world.  I doubt the peace prize will 
change the U.S. outlook on the rest of the world." 
 
MOON