ARMY, MAOISTS BATTLE IN SOUTHWESTERN NEPAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001174 SIPDIS STATE FOR SA/INS LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2012 TAGS: PTER MCAP PGOV NP SUBJECT: ARMY, MAOISTS BATTLE IN SOUTHWESTERN NEPAL REF: A. (A) KATHMANDU 1053 ¶B. (B) KATHMANDU 882 Classified By: DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS. REASON: 1.5 (B,D). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Two Royal Nepal Army (RNA) platoons battled an estimated 100-200 Maoists the night of June 12 in a remote location in Salyan District, about 320 km west of Kathmandu. Preliminary casualty counts indicate from 3-8 RNA killed, 3 missing, and more than 20 wounded. The battle was precipitated when the RNA, acting on intelligence, discovered a deserted Maoist training camp in the vicinity. That the RNA has for the second time in two months capitalized on intelligence to pinpoint the location of a Maoist camp (Ref B) is an encouraging sign that the military is developing its nascent intelligence capabilities. At the same time, the Maoists have proven once again that they remain able to train, gather in large groups, and engage the RNA despite the extension of the state of emergency. End summary. ¶2. (U) On the night of June 12, two Royal Nepal Army (RNA) platoons (80 soldiers commanded by a major) engaged an estimated 100-200 Maoists at a remote jungle location in Damichaur, Salyan, in southwestern Nepal (about 320 km west of Kathmandu). Damichaur is about 20 miles north of (and more than a day's walk distant from) the district headquarters, where one of the platoons is based. Fighting continued until the early morning hours of June 13. ¶3. (C) According to Director of Military Operations Brig. Gen. Pradip Malla, RNA intelligence had received reports of a Maoist training camp in the area. The platoons had come upon a location that appeared to be the reported camp, which was deserted except for one suspected Maoist, who was shot and killed. The patrol recovered 11 self-loading rifles from the site. Based on the amount of food supplies stored at the camp (about 20 kg of meat and jerky),the RNA commander estimated it supported a manageable number of insurgents, and decided to engage them. The soldiers reportedly proceeded on patrol, came upon the massed Maoists, and a firefight ensued for at least four hours. Malla said 3 RNA were killed, three are reported missing, and 20 injured. A total of 11 corpses, presumably of Maoist combatants, were also found at the site. (Note: The Chief District Officer put the number of RNA dead at five, and a Ministry of Defense source said eight. We expect the figures to change as more information becomes available.) According to the Chief District Officer and an RNA source, cordon and search operations for the scattered Maoists are now underway in the vicinity of the battle. We expect that further information on the battle will become available in coming days. ¶4. (C) Comment: That the RNA has for the second time in two months capitalized on intelligence to pinpoint the location of a Maoist camp (Ref B) is an encouraging sign that the military is developing its nascent intelligence capabilities. At the same time, the Maoists apparently remain able to train and assemble in large numbers, despite the extension of the state of emergency. The two-week lull since the last major incident (Ref A) led to some speculation that the Maoists might be biding their time to see how the domestic political scenario plays out. The events of June 12 demonstrate that the insurgents continue to train and remain battle-ready. MALINOWSKI