MAOISTS DESTROY MEDEVAC HELO; HOLD PILOT, PASSENGER

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001832

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/OP/NEA
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL
SINGAPORE FOR FAA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER EAIR PHUM CASC NP
SUBJECT: MAOISTS DESTROY MEDEVAC HELO; HOLD PILOT, PASSENGER


1. (U) A commercial helicopter on a mission to medevac a
sick Nepali in the remote northeastern district of Solukhumbu
has been destroyed by Maoists. According to an employee at
Karnali Air, Ltd., the company's helicopter was surrounded by
armed Maoists upon landing in the village of Jubu, and its
four passengers and pilot (all Nepali citizens) ordered out.
The Maoists then reportedly set the helicopter on fire,
completely destroying it. Two passengers either managed to
escape or were let go, and contacted the helicopter company.
The pilot and at least one other passenger are apparently
being held by the Maoists.


2. (SBU) The crew of a second Karnali helicopter,
dispatched to survey the scene, spotted the burned-out hulk
of the aircraft but saw no other activity on the ground.
That helicopter returned to Kathmandu without landing at the
site. Karnali has contacted the security forces for
assistance in locating the hostages. The company is owned by
Narayan Singh Pun, a former officer in the Royal Nepal Army
and former Member of Parliament who recently formed his own
party to contest the November elections.


3. (SBU) Comment: Karnali Air is one of several companies
used by the Embassy for medevacs, especially from the Mount
Everest Base Camp area and from popular trekking routes along
the Annapurna Circuit. The loss of this helicopter will
further strain the already limited alternatives available for
medevac flights. With this latest act--destroying an
aircraft on a mission of mercy--Maoist insurgents have sunk
to a new low. The Embassy plans to issue a statement
condemning the destruction and calling for the immediate
release of the hostages.
MALINOWSKI