NEPAL: MAOISTS LAUNCH SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 002169

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/SA
STATE ALSO PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS LAUNCH SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON
DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS, POLICE POST


1. (U) At about midnight November 15, Maoist insurgents
launched an attack on the headquarters in Jumla District in
northwestern Nepal. Communications with the headquarters
were cut immediately after the attack, and accurate
information remains difficult to obtain. Initial reports
indicate that four soldiers and 33 policemen, including the
Deputy Superintendent of Police, were killed, and another 13
soldiers and 9 policemen wounded. A seven-man detachment
from the National Intelligence Division (NID),as well as the
Chief District Officer (CDO),have been reported missing.
Local government buildings, including the office of the Chief
District Officer (CDO),were reportedly burned or otherwise
damaged. The Maoists succeeded in stealing nearly a third of
the police's arsenal of weapons, as well as more than USD
45,000 in cash and gold from a local bank. There are no
estimates of Maoist casualties.


2. (SBU) According to an RNA source, the Maoists overran
the 200-man police station, using 81 mm mortars and 2-inch
mortars. Initial attempts by the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) to
dispatch reinforcements to the site were unsuccessful,
reportedly because of snowy weather conditions in the remote,
mountainous district. RNA troops have since been sent to
reinforce the garrison, and have begun cordon and search
operations in the area to capture the attackers. The RNA
source reported that some of the fleeing insurgents ran into
an RNA blocking position, but had no figures on potential
casualties from that encounter.


3. (U) Also at midnight November 15, Maoist insurgents
attacked a remote police post, located approximately 260 km
by road from Jumla, in Tarkakot in Gorkha District in
north-central Nepal. Of the 55 policemen on duty at the time
of the attack, at least 23 were killed and 10 injured.
Police Headquarters reported the attackers made off with
nearly all of the weapons (.303 rifles) from the post.


4. (SBU) Comment: Unlike earlier attacks on district
headquarters in Achham (February) and Arghakhanchi
(September),the Maoists this time failed to overrun the RNA
position. These latest attacks on government forces belie
Maoist rhetoric claiming the insurgents are ready for
dialogue. Sources close to the Maoists report they feel they
have the upper hand in the field. If the Maoists are indeed
serious about negotiations--and many observers doubt that
they are--they are hoping to negotiate from a position of
strength.
MALINOWSKI