NEPAL: MAOISTS CALL INDEFINITE SCHOOL STRIKE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 002301

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/SA
LONDON FOR POL - REIDEL
TREASURY FOR GENERAL COUNSEL/DAUFHASUER AND DAS FOR
TERRORISM AND VIOLENT CRIMES/JZARATE
JUSTICE FOR OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL/DLAUFMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NP PGOV PTER SOCI
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS CALL INDEFINITE SCHOOL STRIKE
STARTING DECEMBER 9


Summary
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1. The Maoist student arm, All-Nepal National Free Student
Union-Revolutionary, called for an indefinite school strike
(or bandh) in Kathmandu Valley starting on December 9th. The
Maoists are asking the Government of Nepal meet thirteen
demands to avert the strike. The Government has neither made
a plan to counter the strike nor has it opened negotiations.
Today, the Maoists floated an offer to drop the strike, if
the Government removed the ban on their organization and
their designation as terrorists. The Lincoln School, attended
by most of the mission's dependent children, intends to hold
class but has established alternate locations as a
contingency. End Summary.

Threatening Children
--------------


2. The Maoist-controlled, All-Nepal National Free Student
Union-Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R),an illegal organization, has
declared an indefinite school strike (or bandh) in Kathmandu
Valley starting December 9. The Maoist student union put
forward thirteen demands it says the government must meet to
avert the strike. The demands made under the theme, "stop the
commercialization of the education system," include a fifty
percent reduction in private and boarding school tuition, the
elimination of Sanskrit education, job security for teachers,
and increasing government funding for Tribhuvan University.
The students warn they will enforce school closures
Valley-wide, threatening the safety of students, teachers,
administrators, and facilities. The group has also called for
nationwide school bandhs for December 11 through the 13.

The Government's Silence
--------------


3. Nepal's Ministry of Education and the Association for
Private and Boarding Schools of Nepal (PABSON) have called
for the Maoists to lift the bandh threat. They have not
issued a response to the Maoist demands. Education
institutions in the Valley, in the abscence of any security
directives by the Government, have put into action
contingency plans by running classes on Saturdays (the
traditional day off),holding end of term examinations early,
or adjourning early for winter vacation. The local British
School and French School, attended by a mix of expatriates
and Nepalese, plan to remain open during the first week of
the scheduled bandh and cancel some of their after school
activities. The Lincoln School, attended by most of the
mission's dependent children and a number of Nepalese,
intends to hold class but has established alternate locations
as a contingency.


4. On November 29, the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of
Education and Sports, Mr. Yuba Raj Pandey, hosted a meeting
of concerned teacher and education organizations near Singha
Durbar, the Prime Minister's office. The intent was to
coordinate actions to address the indefinite education bandh.
As the event closed, two members of the ANNFSU-R brazenly
rushed Mr. Pandey with a handgun and threatened to shoot him
if he did not take seriously their thirteen demands. The
students painted Mr. Pandey's face black and fled, waiving
the gun at the stunned crowd.


5. On December 2, Devi Prasad Ojha, Minister of Education and
Sports, at a press conference called on donors to help
resolve the indefinite stike. When questioned by the press
corps on the Ministry's position, Mr. Ojha is quoted as
saying, "I'm not in a position to comment on the strikes
within the edcuation sector. . . . We want all educational
institutions to run smoothly and be free from politics."

Maoists May Relent
--------------


6. The Nepalese press and public responded with widespread
anger to the threat to their children's safety. In recent
days, the ANNFSU-R appears to have softened its stance. A
December 3 press article quotes Devendra Parajuli, leader of
ANNFSU-R, as saying, "We may give second thoughts to forcing
the closure of educational institutions, if the government
corrects the mistake of declaring us a terrorist body and
shows it is ready for talks with us." (Note: The previous
government banned the ANNFSU-R organization in 2001, labeling
it terrorist after the collapse of peace talks in November

2001. End note.) The Government has not commented openly on
this latest development. The ANNFSU-R stated today that no
talks are underway with the Government. The softening of the
student group's demands has further confused school
administrators and parents, leaving some institutions to
defer a definitive decision until the weekend.

Comment
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7. Education, particularly in the Valley, is perceived as the
gateway to a better life for one's children and a guaranteed
right under the Constitution. The situation exposes the
Government's powerlessness and inability to develop a
coherent plan of action and the Maoists' continued callous
disregard for the welfare and security of children.
MALINOWSKI