Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02KATHMANDU2484
2002-12-27 08:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: UPDATE ON MAOIST ACTIVITIES, DEC 21-DEC 27

Tags:  PHUM PTER CASC PGOV NP IN 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 002484 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST AND JIM BEVER
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA
LONDON FOR POL/REIDEL
TREASURY FOR GENERAL COUNSEL/DAUFHAUSER AND DAS JZARATE
TREASURY ALSO FOR OFAC/RNEWCOMB AND TASK FORCE ON TERRORIST
FINANCING
JUSTICE FOR OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL/DLAUFMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PTER CASC PGOV NP IN
SUBJECT: NEPAL: UPDATE ON MAOIST ACTIVITIES, DEC 21-DEC 27


SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 002484

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST AND JIM BEVER
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA
LONDON FOR POL/REIDEL
TREASURY FOR GENERAL COUNSEL/DAUFHAUSER AND DAS JZARATE
TREASURY ALSO FOR OFAC/RNEWCOMB AND TASK FORCE ON TERRORIST
FINANCING
JUSTICE FOR OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL/DLAUFMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PTER CASC PGOV NP IN
SUBJECT: NEPAL: UPDATE ON MAOIST ACTIVITIES, DEC 21-DEC 27


SUMMARY
--------------

1. The Centre For Economic and Social Development released
a study on December 24 that showed an overwhelming majority
of Nepalis, particularly those in Maoist infested areas,
support a multi-party democracy. The local press reported
that India has tightened security along its northern borders
following reports of Maoists entering the area, while the
Indian Ambassador claimed to the press that two Indian
terrorist groups have been crossing the border to train in
camps located in Nepal. Amnesty International has accused
the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) of intimidating two victims into
recanting their allegations of rape by top army officials.
The RNA is facing increasing pressure from the media and
human rights organizations for alleged human rights abuses.
Skepticism surrounds the proposed peace talks between the
government and Maoists as both sides demand formal peace
proposals. Maoist violence continued, with the killings of
three policemen, a soldier, and a schoolteacher, and a
December 26 bomb blast in downtown Kathmandu. The
insurgents also abducted, but later released, unharmed, 45
schoolchildren; kidnapped a local development officer;
destroyed a police post; and increased extortion demands.
Besides a one-day general strike in the western region that
disrupted business, education and transportation, the
Maoists have also called a strike December 29-30 in the
Narayani and Bagmati zones, which includes the Kathmandu
Valley. Another bandh has been declared for January 3 in
the southeastern city of Biratnagar to disrupt a visit to
that area by the King.

NEPALIS FAVOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY
--------------


2. A survey conducted by the Centre For Economic and Social
Development (CESOD),a Kathmandu based non-governmental
organization, released December 24, shows that over 73
percent of Nepalis support a multi-party democracy. CESOD

conducted its research over a six-month period, in the
districts of Surkhet, Bardia, Sindhuli, Rautahat, Morang,
and Dhankuta, all of which are infested with Maoists. The
report also stated that villagers favor a democracy that is
free from corruption and want the current political crisis
to be solved through dialogue.

INDIA PUTS PARAMILITARY FORCES ALONG BORDER
--------------


3. According to the local press, India has placed
paramilitary forces along its borders, following reports
that Maoist rebels were crossing into Northern India. Shyam
Saran, India's Ambassador to Nepal, publicly denied that
India harbors Nepali Maoists, instead blaming the open
border. Saran also said that members of two Indian
terrorist groups, the Maoist Coordination Committee (MCC)
and the Peoples War Group (PWG) cross the border into Nepal
to enter training camps. Saran asserted that India will not
take part in any joint military action with Nepal against
the Maoists, nor play any role in mediating talks between
the Government of Nepal (GON) and the Maoists.

RNA UNDER FIRE, HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE
--------------


4. Following publication of its December 19 report on
Nepal, Amnesty International (AI) accused the Royal Nepal
Army (RNA) of pressuring two victims highlighted in the
report to recant their allegations of rape against army
officials. The AI statement called upon the GON to ensure
the protection and safety of all victims of human rights
abuses. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has
issued a statement castigating the GON for failing to
acknowledge the AI report and demanding that the GON
investigate human rights abuses and punish violators
accordingly. NHRC announced that it will send teams of
observers to the western districts of Banke and Baridya to
monitor the situations there. Meanwhile, the Non Government
Federation and the Association of International NGOs have
joined in expressing their "grave concern" over human
rights abuses by both the Maoists and the government, citing
the escalation of rape, torture, kidnappings and
disappearances of civilians. The Human Rights and Peace
Society denounced the November 27 killings by the RNA of
five young men and boys in Nuwakot as a human rights
violation.


5. Under increasing pressure from the media and human
rights organizations, the RNA held a press conference
December 26 to defend its human rights record and give its
version of two well publicized cases, the killing of five
youths in the Nuwakot district as well as the allegations of
rape by top Army officials.


6. The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) issued a statement denying
the accusations of rape. Gurung said the reports of rape
were baseless and denied that the victims were forced to
recant their stories. He showed video footage of the two
women involved and claimed that they appeared relaxed and
not under any pressure to recant their stories. Preliminary
results of the RNA investigation into the Nuwakot killings
indicate that the five youths may have been innocent, Gurung
acknowledged. Should the final investigation support those
initial findings, appropriate action against the soldiers
involved will be taken, he pledged.

MAOISTS DECLARE BANDHS
--------------


7. Maoists have declared a two-day general strike (bandh)
for December 29 and 30 in the Bagmati and Narayani zones, to
include the Kathmandu Valley. Taxi and bus services will be
shut down, and businesses and schools closed. In the past,
vehicles that break the strike have been attacked. The
Maoists have also declared a bandh in southeastern Nepal, to
include the Biratnagar area, on January 3, which coincides
with a visit by the King to that region.


8. Maoists called a one-day bandh on December 25 in the
western region that affected businesses, schools and
transportation. Districts affected by the bandh included
Baglung, Rupandehi, and Nawalparasi. Major businesses,
schools and industries closed, and highways were empty.

PM CHAND WANTS FORMAL PROPOSAL FROM MAOISTS
--------------


9. Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand told the press he
is still awaiting a formal peace proposal from the Maoists
in order to move ahead with peace talks. Chand said the GON
would take a "positive stance" if the Maoists made an
"authoritative and credible" offer of a peace proposal.
Devi Prasad Ojha, Minister for Education and Sports,
however, told the press that he expected the talks to be
held by the second week of February, but refused to
elaborate.

MAOISTS SET CONDITIONS FOR TALKS
--------------


10. The Maoists, in turn, have demanded that the government
announce a formal peace offer before beginning dialogue.
Maoist leader Prachanda issued a statement demanding that
the GON comply with four conditions before dialogue can take
place: that the terrorist designation by the government be
lifted; that it stop killing innocent people; that it
disclose the location of detainees; and that it provide a
clear agenda of the issues that need to be discussed.
According to Narayan Singh Pun, Minister for Physical
Planning and Works, the GON is considering whether to lift
the terrorist designation, but will not reach a decision
until it has consulted with all major political parties.
Party leaders quoted in the local press expressed skepticism
regarding the Maoists' sincerity in pushing for talks.

MAOISTS TRY NEW STRATEGY IN GORKHA
--------------


11. In the historic western district of Gorkha, Maoists are
trying to garner support from the villagers, according to
local press reports. The Maoists reportedly have changed
their tactics from using violence to handing out food and
treats to the villagers. At the same time, however, the
Maoists have warned that those who spy against them will be
killed. Villagers, some willingly and some out of fear,
provide food and shelter to the insurgents, making it more
difficult for the security forces to take action against
them.

AMID PEACE TALKS, MAOIST VIOLENCE CONTINUES
--------------


12. A bomb exploded in downtown Kathmandu on December 26,
injuring seven people and damaging two buildings. On
December 20, a group of Maoists brutally killed a
schoolteacher in central Kavre district, dragging him from
his bed, stabbing him with khukuris and iron rods, and
pouring acid in his wounds. On December 21, Maoist rebels
kidnapped a local development officer in the Ridibazar
district. On December 22, Maoists also abducted 45 students
from a secondary school in the Surkhet district. The
students reportedly were released unharmed.


13. On December 23, a group of Maoists bombed the Mahuwari
Police Post in Rupandehi district, completely destroying the
post and all of the documents inside. Maoists shot and
killed a National Intelligence Department (NID) inspector at
his home in the Kathmandu Valley on December 24. Another
officer was killed in Kapilvastu district on December 25
when Maoist rebels opened fire on him as he was conducting
checks on a passenger bus. On that same day, another
officer was killed in Tikapur, when he was called from his
house by two Maoists, who then shot him. Two other
policemen in the Syangja district were injured when a
landmine was detonated by Maoists. On December 22, Maoist
rebels set a Chief District Officer's house on fire after
forcing the family members to vacate it. In another
incident, a Royal Nepalese Army soldier was killed on
December 22 in an ambush by Maoists in the eastern district
of Panchthaar.


14. Maoists have ordered residents in the district of
Surkhet to leave by early January, hinting at an attack on
the district headquarters. Villagers have been asked to
vacate their houses and shops.

PLEA TO MAOISTS TO STOP KILLING JOURNALISTS
--------------


15. Members of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued a
plea to Maoists to stop killing members of the media after
the kidnap and murder of a journalist who had been working
for a pro-Maoist newspaper before surrendering to the
security forces.

MAOISTS EXTORT MORE MONEY
--------------


16. Maoists have launched a massive "household tax"
campaign, demanding money from households in the western and
southern parts of northern Bhojpur district. The insurgents
reportedly assess the tax on a sliding scale, according to
the financial status of the families. Maoists have also
intensified their collection of money from professionals in
the Parbat and Ramechhap districts, demanding donations from
teachers, government employees, and merchants.


17. Maoists have issued a 35-day ultimatum for all non-
government organizations, including educational
institutions, in the far-western district of Doti to
register with them or face shutdowns. The Maoists have
warned that those organizations who fail to register with
the "people's government" will be forcibly closed.

MALINOWSKI