MAOIST STUDENTS SHUT DOWN KATHMANDU SCHOOLS FOR

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000481

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DS/OP/NEA

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER CASC ASEC PHUM NP
SUBJECT: MAOIST STUDENTS SHUT DOWN KATHMANDU SCHOOLS FOR
TWO DAYS

REF: KATHMANDU 410


1. (SBU) Facing the threat of violence, most educational
institutions in Kathmandu remained closed March 4 and 5
after Maoist-affiliated students called a "school strike."
Exceptions included the Embassy-supported Lincoln School,
the British school, and a boarding school run by the Royal
Nepalese Army (RNA),which all remained open. No Maoist-
related violence was reported in Kathmandu on the strike
days.


2. (SBU) Several violent incidents occurred at local
schools in the run-up to the strike, however. On March 1,
a group of about a dozen Maoists entered a private school
in central Kathmandu at mid-day and used gasoline to set
fire to a computer lab, causing at least USD 25,000 in
damage. While fleeing the scene, the vandals reportedly
yelled out calls to obey their March 4-5 strike. Press
reports quote police officials saying the school may have
been targeted because of its links to a university in
Sikkim, India. On the same day, a business school in an
adjacent neighborhood was attacked in a similar fashion.
Three computers and a photocopier were destroyed in that
incident. Post was unable to determine whether, as seems
likely, the attacks were carried out by the same gang.


3. (SBU) Also on March 1, Maoists pamphleting at a local
college stabbed and critically wounded a student leader
affiliated with the Nepali Congress Party. Post also
received reports of physical assaults on two school
principals and threatening letters and phone calls to
schools.


4. (SBU) Mainstream student groups issued public
denunciations of the school strike. In the past, the
Maoist-affiliated students have denounced the government's
decision to charge fees for primary school education and
have called for reductions in other school fees.


5. (SBU) Note: The EAC met and provided input to the
Lincoln School director. She then made an independent
determination that there was no threat and the school
remained open. As a precaution, RSO arranged for
additional police protection at the school. End Note.


5. (SBU) Comment: The Maoists have once again shown that
they have no qualms about targeting children. They have
conscripted or pressed into service children in remote
areas, and by targeting educational institutions in
Kathmandu they are limiting opportunities for young people
in urban Nepal. Their behavior in the run-up to the
strike shows that they will continue to resort to threats,
vandalism, assault and murder to get their way - even in
broad daylight. End Comment.

MALINOWSKI