Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02KATHMANDU795
2002-04-23 12:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

FIRST DAY OF MAOIST STRIKE QUIET

Tags:  PTER ASEC CASC PGOV NP 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000795 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/OP/NEA
LONDON FOR RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC CASC PGOV NP
SUBJECT: FIRST DAY OF MAOIST STRIKE QUIET

REF: KATHMANDU 788 AND PREVIOUS

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000795

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/OP/NEA
LONDON FOR RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC CASC PGOV NP
SUBJECT: FIRST DAY OF MAOIST STRIKE QUIET

REF: KATHMANDU 788 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (SBU) Summary: The streets of Kathmandu were
comparatively quiet during the first day of the five-day
general strike called by Maoist insurgents April 23-27. Most
city shops remained closed, and public transportation was
sparse. Most vehicles on the road bore either diplomatic
plates or Government of Nepal plates--with the occupants of
the latter vehicles generally security personnel. A core EAC
convened the late afternoon of April 23 to review the
situation to date and plans for the following day. As it did
today, the Embassy plans to operate as usual April 24. End
summary.

--------------
DAY ONE: RAINY AND SUBDUED
--------------


2. (U) Kathmandu city streets were comparatively quiet the
first day of the five-day general strike, or "bandh," called
by the Maoists April 23-27. About 90 percent of the shops in
town remained closed, and public transporation (apart from a
few intrepid taxis with paper taped over their license plates
to avoid identification) was sparse. Most vehicles on the
road bore diplomatic license plates or the Government of
Nepal plates given to official vehicles--and many of the
latter were carrying police or army troops, rather than civil
servants. Pedestrian traffic was somewhat light--due in part
perhaps to persistent rain throughout the day.


3. (U) As of COB April 23, the Embassy had received
comparatively few reports of security incidents in the
capital and its environs. The previous night suspected
insurgents threw a socket bomb at the home of a Royal Nepal
Army colonel; security forces successfully defused the bomb
and no injuries were reported. In a similar incident the
same night, suspected Maoists threw another socket bomb at a
police post in the Pulchowk area of the city. Early the
morning of April 23, a petrol bomb was thrown at a mini bus
in Lalitpur in the Kathmandu metropolitan area. The bomb
exploded in front of a police station, injuring one policeman
on duty. Outside of Kathmandu, in Rautahat District the
night of April 22, suspected insurgents set fire to two
different buses. No injuries were reported.


4. (SBU) A quick survey of Chief District Officers (CDOs) in
several outlying districts revealed varying degrees of
observance of the bandh across the country. In Jhapa in the
eastern part of the country, the CDO reported that no
vehicles were in operation, and only a few shops open. In
Kavre, six buses were operating--but only after being given a
police escort. The CDO said only a few shops were open in
his district capital as well. Three buses reached Tanahu
District from outlying districts, according to CDO Khumraj
Panjuli, but no other vehicles were moving. Nearly all the
shops in Tanahu's two largest towns were open, he said. In
Bardia few vehicles were running, but most shops were open in
the district headquarters. Similarly, in the district
headquarters of Baglung, most shops were open but few
vehicles running. The CDO of Nuwakot, Mathabar Kumar
Adhikari, reported that his office had successfully organized
a peace rally in the morning. Most vehicles were running, he
asserted, and shops open. None of the CDOs contacted
reported any violent incidents during the day.

--------------
EMBASSY ACTIONS
--------------


5. (SBU) The Embassy remained open with normal working hours
throughout the day, although FSN shuttles were directed to
run a few hours later than usual. The majority of FSNs,
however, elected to walk to work, rather than ride the
shuttle. The international school and the British school
were closed; we understand the international school has
decided to remain closed April 24 as well. A core EAC met at
COB April 23 to review the security situation and assess
probable conditions for the following day. It was decided
that the Embassy will observe normal working hours April 24,
and that FSN shuttles will begin operation two hours later
than usual.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


6. (SBU) Given the events of the past several weeks, the
first day of this widely publicized bandh was comparatively
quieter, with far fewer reports of security incidents, than
preceding non-bandh days. The dismal, rainy weather may have
played some role in this. That said, the general population
in Kathmandu largely observed the strike, despite calls by
the government, the security forces, and political parties to
ignore it. Although fear, rather than support for Maoist
ideology, is obviously the greatest factor influencing
individual decisions to observe the bandh, the Maoists will
nonetheless claim victory, at least for this first day.
Whether the comparative quiet of the first day will embolden
people to flout the strike the second or following days
remains to be seen. The Embassy will continue to monitor its
security posture.

MALINOWSKI