Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU1143
2003-06-20 07:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, JUNE 14-20

Tags:  PINS PTER 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 03 KATHMANDU 001143 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS HQ
USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST AND JIM BEVER
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA
LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY
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
NSC FOR MILLARD
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA LILIENFELD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, JUNE 14-20

REFERENCE: KATHMANDU 0945

SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 001143

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS HQ
USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST AND JIM BEVER
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA
LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY
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
NSC FOR MILLARD
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA LILIENFELD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, JUNE 14-20

REFERENCE: KATHMANDU 0945

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


1. Maoists reportedly attacked a convoy headed to the far-
western district of Jajarkot to provide humanitarian
assistance. In a meeting held this week, international aid
agencies reported increased Maoist activities that were
threatening aid projects. Kamal Thapa, Minister of
Information and Communications and newly appointed member of
the government's peace negotiating team, said the next round
of talks would be held soon, but offered no timeframe.
Senior-level Maoists reportedly are getting frustrated with
the delay in negotiating the third round of peace
negotiations, accusing both the Government of Nepal (GON)
and the USG for the delay. Maoist negotiating team members
also have accused the GON of preparing to resume hostilities
with USG encouragement. Insurgents abducted nine civilians
this week, allegedly torturing several of them during
captivity, and beat up several other civilians after
stealing grain and other goods from them. The All Nepal
National Independent Students' Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-
R),the Maoist affiliated student organization, reportedly
is forcing young students to join its organization. The
Royal Nepal Army (RNA) continues its "Hearts and Minds"
campaign (Reftel). Seventeen more Maoists were released
from detention. End summary.

MAOISTS ATTACK RNA HUMANITARIAN CONVOY
--------------


2. A convoy of Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers, police and
civilians came under Maoist attack on June 18. According to
press reports, the convoy was fired on by a group of three
hundred Maoists as it headed toward the far western district
of Jajarkot as part of the RNA's ongoing humanitarian
assistance efforts (Reftel). According to an army
spokesman, the army returned fire and the confrontation

lasted over three hours. (Note: In the past, Maoists have
made attempts to disrupt health camps throughout different
districts, including issuing threats and orders against
villagers not to attend the camps, and cutting off water
supplies in the areas where the camps were being held. End
note). In a statement released on June 19, the Ministry of
Defense strongly condemned the attack, and suggested it
would have adverse effects on the peace process. There has
been no comment from the Maoists on the attack. The
humanitarian team said it will continue with the medical
camp as planned.

MAOIST ACTIIVITIES INCREASING
--------------


3. In a meeting held this week, international aid agencies
presented alarming information on Maoist activity throughout
Nepal despite the ceasefire. Extortion campaigns have
increased substantially, particularly during the past month,
and have disrupted some development projects and threaten to
halt others altogether. Maoists reportedly also have
threatened to stop all foreign development projects if peace
talks fail, and have already prevented foreigners from
entering into one eastern district.


4. The international agencies also presented information
suggesting that Maoists have made it known that they oppose
employment projects because they interfere with Maoist
recruitment efforts.
THIRD ROUND OF TALKS TO BE HELD "SOON"
--------------

5. Kamal Thapa, Minister of Information and Communications
and newly appointed member of the government's peace
negotiating team, said on June 14 that the Government of
Nepal (GON) would hold the next round of talks "very soon,"
but provided no specific timeframe. Minister Thapa said he
was studying the agreements reached during the last two
rounds, and would sit for talks only after enough homework
had been done.

MAOIST TEAM CRITICIZES DELAY IN TALKS; BLAMES U.S.
-------------- --------------


6. Senior-level Maoists reportedly are getting frustrated
with the delay in setting a date for the third round of
peace negotiations. On June 17 Krishna Bahadur Mahara,
spokesman and member of the Maoist negotiating team, accused
the GON of delaying the peace talks under the pretext that
it needed time to study previous agreements. Mahara claimed
the GON was "compelling the Maoists to go back to armed
struggle." Mahara alleged the U.S. was responsible for the
delay in peace talks, but offered no further explanation.
However, the Maoist spokesman declared that the peace talks
would fail if the USG did not support them.


7. On June 14 Ram Bahadur Thapa, alias Badal, also a member
of the Maoist talk team, reportedly told a public gathering
in Sindhuli District that the GON was planning to announce
the collapse of the peace talks. Badal accused the GON of
conspiring to get rid of the political parties and the
Maoists. Matrika Prasad Yadav, a politburo member of the
Maoists, addressing a public rally in Bara District in the
Terai on June 14, concurred that by delaying the peace
process the GON was inviting war.

MAOISTS CLAIM GON MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
--------------


8. Maoist rhetoric of late is accusing the GON of preparing
to recommence hostilities. Senior Maoists have lambasted
the RNA's purchase of new weapons, helicopters and ongoing
recruitment of additional personnel. On June 14 Badal,
military chief of the Maoists, reportedly charged that the
GON is not only buying new weapons, but is also planning to
ask the USG for help to "crush the Maoists." Badal
reiterated his previous accusations that preparations are
underway for the GON to impose military rule.

INSURGENTS CONTINUE TERROR
--------------


9. A group of thirty-five armed Maoists reportedly abducted
four youths on June 17 in Sunsari District in the Terai, and
held them captive for twenty-two hours. According to the
abductees, they were severely beaten and tortured during
their captivity. Maoist cadres abducted the four and
accused them of being involved in the rape of a local woman.
Five laborers in Salyan District were abducted by insurgents
on June 15, and accused of digging without permission. The
laborers had been repairing the roadside. A journalist
working for a state-run newspaper was released on June 17
after being held captive by the Maoists for twelve days.
Maoist cadres had abducted the journalist in Pokhara,
charging him with extorting money fraudulently in the name
of the Maoists.


10. According to the local paper, Maoists in the districts
of Sindhuli and Siraha beat up several civilians and looted
their grain and other goods. The estimated value of the
looted goods is almost two thousand dollars, a fortune in
the impoverished countryside.

ANNISU-R FORCING STUDENTS TO JOIN ORGANIZATION
-------------- -


11. Karna Bahadur Shahi, President of National Private and
Boarding Schools Association Nepal (NPABSON),told the local
press on June 19 that the All Nepal National Independent
Students' Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R),the Maoist
affiliated student organization, was forcing young students
to join its student group. According to Shahi, members of
ANNISU-R storm into classrooms and threaten those who try to
resist. Students are intimidated into providing their names
and phone numbers. Shahi condemned these actions of the
ANNISU-R, and castigated them for using children as
political pawns.

RNA MAKING LIFE BETTER
--------------


12. The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) continues its "Hearts and
Minds" campaign(Reftel),providing humanitarian assistance
to some of the most remote and Maoist-affected districts of
Nepal. On June 7 the RNA arrived in the mid-western
district of Baglung to provide medical assistance, and to
distribute clothes, paper supplies and food, and even gave
haircuts. Assistance was also provided in obtaining
passports and citizenship papers. According to press
reports, locals have welcomed the camps and declared that
"life has become much better."


13. On June 15 the RNA also held a two-day camp in Myagdi
District in mid-western Nepal. Local press accounts
estimated that over fifteen thousand people received medical
help and relief supplies. Farmers were given seeds for
planting and agricultural training. According to the Chief
District Officer (CDO),the administration office
distributed citizenship papers to almost two hundred people.

DISTRICT JAIL RELEASES ALL MAOIST PRISONERS
--------------


14. The District Administration Office (DAO) in Kapilvastu
reported on June 13 that its local jail now has no Maoist
prisoners following the release of seventeen Maoists on June

13.


15. On June 11 a joint team of army and police personnel
arrested seventeen Maoists in Kailali District on weapons
charges. The insurgents reportedly were carrying grenades,
rifles and ammunition. Police also arrested two student
members of the All Nepal National Independent Students'
Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R),the Maoist-aligned student
organization, on June 14.

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