Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU1721
2003-09-05 04:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, AUGUST 30-

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.

050427Z Sep 03
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 001721 

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, AUGUST 30-
SEPTEMBER 5


SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 001721

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, AUGUST 30-
SEPTEMBER 5


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


1. Sixty-three Maoists and fifteen security personnel died
in clashes this week. The Government of Nepal (GON) imposed
curfews on twenty-three of Nepal's districts in an attempt
to maintain law and order. Pyar Jung Thapa, Chief of Army
Staff, pledged to maintain peace in Nepal and declared that
the brutal killings committed by the Maoists only
strengthened the army's resolve to defeat them. Maoist
Supremo Prachanda, issued a press statement on September 3
criticizing the Ambassador for meeting with the various
political parties and for interfering in Nepal. Devendra
Raj Kandel, former minister, survived an assassination
attempt by Maoists on August 29. Maoists then killed ten
civilians, and abducted eight others. Police in India
reportedly arrested six gang members on September 2 who
allegedly were attempting to sell weapons to Maoists from
Nepal. The international community and human rights
organizations condemned the Maoists' return to violence.
End summary.

ATTACKS ON SECURITY FORCES ESCALATE
--------------


2. Armed clashes between security forces and the insurgents
during the week resulted in the deaths of fifteen security
personnel, sixty-three Maoists and two civilians caught in
the crossfire. Sixteen security personnel sustained
injuries. On August 30 clashes in the eastern districts of
Udaypur, Sindhuli and Sarlahi left seven Maoists and two
civilians dead, and six security personnel seriously
injured. Also on that day, a police constable was murdered
in Kapilvastu District. Fighting continued on August 31
with a Maoist ambush on a police post in Rupandehi which
left four policemen dead. A police sub-inspector was killed
by rebels in Kailali, while separate clashes in the same
area left three Maoists dead. Sixteen Maoists and three

security personnel were also killed in clashes on August 31
in the western districts of Surkhet, Rolpa and Dailekh.


3. The eastern region of Nepal saw more violence on
September 2 with another Maoist attack on a police post in
Siraha, in which two policemen were killed and four others
injured. Two Maoists were also killed. On that same day,
eleven Maoists were killed and six security personnel
injured in two separate clashes in Morang District. Maoist
ambushes in Khotang, Tanahur and Lamgunj left eleven
insurgents and one RNA soldier dead.


4. A Maoist commander in Taplejung was killed by security
forces on September 3 after he reportedly tried to hurl
socket bombs at personnel on patrol. Four more insurgents
were killed that same day in Khotang. Maoists attacked
another police post in Bardiya District on September 3. One
policeman was killed and five are missing. Another
policeman was killed in Baitadi District.


5. On September 4, insurgents shot and killed a Royal Nepal
Army (RNA) soldier at a checkpoint in Chitwan, and eleven
rebels were killed in separate incidents in the eastern
districts of Ramechhap, Udayapur and Taplejung, and in the
western districts of Surkhet and Dadeldhura.

NEPAL UNDER CURFEW; RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED
--------------


6. Twenty-three districts out of Nepal's seventy-five are
now under a dusk till dawn curfew. Citing security
concerns, the GON issued the curfew to "safeguard lives and
property." The announcement on state radio reportedly also
said that security personnel had been ordered to shoot
anyone defying the curfew.


7. On September 1, the GON announced a twenty-two day ban
on public meetings and demonstrations in several cities,
including the Kathmandu Valley. An unnamed cabinet member
reportedly said the prohibition law was implemented in order
to maintain law and order.

RNA DETERMINED TO END MAOISTS' TERROR
--------------


8. On September 2, Pyar Jung Thapa, Chief of Army Staff,
said the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) was determined to establish
peace in Nepal, and ready for any necessary action against
the rebels. Speaking to senior army officials, Thapa
declared that the Maoists had shown their true identity by
resorting to abductions, murder and extortion. He said the
morale of the RNA would not be affected by the selective
murders of security personnel by Maoists, but that the
brutal killings only strengthened the army's resolve to
defeat the Maoists. Thapa accused the rebels of using the
ceasefire to reorganize and rearm, but asserted that the RNA
is prepared after increasing and modernizing its own
military strength.

PRACHANDA BLASTS "IMPERIALIST MONSTERS"
--------------


9. Maoist Supremo Prachanda, issued a press statement on
September 3 castigating the Ambassador and the British
Ambassador for their August 31 meeting with Nepali Congress
(NC) leader Girija Prasad Koirala. Prachanda condemned both
Ambassadors for urging the political parties to unite with
the "reactionary feudal monarchy," labeling them
"imperialist monsters" who were violating diplomatic norms.
The Maoist commander blamed the current situation in Nepal
on the monarchy and the RNA, declaring that the "Peoples'
War" would destroy the uncivilized monarchy and the
reactionary army, and that the USG and British government
should not interfere in Nepal.

MAOISTS TARGET CIVILIANS AND POLITICIANS
--------------


10. In addition to their attacks on security personnel,
violence against civilians and politicians also has
increased. On August 29, Devendra Raj Kandel, former
Minister of Sate for Home Affairs, was shot and seriously
wounded at his residence by suspected Maoists. Police
sources said that the rebels used Chinese pistols. The body
of a CPN-UML worker, abducted by Maoists on August 31 in the
eastern district of Ramechhap, was found on September 2. On
that same day, a group of Maoists reportedly severely beat a
member of the Nepal Samata Party in Nuwakot District. The
urban warfare campaign launched by Maoists against
politicians and high-ranking security officials has caused
an increase in security presence throughout Nepal. The
local press reports that the Maoists have a "hit-list" with
over two hundred names on it, causing concern and fear among
some officials. Security reportedly is heavy around
political party offices as well.


11. On September 3, Maoist cadres killed four civilians,
including a female health worker in eastern Ramechhap.
Another villager was killed in Sankhuwasabha, after
insurgents accused him of being "anti-Maoist."


12. A group of armed Maoists reportedly abducted two Nepal
Red Cross Workers in the central district of Myagdi on
September 2. They remain missing. Six people, including
five teenaged girls, were abducted by Maoists on September 4
in the northeastern district of Dolakha. Their whereabouts
are also unknown.


13. On August 31, Maoists killed two civilians and severely
beat another in separate incidents. A Village Development
Committee (VDC) secretary in Rajbiraj was severely beaten
for refusing to donate money, and in Nuwakot, a local
villager with previous ties to the Maoist party was murdered
by the rebels, who accused him of spying for the security
forces. An employee of the Birendra Police Hospital died of
gunshot wounds after Maoists attacked him in Kathmandu.

ALLEGED MAOIST ARMS SUPPLIERS ARRESTED IN INDIA
-------------- --


14. Police in India reportedly arrested six gang members on
September 2 who allegedly were attempting to sell weapons to
Maoists from Nepal. According to press accounts, the six
were arrested in India while waiting to hand over AK47
rifles and 9mm guns to three Maoists from the central Nepal
district of Gulmi. The press quoted police sources as
saying that India's Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) has
supplied "huge amounts of arms" to Maoists in western Nepal.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONDEMNS REBELS'
RETURN TO VIOLENCE
--------------


15. The international community and local human rights
organizations are calling for an end to the Maoists' wave of
violence. On August 29, Kofi Annan, United Nations General
Secretary, expressed "deep concern" over the upsurge in

SIPDIS
violence, and called upon the rebels to return to dialogue,
saying there is "no other alternative." (Note: Maoist
Supremo Prachanda reportedly sent an email to Annan thanking
him for his concern, and blaming the GON for his party's
decision to end the ceasefire. The Maoist Commander
reportedly also asked for the UN's help in preventing any
future intervention of foreign military in Nepal. End note).
A spokesman from the Indian External Affairs Ministry in New
Delhi declared that "neither political or economic progress
can be achieved by resuming armed conflict," and British
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said it was a "truly
disappointing development."


16. In a statement issued on September 3, Alexander Downer,
Australia's Minister For Foreign Affairs, said the Maoists'
unilateral decision to end the ceasefire would lead to
further "violence and bloodshed," and prolong the suffering
of the Nepalese people. Downer said the Maoists' action was
a "major step backward."


17. On September 2 the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a
statement expressing concern over the "failure of the peace
process," and warned its citizens to refrain, if possible,
from any trips to Nepal.


18. Political parties, members of civil society and human
rights organizations have condemned the insurgents' return
to violence. The Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES),
the Informal Sector Services Center (INSEC),the Human
Rights Organization of Nepal, and the Communist Party of
Nepal-United Marxist Leninists (CPN-UML) have issued strong
statements decrying the increase in abductions, murders and
torture by the Maoists since the ceasefire ended.

MALINOWSKI