NEPAL: MAOIST ACTIVITY OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 24

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 002076 SIPDIS STATE FOR SA/INS, USAID/ANE, LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY, NSC FOR MILLARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST ACTIVITY OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 24 REF: (A) KATHMANDU 2048 (B) KATHMANDU 2020 (C) KATHMANDU 2042 (D) KATHMANUD 2022 (E) KATHMANDU 2040 Summary -------------- ¶1. After a relatively quiet Dasain holiday, the period of October 18-24 has been marked with increased violence. According to local press reports, 57 suspected Maoists, 3 security personnel and 5 civilians were killed during this week's clashes around the country. Despite the Maoists' press release of October 21, which announced a policy shift away from indiscriminate murder and destruction of infrastructure, reports from the far-western and mid-western regions of Nepal attests to continued extortion, kidnappings and murder of local villagers and businessmen. Colgate- Palmolive (Nepal),a 100 percent owned and operated Indian investment has temporarily suspended operations. Local media reports reference Maoist extortion and an on-going labor dispute as the reason for temporary closure. ¶2. The Government of Nepal (GON),in an effort to better manage the economic impact of the insurgency, announced the creation of a tourism crisis management cell. Maoists in the Makalu and Dolpa areas have standardized their taxing of foreign nationals who visit the area. The GON announced bans on certain cultural activities associated with the local Tihar "festival of lights" holiday for the first time, citing security reasons. End Summary. Words Vs. Deeds of the Maoists -------------- ¶3. On October 21, Prachanda, the supreme Maoist leader, issued a press release citing a major shift in his party's policies. (Ref A) The statement indicated that the Maoists would downscale the intensity of their violence and destruction, and cease the destruction of government buildings, telecom towers and other infrastructure. NGOs and INGOs except those receiving U.S. funding would be allowed to operate. "Common people" would be allowed to make voluntary donations to the Maoists, while big businesses would be assessed a "tax." ¶4. On the morning of October 22, a group of Maoists exploded a pressure cooker bomb at a local government office in Bhaktapur (located in Kathmandu Valley),completely destroying the building and damaging property valued at an estimated NRs. 400,000 (equivalent USD 5,405). Just one day after the pronouncement, moreover, Maoist insurgents brutally murdered five civilians in different parts of the country. Colgate-Palmolive Factory Closes -------------- ¶5. Colgate-Palmolive (Nepal),a 100 percent owned and operated Indian investment, announced on October 19 that it would temporarily suspend operations for seven business days citing the "fragile security situation" and low demand as the major factors. (Refs B and C) This announcement coincides with media reports indicating that Colgate- Palmolive received an extortion demand from the Maoists amid an on-going labor dispute with the plant's local employees. Government Branch Offices Shift -------------- ¶6. Local press reports indicate that many government branch offices have shifted to district headquarters, following heightened Maoist activities. Most police posts and regional police offices also are reported to have moved as a result of the security situation. More incidents of extortions and kidnapping -------------- ¶7. Maoists plan to extort NRs. 10 million from businesses in Gulmi district (located in southwest Nepal). Some 48 businessmen are reported to have received the extortion letter, which demands "donations" in a range of NRs. 50,000 to 500,000 (equivalent USD 676 to USD 6,757). ¶8. On October 17, a group of armed Maoists abducted 23 merchants in Accham District (located in far-west Nepal), stating that the traders were "unfriendly to their party;" authorities have no indication where they are being held. One businessman who escaped indicated that he believed the group was abducted for failing to pay extortion demands. Maoists destroy local businesses and disrupt food supply -------------- -------------- ¶9. Around 100 armed Maoists destroyed a three-decades-old government sheep farm located in Nuwakot district (located in central Nepal) on October 15, leaving the local employees jobless. The Maoists killed sheep on the farm and destroyed the entire infrastructure, including government offices, sheep pens and farm buildings. ¶10. Reports from Kailali District (located in far-west Nepal) indicate that the timber industry has also been affected by the insurgency. Many sawmills have been forced to close due to low timber supply. Those that remain operational cite "double taxation" by the Maoists as a huge financial burden. Government security personnel and the Maoist insurgents restrict collection of wood from the forest, resulting in illegal smuggling of timber to domestic wood and furniture industries. ¶11. Some farmers reportedly are deciding not to harvest their rice crops, citing both low demand from food traders and levies by Maoists on farmers owning more than 5 bighas (about 8 acres). Maoists are demanding that farmers pay NRs. 50,000 (equivalent USD 676) as a "donation." Food traders indicate they are not purchasing rice because they have been warned by the Maoists not to transport food products for business. In addition, people in remote districts of Achham, Bajhang and Bajura districts are facing food deficits because government contractors are unwilling to transport subsidized grain to these districts in the far- west because of security concerns. Maoists Target the Young and Old: Compulsory training -------------- -------------- ¶12. In Achham District (located in far-western Nepal),the Maoists have initiated a new campaign entitled "All are Maoists including children and elderly." The propaganda campaign involves children as young as age 10 and the elderly in physical and doctrinal training. Reports indicate that individuals are forced to wear a cap, to carry the Maoist flag and to chant pro-Maoist slogans during 16 hours of marching around town. Youths Kidnapped by Maoists -------------- ¶13. Armed Maoists reportedly kidnapped 13 young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 from Beltakua village in Dang District (located in mid-western Nepal). According to local residents, the youths were awaken up the evening of October 17, assembled in a nearby open area, handcuffed and taken north. Schools in the Middle -------------- ¶14. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) condemned the October 13 clash between Maoists and security personnel that occurred on the grounds of Sharada Higher Secondary School in Doti (located in far-western Nepal). Carol Bellamy, executive director of UNICEF, called for a code of conduct between all parties that included no weaponson school grounds, no recruitment of children, no political activities in schools, no harassment of teachers or students, and no disruption of school activities. On October 13, the Maoists had organized a program at the school and reportedly threatened students if they did not participate. Security forces who stormed the school and opened fire explained that they believed that all the assembled group were Maoists. Four students were killed in the clash. In the aftermath, nearly twenty schools have closed in Doti, and many parents have chosen not to send their children to schools that have remained opened. The National Human Rights Commission has initiated an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, on October 20, Maoists padlocked more than a hundred schools in Syangja district (located in western Nepal). ¶15. Nepal's three largest teachers organizations announced a joint protest program against the increasing incidents of murder, arrest and abduction of teachers following the breaking of the cease-fire on August 27. Reports indicate that since the beginning of the Maoist insurgency, 141 teachers have been killed. Since the Maoists broke off the cease-fire, five teachers have been murdered and three teachers kidnapped by the Maoists. The teachers' group plans to submit demands for security and increased salary and benefits to the District Education Offices on October ¶31. If their demands are not met, the teachers plan to organize a sit-in at the district headquarters on November ¶14. Asian Development Bank remains committed -------------- ¶16. John Samy, deputy director general of the South Asian Regional Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), reiterated during a trip to Nepal on October 17 that ADB remains committed to assisting Nepal on development and poverty reduction through the crisis period. Samy underscored the need for international donors to remain engaged during "Nepal's critical juncture." ADB is in the process of creating a new Country Strategy and Programme for Nepal which should be completed in 2004. Armed Police Force takes over Farmers' land -------------- ¶17. Farmers demanded the return of land (about 13 acres) that reportedly was taken over by the Armed Police Force's Neelbarahl Battalion about three months ago, leaving some 100 farmers landless. The land encompasses four village development areas within the Kathmandu district. Maoists abduct and release British Gurkha Army Officers -------------- -------------- ¶18. On October 19, Maoists kidnapped four British Gurkha Officers, including a British Army Lieutenant Colonel, about 300 km west of Kathmandu in the remote Lekhani Village Development Committee in Baglung District. (Refs D and E). The British Gurkhas were on a recruitment drive in the area, when their camp was surrounded on October 19. Forty hours after their abduction, the officers were released. The Maoists have been opposing the recruitment of Nepali young men into the British and Indian armies. However, this is the first time that the Maoists have detained a foreign recruiter. Government restricts political and festival activities -------------- -- ¶19. On October 22, the Kathmandu District Administration announced a ban on protest rallies, picketing and hunger strikes within the capital city. On October 23, local governments within the Kathmandu Valley announced a ban on cultural activities associated with the Tihar festival of lights from October 23 - 27, citing security reasons. This is the first time that these cultural activities have been banned. Maoists levy "war tax" and other forced "donations" -------------- -------------- ¶20. Reports of Maoists collecting a NRs. 5000 (equivalent USD 68) war tax from foreign tourists in the Makalu-Barun area have surfaced. (Located east of Mount Everest, Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world.) The tax is five times the amount of the government's entry fee into the area. However, fee collection on the government side ceased over a year ago when the government office was closed for security reasons. The Maoists have taken over the government offices and established a post there. Reports indicate that the Maoists collect fees from tourists at gunpoint and supply receipts in return. ¶21. In another area, reports indicate that Maoists have begun collecting forced, but negotiated, "donations" from tourists in the northern area of Dolpa. Security personnel indicate that Maoists usually request USD 100, but tourists usually negotiate the figure down to NRs. 1000 (equivalent USD 14). Tourism: Crisis Management Cell Established -------------- ¶22. This week the GON developed a Crisis Management Cell to deal with problems within the tourism industry. The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will head this group. Representatives include the Ministries of Home Affairs, Health, Information and Communications, as well as the Royal Nepalese Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and private sector tourism entrepreneurs. Clashes between Security Forces and Maoists -------------- ¶23. News reports indicate that 57 suspected Maoists, 3 security personnel and 5 civilians were killed during this week's clashes around the country. Eight security personnel were seriously injured on October 20 and one was killed when their Kathmandu-bound military vehicle ran over a landmine. BOGGS