Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU2187
2003-11-07 06:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, NOVEMBER 1-7

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 04 KATHMANDU 002187 

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, NOVEMBER 1-7

REFERENCE: KATHMANDU 2022

SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 002187

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, NOVEMBER 1-7

REFERENCE: KATHMANDU 2022

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


1. The local press reported that seventeen security
personnel and sixty-six Maoists were killed in clashes this
week. Maoists reportedly killed seven civilians, including
a fifteen-year-old boy, and abducted ten others. In a
statement issued on November 4, the Maoists reacted angrily
to the USG's announced designation of them for asset-freeze
sanctions, declaring the move "ridiculous." Senior Maoists
threatened "effective resistance" to Prime Minister Surya
Bahadur Thapa's proposed elections. The Royal Nepal Army
(RNA) spokesman reported that 702 insurgents and 168
security personnel have been killed since the breakdown of
the ceasefire on August 27. Over five hundred teachers have
abandoned their jobs due to security concerns and fear of
Maoists, causing dozens of schools to be closed throughout
Nepal. The rebels have renewed their forced recruitment
campaign, demanding one person from each house in the
western district of Salyan, and in the eastern districts of
Khotang, Ilam, and Udayapur. According to the local press,
the insurgents are demanding payments from tenant farmers,
taking over forestry projects, and commandeering private
vehicles and taxis for their own use. End Summary.

DEATH TOLL FROM CLASHES CONTINUES TO GROW
--------------


2. According to press reports, seventeen security personnel
were killed this week. Two Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers
were killed on November 3. In the southwest district of
Banke, one soldier was killed by Maoists and another soldier
was killed in the northeastern district of Sindhupalchowk
while attempting to defuse a bomb planted by rebels. On
November 2, ten RNA soldiers were killed after their vehicle
drove over a Maoist landmine while traveling between the

eastern districts of Bara and Parsa. Six other soldiers
suffered injuries. Four RNA soldiers and a police officer
were killed on November 1 in separate ambushes by Maoists in
the eastern districts of Sindhuli, Bara and Nuwakot.


3. Sixty-six Maoists reportedly were killed this week in
clashes across Nepal. Five Maoists were killed on November
6 in separate incidents including one in Udayapur District,
two in the western district of Arghakhanchi, and two more in
Sindhupalchowk. On November 4, six rebels were killed in
separate clashes in the eastern regions of Siraha and Ilam.
Also on that day, two other insurgents were killed in
Nuwakot, north of Kathmandu, and ten in the western
districts of Banke and Dang. On November 3 a Maoist was
killed in Banke, while nine insurgents were killed on
November 2 in the western districts of Kailali and Achham
and two in the eastern districts of Sindhuli. Thirty-one
rebels were killed on October 31 and November 1. On
November 1 eight rebels were killed in separate incidents in
the eastern districts of Taplejung, Bara and Nuwakot, while
seven others died in clashes in the central and western
districts of Makawanpur, Rukum and Nawalparsi. On October
31, twelve Maoists were killed in the western districts of
Kailali and Achham, while four died in fighting in the
eastern districts of Rautahat, Tehrathum and Sindhuli.


4. Maoists reportedly killed seven civilians during the
week, including a fifteen-year-old boy. One civilian was
shot dead by security forces who mistakenly believed he was
a Maoist. On November 6, a fifteen-year-old boy was killed
in Salyan District in a Maoist ambush meant for security
forces. On that same day, the body of an ex-Gorkha
sergeant, abducted by Maoists a week before, was found.
Both of the sergeant's hands had been chopped off. On
November 3, Maoists hacked to death the father of a former
Village Development Committee (VDC) member in Saptari
District in the southeast. On November 2, in the eastern
district of Sarlahi, Maoists killed a man in his residence,
accusing him of being an informant for police. Also on that
day in the east, Maoists attacked and severely injured a
Nepali Congress (NC) worker in Saptari District. On
November 1, the insurgents killed one civilian in Nuwakot
District, while RNA soldiers shot and killed a civilian in
the suburbs of Hetauda, mistaking him for a rebel. Two
Nepali Congress (NC) activists reportedly were abducted by a
gang of over two hundred Maoists, tortured and then killed
in Bardiya District on October 31.


5. Ten civilians were abducted by Maoists throughout Nepal.
On November 4, two members of NC were abducted in Gulmi
District, and on November 2 four civilians were abducted in
Parbat District. Rebels also abducted four women from
Nuwakot District, just north of Kathmandu, on October 31.

MAOISTS' TERRORIST LISTING "RIDICULOUS"
--------------


6. On November 4, the Maoist leadership issued a press
statement declaring as "ridiculous," the USG's decision to
designate their organization as terrorists whose assets were
to be frozen. The statement further accused the USG of once
again interfering in Nepal's internal affairs, and claimed
that the USG seeks instability in Nepal to further its own
agenda, which allegedly includes establishing a military
base in Nepal in order to target China and India. The
Maoist party reiterated its policy of not attacking any
foreign power, including America, "at the moment."

MAOISTS AGAINST ELECTIONS
--------------


7. On November 6, Maoist ideologue Baburam Bhattari said
the Maoists would resort to "effective resistance" if the
Government of Nepal (GON) proceeded with elections. In
response to Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa's
announcement that preparations were underway to hold
elections for almost 300,000 vacant local council seats,
Bhattarai alleged that it was merely a way for the old
regime to prolong its power. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, also a
senior Maoist spokesman, said the elections would only "add
fuel to the current burning problems."

RNA CLAIMS MAOIST DEATH TOLL OVER 700
--------------


8. In a press conference held on November 6, Royal Nepal
Army (RNA) spokesman Colonel Deepak Gurung said that 702
insurgents and 168 security personnel have been killed since
the breakdown of the ceasefire on August 27. In addition,
127 security personnel suffered injuries in clashes, and
three were abducted. Gurung further opined that the rebels'
military strength is weakening, causing the Maoist cadres to
resort to guerilla warfare and assassinations.


9. Gurung also denied charges that RNA soldiers killed four
students at a Doti school last month (reftel). Gurung said
a preliminary report done by the RNA found that the Maoists
had used the children as human shields, and that one of the
deceased had been stabbed by the rebels, while another died
from a bomb explosion. He said the investigation was
continuing to determine the cause of death of the other two
children.

SCHOOLS CLOSING, TEACHERS FLEEING
--------------


10. Students in some parts of Nepal are being denied
education due to the Maoist insurgency. Maoists in Doti
District shut down schools from November 3-6, and seventy-
six schools have been closed indefinitely in Bajura District
after rebels demanded "donations" of one month's salary from
each of the teachers. Teachers, unable to pay the
exorbitant amount, fled fearing repercussions by the
insurgents, as well as alleged harassment by security forces
who warned them not to provide money to the rebels.


11. Schools in Ramechhap District have been closed for the
past two months, affecting almost six hundred students.
Staff at the school fled after rumors that Maoists would
target teachers. The local paper quoted a teacher as saying
that "a cloud of fear dominates the area," despite Maoist
assurances they would not target teachers.


12. A statement issued on November 4 by the Nepal National
Teachers' Association (NNTA) claimed that most teachers are
forced to pay twenty-five percent of their salaries to the
Maoists to avoid physical harm, and that many have left
their teaching posts to avoid the rebels. On November 4
Education Ministry Spokesman Laba Prasad Tripathee conceded
to reporters that some schools had been affected by the
teachers' departure, but that it "rests with civil society
to have the schools opened." An estimated 500 teachers have
abandoned their jobs.


13. On November 3, Maoists bombed a training center for
teachers in Bhojpur District, damaging the building and
destroying all the computers and office equipment.

YOUTHS IN FEAR OF MAOIST RECRUITMENT
--------------


14. Maoists reportedly have stepped up recruitment
campaigns again, demanding one person from each house in
Ilam District, which borders India on the east. To avoid
recruitment into the Maoist army, many youths reportedly
have fled Nepal. The neighboring districts of Khotang and
Udayapur, in the eastern region of Nepal, have also
witnessed an upsurge in the number of youths fleeing their
villages. According to locals, almost one hundred and fifty
people leave the countryside every day.


15. Fears of forced recruitment have also caused youths in
the western district of Salyan to migrate to India.
According to press reports, most of the young people in the
district have left.

MAOISTS TARGET LOCAL INDUSTRY
--------------


16. According to the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB),
almost thirty-five percent of its registered cooperatives in
the Small Farmers Development Program (SFDP) have been
victimized by Maoists. Officials speculate that the Maoists
mistakenly believe the government owns the co-ops, and are
intent on damaging them, thus hurting the poor "whom they
claim to be fighting for." Seventy-six percent of the
Nepali population is involved in agriculture, with the
majority of those being small farmers. Tenant farmers in
the western district of Kailali, who traditionally give half
of their crops to landlords, said that Maoists have warned
them to stop paying. The insurgents are demanding that they
be paid instead, and have threatened to kill anyone who
defies their orders.


17. Insurgents in the western district of Achham reportedly
have taken over forestry projects in that region. According
to press reports, the insurgents have disbanded local
elected committees and formed their own management. The
rebels also have begun collecting revenue from the sale of
timber and forest products.


18. On November 1, the local press reported that Maoists
have been commandeering taxis and other private vehicles.
The insurgents reportedly use the cars for short periods
late at night. In the far western district of Dadeldhura,
the Maoists continue extortion efforts, delivering letters
to merchants demanding payments. The insurgents also
reportedly collect an average of USD 13 from trekkers in the
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP),issuing receipts
for the "donations."

MALINOWSKI