Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU2246
2003-11-17 09:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: PEACE CORPS TRAINEES TO RETURN TO CAPITAL

Tags:  PTER ASEC EAID CASC PREL 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.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 002246 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS, CA/OCS AND DS/IP/SA
STATE PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS
STATE ALSO PASS USAID - ANE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2013
TAGS: PTER ASEC EAID CASC PREL NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PEACE CORPS TRAINEES TO RETURN TO CAPITAL
AFTER MAOIST THREAT


Classified By: DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 002246

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS, CA/OCS AND DS/IP/SA
STATE PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS
STATE ALSO PASS USAID - ANE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2013
TAGS: PTER ASEC EAID CASC PREL NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PEACE CORPS TRAINEES TO RETURN TO CAPITAL
AFTER MAOIST THREAT


Classified By: DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).

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


1. (C) Summary: Peace Corps Nepal has decided to transfer
30 trainees participating in a 12-week program in Butwal, in
the south central district of Rupandehi,and five other
volunteers in that area back to Kathmandu following threats
of possible "action" from local Maoist cadres. The trainees
will complete the remaining two weeks of their program in
Kathmandu. Peace Corps has activated its warden network,
alerted local authorities, and ordered all other volunteers
to remain at their sites and within access to telephones. An
Emergency Action Committee meeting has been called for the
morning of November 18 to assess the situation. Peace Corps
Nepal is gathering further information on the threat and will
consult with the Embassy on further steps. End summary.

--------------
MAOISTS THREATEN "ACTION"
--------------


2. (C) In the afternoon of November 17 the Peace Corps
office in Kathmandu received word from its training director
in Butwal, Rupandehi District (located approximately 265 km
southwest of Kathmandu in the lowland Terai region) that
local Maoist cadres had told three local Peace Corps contacts
in the area that all Americans associated with the Peace
Corps had four days in which to leave Rupandehi. (Note:
Peace Corps has been conducting a 12-week training program
for 30 new volunteers in Butwal since September 17. End
note.) Should the Americans fail to heed the warning, an
"announcement" would be posted on the Maoist website, and
"action," including the possibility of "physical action,"
taken against them and those helping them. The Maoists
reportedly also threatened the three Peace Corps contacts
(who are not employees but prominent local individuals who
had been "facilitating" the training, e.g., assisting Peace
Corps find housing for the trainees in the community) and
their families, and said they would call back at 4:00 p.m.
local time to hear what Peace Corps had decided.


3. (C) The Maoists reportedly had contacted the three Nepali
"facilitators" individually about one week earlier seeking
information on the training program and its purpose. At that
time, they had told the local Peace Corps contacts that they
wanted to meet with the Nepali training director, but then
modified their instructions on November 17 to demand that
Peace Corps leave the community completely.

--------------
PEACE CORPS STEPS
--------------


4. (C) On November 17 Peace Corps Nepal decided to pull
back all 30 trainees and American staff, as well as one other
volunteer stationed in Butwal and four other volunteers
stationed in the adjoining district of Palpa, to Kathmandu
immediately. The trainees and volunteers will leave Butwal
on November 18, spend the night in Narayangadh, Chitwan
District, and arrive in Kathmandu on November 19. Nepali
administrative staff associated with the training program
will remain behind one day to tie up loose ends and depart
from Butwal on November 19. The trainees will complete their
program (scheduled to end on December 9) in Kathmandu.


5. (C) Peace Corps Nepal has contacted the Chief District
Officer (CDO) in Rupandehi, as well as the Regional Security
Administrator in Pokhara, Kaski District, to alert them of
the situation, and plans to contact the CDO in Palpa before
COB November 17. As a precaution, Peace Corps has activated
its warden system to advise all volunteers of the situation,
and has upgraded its security assessment to the "stand fast"
level, instructing all volunteers not in Rupandehi or Palpa
District to remain at their sites, keeping a low profile and
staying within easy access of a telephone. Peace Corps plans
to inform other international volunteer agencies operating in
Nepal of this new development.

--------------
EAC MEETING
--------------


6. (C) The Embassy Emergency Action Committee will meet the
morning of November 18 to review tripwires and to reassess
the situation. The Embassy will inform the Department by
septel of the outcome of that meeting.

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


7. (C) Peace Corps has conducted two previous training
programs in Butwal without incident. Since then, however,
the Maoists' anti-American rhetoric has become increasingly
shrill. There is no information that other volunteers in
other locations have been similarly threatened. The Embassy
and Peace Corps office will continue to monitor the situation
closely to determine next steps.
MALINOWSKI