NEPAL: MAOIST ATTACKS AND THREATS AGAINST COCA-COLA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002332

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/SA; LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY; NSC
FOR MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2013
TAGS: ASEC PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST ATTACKS AND THREATS AGAINST COCA-COLA

REF: A. A) KATHMANDU 2246

B. B) KATHMANDU 1964

C. C) KATHMANDU 2323

Classified By: DCM Robert K. Boggs for reasons 1.5 (B,D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: According to Colonel Mohan Singh,
Coca-Cola's Chief Security Officer in Nepal, two bombs
exploded on November 28 approximately 100 meters from the
main gate of the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Bharatpur,
Chitwan District. In addition, Col. Singh reported a separate
incident in which a Coca-Cola distribution van was torched in
Butwal, Rupandehi District, and the distributor was told that
the Maoists in Butwal wanted Coca-Cola out of the district.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Col. Mohan Singh, Coca-Cola's Chief Security Officer,
stated that two bombs exploded today about 100 meters east of
the Coca-Cola main gate. He indicated that the first blast
was caused by an improvised explosive device, which was
followed by an exchange of gunfire between undercover
security personnel and the Maoists. The second explosion was
from an improvised "socket bomb." Col. Singh stated that the
closest security checkpoint is 3 km west of the factory.
Security causalities included one dead RNA soldier and three
severely injured. No Coca-Cola personnel or facilities were
damaged in today's attack. Col. Singh indicated that the
company does not believe that the attacks were directly
intended for the Coca-Cola factory.


3. (C) In addition to the explosions outside the Bharatpur
factory, Col. Singh reported that a Coca-Cola distribution
van had recently been torched in Butwal, Rupandehi District.
Col. Singh reported that the driver, sales distributor and
two associates were released unharmed, but were told by the
Maoist perpetrators that a decision had been made at the
district level that Coca-Cola must leave the district. Col.
Singh mentioned that the main distributor for Coca-Cola
received an extortion demand about a week ago, which was not
paid. (NOTE: 30 Peace Corps trainees left Butwal on November
18 after being threatened by the Maoists. On September 17, a
Pepsi-Cola truck was torched in Butwal. See reftels A and B.
END NOTE.)


4. (C) COMMENT: In a previous meeting with PolsChief, NN
Singh, Coca-Cola's Managing Director reported that security
personnel make several patrols throughout the day around the
Coca-Cola bottling plant. Given NN Singh's information, it
is certainly plausible, as Col. Singh stated, that the Maoist
attack was meant to target the security forces outside the
bottling plant rather than the plant itself. In Rupendehi
District, however, the Maoists appear to be bent on chasing
all foreign presence out of the area (per reftels) to clear
their supply lines between India and districts in the western
hills where the Maoists have substantial interests to
protect. END COMMENT.
MALINOWSKI