Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU2500
2003-12-23 09:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: BRIEFING ON ROYAL NEPAL ARMY OPERATIONS FOR

Tags:  MARR PARM PGOV NP 
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230926Z Dec 03
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 002500 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS AND SA/RA, LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY, NSC FOR
MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2013
TAGS: MARR PARM PGOV NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: BRIEFING ON ROYAL NEPAL ARMY OPERATIONS FOR
A/S ROCCA

REF: A. USDAO KATHMANDU IIR 6 867 0028 03


B. USDAO KATHMANDU IIR 6 867 0029 03

C. KATHMANDU 2489

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski for reasons 1.5 (b,d).

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 002500

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS AND SA/RA, LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY, NSC FOR
MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2013
TAGS: MARR PARM PGOV NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: BRIEFING ON ROYAL NEPAL ARMY OPERATIONS FOR
A/S ROCCA

REF: A. USDAO KATHMANDU IIR 6 867 0028 03


B. USDAO KATHMANDU IIR 6 867 0029 03

C. KATHMANDU 2489

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski for reasons 1.5 (b,d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) On December 17, Christina Rocca, Assistant Secretary
of State for South Asia, received a briefing from Major
General K.B. Khadka, Director General of Military Operations
of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA). The briefing provided an
overview of the RNA's strategy to combat the Maoist
insurgency, including unified command structure, the
formation of Civic Peace and Development Mobilization
Committees, and plans for Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration (DDR). The briefing also touched upon human
rights and U.S. military assistance. End Summary.

--------------
Overview of RNA strategy
--------------


2. (C) The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) is deployed in three
divisions across Nepal, plus a division in Kathmandu. The
RNA is now 72,321 persons strong, an expansion of roughly 40
percent over the past three years when it employed just
51,373 persons. The RNA's objectives are to deter and defeat
the Maoist military capability; protect constitutional
monarchy and multiparty democracy; create a secure
environment for elections; and implement policies and
measures for effective governance. The RNA's strategy to
fulfill these objectives include conducting "relentless
operations" against the Maoists; negotiating with the Maoists
only once their military capability is reduced considerably
or if they agree to abide by the current constitution;
enhancing the credibility of the monarchy; and seeking
support and cooperation from the people. In order to defeat
the Maoists, the RNA has proposed several new concepts,
including mobilization of security forces under the Unified
Command Concept, the formation of Civic Peace & Mobilization
Committees, and the re-integration of Maoists into civilian
life through the Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration (DDR) plan.

--------------

Unified Command Concept
--------------


3. (C) According to the RNA, the Unified Command structure is
designed for the optimal use of Nepal's security forces
without losing the individuality of each branch. Under the
structure, the army is given authority to coordinate and
direct operations of the civil and armed police forces and
the National Investigation Department (NID). General Khadka
cited the legal provisions that support unified command,
specifically the Armed Police Force (APF) Act of 2002, which
states that the APF falls under the RNA's operational control
when the RNA is mobilized. Similarly, a decision by King
Gyanendra in November 2002 mandated that 10,000 civil police
should be trained and mobilized under the RNA's operational
control. The Unified Command structure will remain effective
for one year with the option to be renewed for six month
periods. The Unified Command receives direction from the
National Security Council chaired by the Prime Minister.
(Note. The National Security Council is comprised of two
Ministry of Defense officials, and one senior representative
from each of the four security branches: the RNA, APF, civil
police and NID. End Note.) the At the regional and district
levels, the security forces are overseen by the civil
administrators, Khadka concluded.

-------------- --------------
Civic Peace & Development Mobilization Committees
-------------- --------------


4. (C) General Khadka described the government's proposal to
establish Civic Peace and Development Mobilization Committees
as pilot projects in 3-4 communities and, if successful,
could expand them across the country. The government is
responding to requests from local citizens who want to
improve security in their villages, he said. According to
the proposal, the government will mobilize the villagers
defend themselves against the Maoists to disrupt their
activities with "whatever licensed weapons they have already"
(mostly 12-bore rifles, according to COAS Thapa). (Note.
Over the past several years, the government had seized most
weapons held by local villagers. It remains to be determined
how the government plans to return the weapons to their
original owners. End Note.) The Mobilization Committees
will also receive logistic and training support from the
army. The RNA hopes to include retired members of the
security forces in the organizational structure of the
committees.


5. (C) According to the organizational flow chart, the
nearest security base will oversee the Mobilization
Committee, which will have three sub-committees: a security
sub-committee comprised of local civilians managing various
security cells in the VDC area; an advisory sub-committee
comprised of local security forces; and a coordination
sub-committee comprised of members of both the security and
advisory committees. The flow chart shows that, under the
national umbrella, local civilians will oversee the
operations of the Mobilization Committee under the advice of
the security forces. According to the RNA, the role of the
security forces will be to provide information, advice,
training and reinforcements to the Mobilization Committee.


6. (C) General Khadka explained that the government would
like to downplay the defense aspect of this pilot program
because of recent criticism in the press and from members of
civil society that Nepal is becoming increasingly
militarized. He indicated that only three or four committees
would be established as pilot projects. If successful, these
could be expanded nation-wide. Chief of Army Staff Pyar Jung
Thapa specified that the RNA is considering establishment of
three committees: two in the eastern division and one in
Lamjung District in the central division. In all cases, he
said, the local citizens want to participate actively in
their own defense against the insurgents. COAS Thapa noted
that similar efforts in Thailand and Peru were successful.
"We don't want to create right-wing militias, but the RNA
cannot be everywhere at once," he concluded. (Note. This
briefing supports information received previously and
reported Ref A. End Note.)

--------------
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
--------------


7. (C) The objective of the Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration (DDR) campaign is "to obtain peacefully weapons
from armed Maoists and encourage them to live a peaceful
life." To attain this objective, the RNA's strategy is to
provide monetary compensation to Maoists who surrender their
weapons; ensure physical security and grant amnesty to those
that surrender; and provide economic security and job
opportunities. The DDR program will be managed by a Central
Directive Committee, which will oversee local screening
committees and rehabilitation center administration
committees. The first rehabilitation center will be
established in Tanahu District in central Nepal. The
government hopes to use both national and donor resources to
manage the program. Specifically, national resources will
fund the weapon exchange program and provide for a local
security base. The government will seek funding from the
international community to operate programs in the
rehabilitation center, such as skill development training and
income generation schemes. (A similar briefing was provided
earlier and reported Ref B. Unclass details on DDR provided
Ref C.)

--------------
Human Rights
--------------


8. (C) General Khadka noted that the RNA has established a
human rights cell to investigate allegations of human rights
abuse by soldiers. Each of the three division headquarters
has one officer responsible for disseminating information
about human rights and investigating alleged abuses. Those
individuals found to have committed rights abuses have been
reprimanded, he said. (Note. In the summary of 17 cases of
alleged human rights abuses given to A/S Rocca, three of the
cases are pending; five were determined not to be abuses; and
in nine cases the soldier responsible was punished, two of
which were for killings. The punishments ranged from
sentences of 7 years imprisonment to 4 months; in two cases,
the court martial is ongoing, and in one case the punishment
was unspecified. End Note.) Khadka claimed that RNA
soldiers have committed no acts of torture, no rapes and no
extra-judicial killings, although collateral damage may have
occurred. He also noted that ICRC has been invited to visit
prisoners in the army camps. Khadka complained that there is
a "large hue and cry" when small RNA transgressions occur,
but no outrage when the Maoists commit atrocities. He
expressed concern that the Nepali media and some in the
international community have "turned a blind eye" to Maoist
abuses.

--------------
USG Assistance
--------------


9. (C) Khadka expressed gratitude on behalf of the RNA for
U.S. assistance in providing weapons, equipment and training.
He noted that the RNA hopes for further assistance through
the FMF program in all three areas. Specifically, the RNA
needs helicopters to help improve its mobility in Nepal's
rugged terrain, he said. Surveillance training and equipment
to track down Maoist political leaders, FM radio interception
capability, support for DDR and rebuilding damaged
infrastructures were also identified as funding needs.
Khadka concluded his remarks by noting that a political
solution is preferable to a military campaign. "The ball is
now in the Maoists' court," he said.

--------------
Comment
--------------


10. (C) The Government of Nepal, with the Royal Nepal Army,
has initiated three programs to assist its counter-insurgency
effort: the Unified Command structure, Civic Peace and
Mobilization Committees, and DDR. Through these programs,
the government aims to improve coordination within the
security forces, establish defensive postures through
mobilization committees in areas where the RNA does not have
a permanent presence, and encourage Maoists to leave the
insurgency and reintegrate into society. It is too early,
however, to conclude whether these programs will be
successful. Khadka's complaint that the RNA has come under
increasing attack recently from the press and local and
international human rights groups for alleged abuses is
accurate. Whether the negative publicity is the result, as
the RNA claims, of a Maoist-fueled campaign to discredit the
army, or is a worrisome trend in the RNA's ability to uphold
human rights standards, remains to be seen. Five allegations
of extra-judicial killings have arisen. The RNA has
indicated it intends to investigate them. Post will examine
these allegations and report septel. End Comment.


MALINOWSKI