NEPAL: UPDATE ON MAOIST ACTIVITIES, JAN 4-10

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000057

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST AND JIM BEVER
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA
LONDON FOR POL/REIDEL
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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PTER CASC PGOV NP IN
SUBJECT: NEPAL: UPDATE ON MAOIST ACTIVITIES, JAN 4-10

Reference: Kathmandu 0050

SUMMARY
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1. Interpol has issued five more warrants for Maoists,
bringing the total to sixteen. The Government of Nepal
(GON) and the Maoists still have not agreed on a date for
peace talks, but the GON announced a plan aimed at
rehabilitating Maoists. The insurgency, meanwhile, has
created a demand for passports from people trying to escape
the violence, overwhelming administrative offices and
leaving some unable to fulfill requests. Maoists continue
to destroy infrastructure and kill innocent civilians. Six
security personnel were killed and twenty injured after
being ambushed by Maoists. Maoists also killed the vice-
president of a school, a Nepali Congress worker, and a man
they accused of being an informant for security forces. A
civilian was killed when he was caught in the crossfire
between Maoists and security personnel. One hundred and
forty students kidnapped from one district by Maoists were
released, but over 100 remain in captivity. Maoist activity
has forced the shutdown of many small businesses. The GON
announced that nine people in custody under suspicion of
being Maoists were released.

INTERPOL ADDS MORE MAOISTS TO WARRANT LIST
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2. Interpol issued Red Corner Notices against five
additional Maoist leaders on charges of terrorism, armed
robbery and murder. The list, now totaling sixteen, already
includes the top two Maoist leaders, Prachanda and Dr. Babu
Ram Bhattarai.

NO SIGN OF PEACE TALKS; GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES REHAB PLAN
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3. Narayan Singh Pun, Minister for Physical Planning and
Works, said the Government of Nepal (GON) has devised a plan
to rehabilitate Maoists and turn them into "responsible
citizens." Pun said the Disarm, Demobilize, Rehabilitate
and Reintegrate (DDRR) program was finalized by the GON and
is awaiting cabinet approval. The DDRR program is designed
to show Maoists that there are alternatives to war and
violence, and assist in rehabilitation and reintegration
into society. Training and employment opportunities would
also be made available. Pun said participants would remain
in the training camps for six to eight months. The program
will be launched in the mid-western development districts,
which are the most heavily affected by Maoists. The GON
hopes the program, scheduled to start January 15, will help
end the insurgency.

MAOIST CAMPAIGN CAUSING INCREASE IN PASSPORT REQUESTS
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4. The Maoist insurgency has created a flood of people
requesting passports in order to escape the violence.
District Administrative Offices (DAO) in Palpa, Gulmi and
Arghakhanchi have depleted supplies of passport books, and
are currently unable to process any further applications
until more books are dispatched by the Ministry. Netra
Prasad Sharma, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Gulmi, said
that young people are leaving to escape the "one-house one-
person " conscription campaign carried out by the Maoists,
in which every household is forced to contribute at least
one youth to join the insurgents. Other villagers are
leaving out of fear for their safety. Maoists control the
western part of Gulmi, while parts of Palpa, Syangja,
western Tanauhu and Nawalparasi Districts also have been
overrun by the Maoists.


5. Abandoned headquarters in Dolakha District also have
caused public administration to come to a standstill. The
Chief District Officer (CDO) and assistant CDO have left the
headquarters for other posts, leaving local residents unable
to obtain citizenship papers, passports and other necessary
documents. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been unable to
send any replacement officers due to security concerns.

INSURGENCY CRIPPLING VDC INFRASTRUCTURE
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6. Village Development Committee (VDC) buildings have been
hit hard by the Maoist insurgency. According to the VDC
National Council, 1369 out of a total 3915 VDC offices have
been destroyed by Maoist attacks since the Maoists began
their "People's War" in 1996. VDC personnel have also been
targets of the Maoists. Thirty-three VDC representatives
have been killed, thirty-two have been abducted, and
fourteen have been assaulted.

MAOIST CONTINUE TO MURDER
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7. On January 3 Maoists ambushed and killed three members
of the Armed Police Force (APF) and three members of the
Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in Banke District. Over twenty
security personnel were also injured in the fighting.
Maoists abducted and later killed the vice-president of a
secondary school from Taplejung District on January 6. In
Pyuthan District, Maoists shot and killed a man they said
was an informant for security forces. A civilian was killed
in Udayapur District when he was caught in the crossfire
between Maoists and security forces. On January 9 a group
of armed Maoists shot and killed a Nepali Congress activist
in Rautahat District, after dragging him from his home.

MAOISTS KIDNAP STUDENTS
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8. Students across Nepal are fleeing Maoist-infested areas
to avoid being kidnapped or forcibly recruited by the
Maoists. According to reports from Dipayal District, the
absence of students has resulted in over a dozen schools
being closed. Children have fled their schools and homes to
avoid the Maoists, who have threatened torture for those who
defy their orders. Police said over two dozen students are
currently staying in hotels to escape forced recruitment.


9. According to newspaper reports, 140 students kidnapped
by Maoists in western Doti District were released after a
short period of captivity, but more than 100 remain in the
custody of the insurgents. The kidnappings in Doti mirror
similar abductions of children in surrounding western
districts. These reports, if verified, indicate that the
number of students kidnapped is much higher than previous
accounts (reftel). The children were released on the
condition that they be readily available to join the Maoists
when needed. Most of the released children have reportedly
fled to district headquarters and India to avoid
conscription.

MAOISTS DESTROY BUILDINGS
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10. Maoists destroyed a Village Development Committee
office in Kavre District on January 3. The insurgents
seized the office and set fire to all the documents and
furniture. On January 3 the Maoists also set off a pressure
cooker bomb at a Lalitpur District ward office, causing
severe damage to the building.

MAOISTS IMPOSE CURFEWS, SHUT DOWN BUSINESSES
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11. Maoists have banned the manufacturing and sale of
alcohol in Salyan District. According to locals, the Maoist
Women's Organization has warned of severe consequences for
those who possess or purchase alcohol. Many villagers in
the Salyan District depend on the sale of alcohol for their
livelihood. Because of the ban, most have had to find other
means of income.


12. Maoist rebels have imposed a curfew on villagers in the
Makwanpur District. Residents are prohibited outside after
7:00 pm. According to villagers, the Maoists also plant
landmines to prevent security personnel from entering the
area.


13. The Maoist insurgency has caused many small businesses
in Sunsari District to close. Over half the businesses,
ranging from tourism and agriculture to energy, have closed
their offices, citing a lack of security and stability in
the region as one of the causes. Small business owners fear
that if peace is not restored, industry will continue to
decline.

ACCUSED MAOISTS RELEASED FROM JAIL
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14. In Siraha District nine people, jailed after the
declared state of emergency on charges of being Maoists,
were released on January 6 after thirteen months in jail.
Among those released was Dev Kumar Yadav, a Nepali
journalist who, at the time the state of emergency was
declared, was working as a correspondent for the weekly
newspaper "Janadisha," considered to be a mouthpiece of the
Maoists.

MALINOWSKI