Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KATHMANDU989
2003-05-30 07:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, May 24-30

Tags:  PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000989 

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/RIEDEL
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: PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, May 24-30

REFERENCE (A) KATHMANDU 0860
(B) KATHMANDU 0945
(C) KATHMANDU 0901

SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000989

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/RIEDEL
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: PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, May 24-30

REFERENCE (A) KATHMANDU 0860
(B) KATHMANDU 0945
(C) KATHMANDU 0901

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


1. Representatives from the negotiating teams of the
Government of Nepal (GON) and Maoists have been unusually
quiet this week, with no progress reported in setting a date
for the third round of talks. Members from both teams
reportedly are blaming each other for the stalled
negotiations. In an interview on May 29 with a London based
newspaper, Baburam Bhattarai, Maoist ideologue and head of
the talk team, said that Maoists had spared the Kathmandu
Valley out of fear of the United States. Amnesty
International (AI) released a report on May 28 that cited a
sharp increase in human rights abuses by both security
forces and Maoists. The Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National
Independent Students' Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R)
withdrew its strike against private schools. The Royal
Nepal Army (RNA) continues its humanitarian assistance and
medical treatment outreach efforts. The Maoists' disregard
for the ceasefire and code of conduct continues. The
insurgents reportedly continue to extort money, abduct
civilians, disrupt agricultural sales, and brutally assault
civilians. End Summary.

WAITING AND WATCHING
--------------


2. Progress in peace talks appears to be stalled, with no
mention of a date for the third round. Representatives from
both sides reportedly are blaming each other for the delay.
In a statement issued on May 29, Baburam Bhattarai warned of
the possibility of stopping peace talks. Bhattarai accused
the Government of Nepal (GON) of violating the ceasefire and
failing to implement agreements reached during the second
round (Ref A),particularly the restriction of movement by
the Royal Nepal Army (RNA). Krishna Bahadur Mahara told
reporters on May 28 that the insurgents are "waiting and

watching" for the next round. Mahara also criticized the
government for not responding to the Maoists' proposals set
forth during the second round of talks. Ram Bahadur Thapa,
another Maoist talk team member, criticized the GON,
decrying its failure to present an agenda and its "lack of
seriousness."

MAOISTS FEAR U.S. INVASION
--------------


3. In an interview on May 29 with a London-based newspaper
Baburam Bhattarai, Maoist ideologue, claimed that the
Maoists control almost eighty percent of Nepal, and that the
insurgents have the upper hand in the "Peoples' War." The
Maoist leader said the insurgents had the capability to take
control of the Kathmandu Valley, but chose not to for fear
it would provoke an "American invasion." He claimed that
the U.S. had openly threatened the Maoists, but that the
Maoists could not be defeated. Bhattarai also admitted that
the Maoists had murdered soldiers and policemen, but
declared that such killings are justifiable under the "law
of war."

AI REPORT CITES INCREASING VIOLATIONS
--------------


4. Amnesty International (AI) released its "Annual Report
2003: 2002 in Focus," on May 28 and blasted both the Maoists
and security forces for human rights abuses. The report
declared that 2002 saw a dramatic rise in unlawful killings,
disappearances, torture and abductions by the Maoists, and
also accused security forces of arbitrary arrests and
unlawful detentions. The annual report states that the
insurgents stepped up attacks on political parties, most
often targeting members of Nepali Congress (NC) and the
Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML).
AI also pointed out that the Maoists recruited children, and
were responsible for the executions of security personnel.
AI announced on May 19 that it will send a delegation to
Nepal to discuss its concern over human rights violations by
both the security forces and the insurgents, despite a three-
month ceasefire.

RNA HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE CONTINUES
--------------


5. The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) conducted free health camps
across Nepal, providing an estimated five thousand people
with medical treatment (Ref B). In the southeastern
district of Udayapur, locals, some of whom walked two days
to attend the camp, were given free medicines as well as
treatment. Items such as shoes, slippers, and food were
also distributed. In the eastern city of Biratnagar, RNA
personnel provided medical treatment and medicines, and also
distributed clothes, stationary, and money to local schools.

ANNISU-R WITHDRAWS STRIKES
--------------


6. Private schools reopened on May 24 after the Maoist-
affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students' Union-
Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) withdrew its strike and unlocked
accounting offices (Ref C). The ANNISU-R reached an
agreement with school officials that included a revised fee
schedule to be in place by June 15. The agreement also
states that public schools will not be allowed to collect
fees for grades one through five. ANNISU-R had locked up
the accounting and administration offices in over eight
thousand private schools throughout Nepal, including over
forty schools in the Kathmandu Valley.

MAOIST VIOLATIONS RAMPANT
--------------


7. In apparent increasing disregard for the ceasefire,
Maoists throughout Nepal reportedly continue to commit
violations of the code of conduct and civilian human rights.
Maoist cadres abducted nine people on May 24 in Kailali
District. The insurgents claimed the people were guilty of
looting, and witnesses said they were taken into the jungle.
A Nepali Congress (NC) member was abducted in Rautahat
District on May 25. His whereabouts remain unknown. An
eighteen-year-old boy, abducted by Maoists on May 21 in
Siraha District, was released after the insurgents broke his
leg. The Maoists accused the youth of supplying information
to police. The body of a Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldier,
who had been abducted by Maoists on May 9 from Makwanpur
District, was found on May 24. The soldier was brutally
murdered and found with his hands and feet bound.


8. Maoists in Sindhuli District reportedly have banned
farmers from selling their produce at a weekly fair out of
fear that there will be insufficient amounts left for the
insurgents to eat. The farmers, who participate in the
weekly fair for their livelihood, have been threatened with
severe consequences if they ignore the Maoists' orders.
Maoists in Dailekhi District blasted teargas into a hotel on
May 27 after the owner apparently refused to provide food
and shelter to the insurgents. In Bara District, a group of
Maoists stormed into the home of a former police constable
on May 28 and stole weapons and ammunition.


9. The Nepali Congress (Democratic) publicly condemned the
Maoists on May 25, declaring that the insurgents have not
changed and continue to do what they did prior to the
ceasefire. A group of former Village Development Committee
(VDC) Chiefs have also publicly declared the Maoists to be
in gross violation of the ceasefire, and threatened that
they would resort to revenge against the Maoists if their
depredations continued. Many VDC workers are still unable
to return to work, and in Taplejung District VDC secretaries
said the Maoists have stopped them from carrying out their
duties. As a result, villagers have not been able to
register the births and deaths of family members.


10. A report presented on May 24 at a conference organized
by the Institute of Human Rights Communication, Nepal,
declares that the insurgency has claimed the lives of almost
two hundred children and displaced eight thousand others.
The report also states that many children could not continue
with their education because Maoists had taken over schools
and used them as barracks and for political training.
Healthcare in Maoist-infested areas also suffered, as
programs, such as immunization clinics, were halted by the
insurgency.

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