NEPALI MAOIST COMMANDER IMPLICATED IN MURDERS OF

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001030 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/SA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL KCRM CJAN NP IN SUBJECT: NEPALI MAOIST COMMANDER IMPLICATED IN MURDERS OF EMBASSY PERSONNEL ARRESTED IN INDIA REF: A. 2002 KATHMANDU 2171 (NOTAL) ¶B. 2002 KATHMANDU 2253 (NOTAL) ¶C. 2003 KATHMANDU 755 (NOTAL) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: According to Nepali press reports, Indian police in Patna, Bihar have arrested 12 Nepali Maoists, including several Central Committee members. Among those reportedly arrested is Kumar Dahal (a.k.a. "Bijay"), the head of the Maoists' Kathmandu Valley Special Regional Bureau. On November 15, 2002, "Bijay" issued a press release acknowledging Maoist responsibility for the killings of two U.S. Embassy guards in 2001 and 2002. Embassy believes Kumar Dahal has important information that could lead to the arrests of the killers of our personnel. We therefore request Department to instruct Embassy New Delhi to request access to Kumar Dahal. End summary. ¶2. (U) On June 4 the Nepali press reported that on June 2 Indian police in Patna, Bihar arrested 12 Nepali Maoists, including several members of the Central Committee. The Maoists reportedly were arrested while in possession of Indian Rupees 150,000 (approximately USD 3,300),purportedly intended to purchase weapons. Nepali police have confirmed the story to the Embassy. ¶3. (SBU) Among those reportedly arrested is Kumar Dahal (a.k.a. "Bijay" or "Vijay"),Central Committee member and head of the Maoists' Kathmandu Valley Special Regional Bureau. On November 15, 2002, Dahal issued a press statement in Nepali acknowledging Maoist responsibility for the December 15, 2001, killing of U.S. Embassy guard Ramesh Manandhar and the November 9, 2002, killing of U.S. Embassy guard Deepak Prasad Pokhrel (Ref A). The translation of the release stated that the Maoists "would like to make clear that any political party, organization, media or diplomatic community, wherever and whatever they may be, if they continue to work against the Maoist party and want to destroy the People's War, will not be spared by our party. In this connection, our party has taken action recently and killed the security personnel of the American Embassy Mr. Deepak Pokhrel. . . . Likewise, last year our party also took action against and killed Ramesh Manandhar. . . We would like to appeal to all diplomatic missions, including the American Mission, to stop the work of spying. We do not have the policy of fighting against them unless they come to fight with us." At that time, police and media sources indicated that the release, which was signed by "Bijay," appeared authentic. ¶4. (SBU) In an April 25, 2003, meeting with Maoist Politburo members Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Krishna Mahara, Poloff and RSO demanded the Maoists turn over the killers of Manandhar and Pokhrel, as well as the commanders who ordered the killings. Bhattarai acknowledged the Maoists were responsible for the killings, which he characterized as a "mistake" (Ref C). (Note: The same Nepali word can be translated into English as either "fault" or "mistake." Nepalis speaking in English--which Bhattarai was--sometimes use these words interchangeably. End note.) ¶5. (SBU) Action Request: As head of the Valley Command at the time of the slayings, Dahal may well have been the person who ordered these executions. At the very least, he is highly likely to have important information related to the killings, including the identities of the shooters. We believe it important that the Indian Government be made aware soonest of USG interest in this case. Embassy requests that Department instruct Embassy New Delhi to request access to Dahal. It would be very unfortunate if Dahal were to slip through our fingers. BOGUE