MAOIST ATROCITIES ESCALATE, JUNE 5-PRESENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 KATHMANDU 001672 SIPDIS STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS TO EU COLLECTIVE STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS HQ USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA LONDON FOR POL/BELL 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 NSC FOR GREEN/DORMANDY SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA ALVERSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP SUBJECT: MAOIST ATROCITIES ESCALATE, JUNE 5-PRESENT REFERENCE: (A) KATHMANDU 1300 (B) KATHMANDU 0120 (C) KATHMANDU 1339 SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION -------------- ¶1. Since the formation of Sher Bahadur Deuba's coalition government, Maoist atrocities have intensified. Every day brings new reports of Maoist killings, maimings, or threats of brutality. Most recently, the insurgents chased the former Mayor of Gularia Municipality from a funeral procession, hacked off his limbs and head, and threw his body on the funeral pyre of his dead relative. The Maoists also killed the Mayors of Pokhara and Dhangadhi. The acts of the rebels continue to plague the people of Nepal. Maoists attacked schools by exploding bombs on their premises, and thousands of schools remained closed due to the indefinite educational strike called by the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R). In June and July, the "People's War" claimed 52 innocent civilians' lives. The rebels continued to abduct civilians across the country to participate in Maoist programs and have forced the families of security forces to leave their homes. The Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) report states that the Maoist insurgency has so far claimed the lives of 9,996 people. Human rights abuses are committed on every side of the conflict, but the significant difference is that the Maoists' abuses are tactical policy. ¶2. In discussing with host governments the question of whether the Maoists are a terrorist organization, posts may wish to draw from the below accounting of atrocities committed by the Maoists over the past two months. This list of Maoists actions is drawn from press reports and an NGO known for its willingness to criticize the GON. Journalists in Nepal have no incentive to slant their reporting on this issue (to date, Maoists have killed six journalists and just this week threatened nine other journalists) and we believe their reporting to be accurate and fair. END SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION. DEATH TOLL RISES -------------- ¶3. Since the appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba as Prime Minister on June 5, Maoist atrocities have increased against all sectors of Nepali society, rich and poor alike. The Maoist insurgents commit such acts to create a sense of fear and terror among Nepal's population. According to the report of Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC),a local human rights NGO, since the Deuba government came into existence, the Maoists have killed 137 people. The INSEC report stated that the Maoist insurgency has so far claimed the lives of 9,996 people. The number of people killed by the Maoists totaled 3,409 while the state accounted for the deaths of 6,587. MAOIST BRUTALLY KILL LOCAL POLITICIANS -------------- ¶4. Over the past two months, Maoists have threatened local politicians who disagreed with the Maoist platform, then have brutally carried out those threats against those who refused to resign. They have also been targeting the cadres of various legitimate political parties who oppose the Maoists' policy and programs. -- Maoists shot dead an employee of the Food for Education Program in the mid-western district of Dailekh on June 4. -- On June 5, insurgents killed a VDC Chairman of the eastern district of Udayapur, and a civilian in Jhapa District. -- On June 10, a government official was shot and wounded in the capital. -- On June 18, Maoists abducted and killed a nominated Chairman of Mainamaini Village Development Committee (VDC) in the eastern district of Udayapur by slitting his throat -- On June 24, the insurgents hacked to death a civilian in the eastern district of Dhankuta. The deceased was the nephew of former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa. -- On July 2, the Mayor of Pokhara Harka Bahadur Gurung in the western district of Kaski was gunned down as he was leaving his residence. The All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) district committee member told the press that they had killed Gurung for ignoring their demand to resign from office. Three bullets had pierced his head and one each struck him on his left chest and back, according to police. -- Mayor of Dhangadhi Municipality in the far-western district of Dhangadhi was shot dead by the Maoists on July 12. Mayor Dhan Bahadur Bam was heading towards his office in a car when a group of five to six Maoists assassinated him. -- On July 31, a Nepal Sadbhavana Party activist in Nawalparasi was killed. -- Former District Development Committee (DDC) chairman of Kailali District was severely injured in a Maoist attack on August 2. -- On August 3, Maoists abducted a former mayor of Bardiya District from funeral procession and hacked off his limbs and head. The rebels threw his body on the burning pyre of his dead relative. MAOISTS KILL JOURNALIST, THREATEN OTHERS -------------- ¶5. The Maoists assassinated Dekendra Raj Thapa, a journalist-cum-human rights activist, in the mid- western district of Dailekh on August 11. Thapa was a reporter for the state-owned Radio Nepal and also an advisor to the Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES), a Nepali NGO. Maoists murdered him for allegedly "spying for the security forces." Following the assassination of Thapa, the Maoists issued death threats against nine other journalists. The Maoists also banned journalists from entering rural areas unless they register with Maoists' "administrations." Maoists prohibited reporting from those areas by journalists not registered with their "administrations." HEINOUS ACTS AGAINST THE POOR -------------- ¶6. Maoist brutality has not been reserved for the rich or powerful only. Poor Nepalis have also suffered Maoist acts of brutality. The poor villagers targeted by the Maoists are either accused of being "spies" or of helping the security forces. -- On June 6, Maoist rebels severely injured a civilian in the mid-western district of Kalikot for his refusal to follow them to attend a Maoist program. He lost an eye as the incensed rebels pierced it with a sharp weapon. -- On June 22, Maoists hammered the legs of eight Dalits (lower caste) in the far-western district of Achham for working as ploughmen for their landlord, which Maoists have said is "against party policy." The Dalits' legs were broken, and the Maoists further warned any locals against medically helping the Dalits, on pain of death. -- The Maoists killed a wheelchair-bound man in Morang district on July 19. -- On July 23, the Maoists abducted and beheaded a civilian and knifed another to death in the central district of Rautahat. -- The rebels beheaded a woman in the eastern district of Morang on July 24. -- On July 28, the rebels beheaded a civilian in the eastern district of Sunsari, allegedly for spying and assisting the security forces. -- On July 31, the insurgents beat to death a teacher of a local school in the mid-western district of Dailekh. MAOISTS INTENSIFY ABDUCTIONS -------------- ¶7. The Maoists have been abducting civilians, students and teachers across the country to participate in Maoist programs. It is Maoist policy to kidnap groups of school children, as young as ten-years-old, and take them away for "indoctrination." The rebels round them up and take them forcefully to their controlled areas for indoctrination. The Maoist rebels keep them for a few days and then free them unharmed. One of the students who was abducted and taken to an unknown place in Makwanpur district along with 42 children on July 18 said, "They did not give us any physical torture but the mental torture we received cannot be measured." -- On June 6, 280 students and 212 teachers were kidnapped from the mid-western district of Jajarkot, and two teachers were abducted in the central district of Dhading; 61 civilians were abducted from the mid- western district of Surkhet, and 84 others were abducted from the eastern districts Morang, Bhojpur and Nuwakot. -- The rebels abducted 500 civilians, including 45 teachers, from the mid-western district of Kalikot on June 6. -- On June 8, the rebels abducted 200 teachers in the eastern district of Sindhuli, and six civilians from the mid-western district of Surkhet. -- On June 9, the insurgents kidnapped 49 civilians, including 38 teachers, from the eastern district of Dhankuta. -- On June 10, the Maoists abducted 11 civilians from the far-western district of Doti, a Junior Technical Assistant (JTA) of Agriculture Development Office in the eastern district of Siraha, and 18 students from the eastern district of Udayapur. -- The Maoists abducted 500 students from the far- western district of Dadeldhura on June 11. -- On June 12, the rebels abducted four-dozen teachers from the western district of Tanahu, and two-dozen teachers from the western district of Lamjung. -- On June 13, the rebels abducted 79 civilians, including 76 local businessmen, from the central district of Sindhuli, 40 students from the eastern district of Taplejung and three civilians from the western district of Gorkha. -- Maoists abducted 300 students from the far-western district of Baitadi, and 90 others from the eastern district of Taplejung on June 16. -- On July 18, Maoists abducted 50 students and 12 teachers from a school within the Kathmandu Valley for a "three day military training course." All the students and teachers were released unharmed on July ¶20. -- On August 2, over 5,000 locals in the far-western district of Achham were abducted to participate in Maoists' "people's training." -- Maoists abducted six teachers and a dozen CPN (UML) activists in Rukum District on August 2. -- On August 3, over 500 villagers were kidnapped in Panchthar District. -- On August 13, Maoists six dozen students from several schools in Palpa District for "indoctrination." -- The rebels abducted 450 students from a school in Ramechhap District on August 16. -- On August 17, Maoists abducted one civilian in Jhapa District and five others from Terhathum District. MAOIST CAMPS "HARSH" -------------- ¶8. In an interview with The Kathmandu Post published on July 12, a youth who escaped from a Maoist indoctrination camp alleged abuse and misery. According to the escapee, there were over 300 people, some as young as thirteen years old, in the Maoist camp located in the far-western district of Dadeldhura. Many of the occupants suffered from scabies and intestinal illnesses and some civilians died. He added that the Maoists forced their captives to walk for long periods of time "without food and water." While in captivity the people were also taught to "use guns and make bombs." INSURGENTS ATTACK SCHOOLS -------------- ¶9. The Maoists also target schools and teachers, who oppose their activities and policy. As a result, students, and their parents, live in fear; education has been placed virtually on hold for almost eighty-six percent of the rural population. -- On June 4, a Maoist-planted bomb damaged a private school in the western district of Dailekh. Furniture, supplies, and new textbooks were destroyed. -- On June 5, Maoists reportedly took over a school in Dhankuta district, mistakenly declaring that "American imperialists" were running it. -- Maoist rebels reportedly detonated a bomb inside a school in the central Terai district of Chitwan on June 6 causing extensive damage to furniture, doors and windows. -- On June 7, a group of students affiliated with ANNISU-R reportedly assaulted teachers in the eastern district of Saptari for conducting classes during the educational strike. The teachers were released only after they agreed to stop holding classes. -- On June 9, Maoists detonated five powerful bombs on the premises of a privately owned Indian school south of Kathmandu. According to media reports, a group of forty armed Maoists broke into the school and overpowered the three guards. Seven buses were damaged as well as 45 computers and furniture inside the school. -- On June 13, Maoists shot dead a teacher in Kathmandu, and two other civilians were also killed in the capital. -- Armed rebels shot dead a civilian in the central district of Bara on June 14, and a teacher was assassinated in the capital by Maoists in a "drive-by" style shooting. -- On June 25, Maoists shot dead a civilian in the eastern district of Dhankuta, and a teacher and student were killed in the western district of Lamjung when a Maoist-planted bomb exploded on the premises of the school. -- On June 25, a teacher and student were killed in the western district of Lamjung when a Maoist-planted bomb exploded on the premises of the school. -- On July 31, the insurgents beat to death a teacher of a local school in the mid-western district of Dailekh. -- On August 1, rebels beat a teacher in Dailekh to death. ¶10. Thousands of schools across Nepal were closed down due to an indefinite educational strike called by the ANNISU-R. The shut down of the schools affected over 8 million students and began June 6. After the strike was widely condemned by various organizations the ANNISU-R called it off on June 17. However, since July 17 ANNISU-R has forced the closure of 47 private schools in the far-eastern district of Jhapa alleging they were operating without permission. Over 15,000 students are affected by the closures. The District Education Office of Jhapa told the Embassy that those schools remained closed. INSURGENCY CONTINUES TO CLAIM CIVILIAN LIVES -------------- ¶11. The "People's War" continues to claim innocent civilians' lives throughout the country, but mainly in rural Nepal. The Maoists indiscriminately kill young and old alike. -- On June 5, two civilians were killed when a Maoist- planted bomb exploded in the central district of Kavre. -- On that same day, the Maoists also shot dead a civilian in the far western district of Kailali. -- On June 6, a civilian was killed in the central district of Dolakha and another in the central district of Chitwan. -- On June 7, a Maoist-planted landmine in the mid- western district of Kalikot killed a civilian, and another civilian was killed in the central district of Makwanpur. -- On June 10, a civilian was killed in the western district of Rupandehi. -- At least seven civilians were injured when a group of Maoists detonated a bomb in the residence of the district president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) in the mid-western district of Dailekh on June 10. -- The rebels killed two civilians after abducting them in the eastern district of Siraha on June 12. -- Insurgents killed another civilian on July 12 in the western district of Kapilbastu. -- On that same day, two more children were killed when a bomb left behind by Maoists detonated in the western district of Arghakhanchi. -- On July 12, a Maoist bomb in the western district of Banke killed one woman and injured three others. -- On July 16, Maoists dragged an ill 76-year-old man from his bed and shot him to death in the mid-western district of Dang. -- On June 17, Maoists killed five members of an anti- Maoist counteraction committee and a civilian in the western district of Kapilbastu. -- The insurgents in the western district of Rupandehi killed another civilian on June 18. -- On July 19, Maoists killed a farmer in Bara District, and another was killed in the western district of Dailekh after failing to pay the rebels' demand of USD 500. -- On that same day, insurgents killed a man in Rupandehi, accusing him of spying for the government. -- On June 26, one child was killed and two children injured when a grenade carried by a Maoist exploded in the far-western district of Kanchanpur. -- On that same day, the insurgents killed another civilian in the central district of Sarlahi. -- On June 27, four civilians and three security personnel were injured in a Maoist-laid mine explosion in the central district of Sindhupalchok. -- On June 30, four civilians, including two children, were injured in a Maoist-planted bomb explosion in the central district of Dhading. Three civilians were also killed on that same day, including an elderly man and his son in Saptari district. -- On July 31, the rebels killed a farmer in Mahottari District alleging him to be a spy. -- A fifteen-year-old boy was abducted and killed by the Maoists on August 7. -- One civilian was killed in Dailekh District on August 10. -- One civilian was shot dead in Pokhara, Kaski, on August 11. --Maoist shot dead one civilian in Sarlahi and another in Makwanpur District on August 13. -- Maoist shot dead one civilian in Sarlahi and another in Makwanpur District on August 13. -- A civilian was killed in Dang District on August 14. -- One civilian was killed in a Maoist-planted bomb explosion in Mahottari District on August 14. -- A twelve-year-old boy died and three others were injured when Maoists detonated a socket bomb in Chitwan District on August 15. -- On August 15, one civilian was killed and two others were injured in Morang District. -- Maoists killed the chief of the Nepal Red Cross Society, Ilam chapter, in Ilam District on August 18. MAOISTS THREATEN FAMILIES OF SECURITY PERSONNEL -------------- -- ¶12. The Maoist insurgents have been compelling the family members of the security forces to ask their relatives to resign from the security forces, or else face the consequences. The Maoist tactics include kidnapping, threats against family members, torture, killings, and forcing them to vacate their homes. -- The Maoists abducted a Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldier in the western district of Syangja on June 12. -- On July 15, Maoists forced 13 families to leave their homes in the district of Bardiya because their relatives were working with security forces. The rebels ordered the families to leave with only 24 hours notice after failing to persuade their relatives to leave the security forces. -- In Nuwakot district, just north of Kathmandu, Maoists forced six families to vacate their houses and subsequently locked up the houses on July 22. The rebels were demanding that the villagers bring back any family members serving in the security forces. According to locals, over 10 people from the village are in the army or police. -- On July 30, the rebels abducted, tortured and brutally killed an unarmed Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldier in Kaski District. The Maoists beat him with iron rods before firing a bullet into his head. -- On July 31, Maoists abducted and killed an unarmed RNA soldier home on leave in Kaski district. -- On August 4, rebels shot and killed a police officer in Jhapa District after abducting him several days earlier. -- On August 6, the rebels abducted and then shot dead on RNA soldier in Dhankuta District. -- The Maoists killed two security personnel after abducting them in Kapilbastu District on August 9. REBELS CONTINUE TO DESTROY INFRASTRUCTURE AND DISRUPT DEVELOPMENT -------------- -------------- ¶13. The insurgents attack local government office buildings and establishments to show their strength and presence in those areas, and to hamper the work of the local bodies. They also target factories and industries that do not meet their extortion demands. -- On June 6, Maoists in the mid-western district of Salyan ordered all local health institutions to provide them with 25 percent of their drugs. -- On June 9, the rebels detonated a powerful bomb inside the Land Conservation Office in the western district of Tanahu, causing damage to seven rooms of the building. -- On June 11, Maoists exploded a powerful bomb at a repeater tower of the Nepal Telecom Limited in the eastern district of Sunsari. -- On the same day, the insurgents detonated a bomb at a seed production office in Sunsari district. -- On June 12, a powerful bomb ripped through an American-owned carpet factory in Kathmandu. The factory was closed at the time and no injuries were reported. However, the explosion blew off the roof, and shattered all the windows, causing over USD 5000 in damages. -- On June 13, Maoists also blasted the premises of Shiva Mandir Village Development Committee (VDC) in Tanahu district causing damage to doors, windows, furniture and documents. -- Maoists also detonated a powerful bomb inside the local dealer office of Sumi Distillery and Chaudhary Group, a business house, in the central district of Dhading on June 17. -- On June 21, Maoists detonated a bomb at the Manakamana Cable Car Company after the cable car owner failed to pay taxes to the insurgents. -- On June 25, Maoists set ablaze offices of six VDCs in the eastern district of Siraha. -- In yet another incident, the insurgents torched a ranger post of the Royal Chitwan National Park in the central district of Chitwan on June 27. -- On that same day, the rebels also torched a truck transporting Coca Cola in the western district of Nawalparasi. -- On June 28, the rebels also bombed the office building of Backward Society Education (BASE),an NGO working for the cause of bonded laborers (Kamaiyas),in the far-western district of Kailali. The BASE official told emboff that the second floor of the building collapsed in the explosion, damaging a vehicle, computers and furniture. Damages are estimated at USD 33,333. -- On June 29, Maoists torched a vehicle belonging to the Soil Conservation Office in Dhading district, and also set fire to the Agriculture Service Center in Myagdi district. -- On July 15, a Maoist bomb damaged the Nepal Telecommunication Office (NTC) in Lalitpur district, south of Kathmandu. -- On July 30, Maoists torched a branch office of the Internal Revenue Department in Banke district. -- The Maoist rebels bombed a minor customs office in the central district of Rautahat on August 8. -- The rebels detonated a bomb inside the house of Bijay Raj Bhattarai, Secretary at the Ministry of Land Reforms, in Chitwan District on August 10. -- The rebels set ablaze a vehicle of National Bardiya Park in the mid-western district of Bardiya on August ¶11. COMMENT -------------- ¶14. Maoist tactics include attacking all sectors of society indiscriminately. The terrorist activities of the Maoists against the civilian population are designed to create fear in the minds of the Nepalese people. They have succeeded in forcing thousands of people to flee the country in search of food, shelter and safety. Many thousands more have been internally displaced. Human rights abuses are committed on every side of the conflict, but the significant difference is that the Maoists' abuses are tactical policy. END COMMENT.