Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KATHMANDU1688
2004-08-24 11:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL: INCIDENTS ALONG BLOCKADED HIGHWAYS

Tags:  PTER PGOV ASEC NP 
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241125Z Aug 04
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001688 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS, DS/IP/SA
NSC FOR GREEN/DORMANDY
LONDON FOR POL-BELL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2014
TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: INCIDENTS ALONG BLOCKADED HIGHWAYS

REF: KATHMANDU 1679

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

SUMMARY
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001688

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS, DS/IP/SA
NSC FOR GREEN/DORMANDY
LONDON FOR POL-BELL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2014
TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: INCIDENTS ALONG BLOCKADED HIGHWAYS

REF: KATHMANDU 1679

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

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


1. (C) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prakash Saran
Mahat gave a briefing on the current situation to reassure
the diplomatic community. However, there have been a couple
of Maoist attacks along the highways and the traffic patterns
are varying - decreasing on one of the main roads, returning
to almost normal on the second main road, and increasing on
the third main highway. The Maoist-threatened industries
remain closed and are continuing their talks with the
government and negotiations with the Maoists to try to
reopen. Maoists continue to spread fear in Kathmandu by
placing explosives in local government offices. End Summary.

MFA REASSURES DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY
--------------


2. (C) On August 24, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Dr. Prakash Saran Mahat assured the diplomatic community that
Kathmandu Valley was "not under siege," contrary to foreign
press reports. He explained that the Maoists were using fear
tactics to show they could create major problems in the
capital and could disrupt public lives. Mahat said that
although the Maoists lacked the capacity to enforce the
blockade, people did not want to take the risk. He predicted
the Maoists would try and create incidents, but reassured the
diplomatic corps that Kathmandu Valley was safe overall. He
acknowledged that while there were no major gatherings of
Maoists near Kathmandu Valley, they were entering in small
numbers to do acts to maintain the climate of fear. Mahat
set forth the steps the government had taken to provide
security: establishing a convoy system, increasing patrols by
8,000 security forces in Kathmandu Valley, mobilizing air
surveillance, and providing increased security to diplomatic
missions.


3. (C) Mahat further noted that the Thai Embassy had received
a letter threatening a proposed visit by the Thai Deputy
Prime Minister (septel). He reiterated that the government
was providing security to all the diplomatic missions and
their employees. On the subject of possible peace talks, the

Minister stated that the government was serious and would do
its best, but it would not give in to the Maoist demands
before talks just because of the pressure of the blockade.
Foreign Secretary Acharya added that the Cabinet had agreed
last week to follow through on its earlier promises to
compensate industries and transporters hurt in this and
earlier closures. He said that the government has already
started making payments to those harmed in previous
incidents. Nepal National Security Council coordinator MG
Kul Bahadur Khadka told the Ambassador that the Deuba
government has also guaranteed to pay if someone is killed
during this blockade. The government hoped that this would
increase the readiness of people to travel.

BLOCKADE CONTINUES, TRAFFIC VARIABLE, INCIDENTS STARTING
-------------- --------------


4. (C) The blockade continues and incidents of Maoist
attacks on the blockade route have started. Major General
Khadka told the DATT that he believed that the attacks will
only slow traffic and force people to use Army provided
convoys. Traffic is variable - decreasing on one of the
three major roads, but increasing on the others. At mid-day
on August 24, on the road going East, past Bhaktapur and east
of Panchkahl (about 30 kilometers from Kathmandu),RNA
Headquarters reported that Maoists had just ambushed a
platoon of approximately 40 men who were clearing the road
near Palephi. The Army has dispatched attack helicopters and
reinforcements. RNA Headquarters is still obtaining
preliminary information and there are no reports of
casualties yet. However, as of 2:00 pm August 24, the
traffic traveling on this road does not seem to have been
affected and was much higher than Monday. Police sources
explained that the Maoists had erected a blockade for two
days, but had now removed it. With the removal of that
blockade, the number was back up to 552 total vehicles (192
buses, 69 trucks, 145 light vehicles, 146 motor-bikes).

5. (U) On the night of August 23, off the Tribhuwan Highway
(leading west to Pokhara),Maoists damaged three trucks that
were traveling on a back road and not part of a military
convoy. Security forces responded to the scene. This
incident does not appear to have affected traffic and as of
August 24, the traffic on this road had increased. As of
3:00 p.m. August 24, on the west and south Prithvi-Tribhuwan
Highway there were a total of 806 vehicles (146 buses, 136
mini-trucks, 303 light vehicles, and 221 motorbikes). On the
road north to and from Nuwakot, as of 2:00 p.m. August 24,
fewer vehicles traveled than yesterday - a total of 31
(compared to 187 yesterday) vehicles (1 bus, 5 mini-vans, 25
light vehicles, and an unreported number of motorbikes).

MAJOR COMPANIES REMAIN CLOSED - FRUSTRATION GROWING
-------------- --------------


6. (C) The managing director of Coca Cola's business in
Nepal, Bottlers Nepal, on August 24 again asked the Embassy
for advice. He stated that some of the companies, including
Soaltee Hotel and Surya Tobacco, but not Coca Cola, were
considering stopping payment of taxes to the government while
they were shut. Singh agreed with Emboffs that the blame for
the industries' closure lies squarely with the Maoists. He
will suggest to Coca Cola India, which handles all press
relations, that Coca Cola India issue a press statement
condemning the Maoists. In the meantime, he said that the
companies continued to work with Sudip Pathak, President of
Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON),and others to
negotiate with the Maoists. The companies and NGOs have held
daily talks with the government, in reply to the Maoist
demand that they pressure the government.

OTHER VIOLENCE
--------------


7. (U) Within Kathmandu, Nepali police reported that at
approximately 1130 a.m. local time, the RNA had defused a
pressure cooker bomb in the land reform office in Babar
Mahal, a location close to an area frequented by tourists.
Also within the Kathmandu Valley, a bomb exploded on the
second floor of a four-floor Agricultural Development Office
building in Sukedhara, which is close to the area of the
assassinations reported reftel. An accountant broke his leg
jumping out of a fourth floor window and the landlady
sustained minor injuries. In Nepalgunj, in the Terai,
unconfirmed reports indicate that a bomb may have been
detonated on the evening of August 23 near a hotel. We are
seeking confirmation.
MORIARTY