SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KATHMANDU 001690

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R, R/MR, I/RW, I/REC; PA, SA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR NP
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
COVERAGE OF MAOIST-IMPOSED BLOCKADE AND NATIONAL MEDIA'S
REACTION


1. "'Kathmandu under siege.' Really?"

SUMMARY. One of the title-page stories in the centrist
daily "The Kathmandu Post" (E/D) lambasted the
exaggerations by the foreign (particularly Indian) media
quoting particularly alarmist excerpts from The Times of
India, The Hindustan Times, Star News, India, CNN, NDTV,
and Indian Express above a cartoon showing a man sitting
on a toilet (pants down) in flak jacket and helmet
bearing the inscription "Foreign Media." He is sitting
in what's obviously a hotel bathroom speaking into
microphones labeled "CNN, BBC, NDTV, Star, HT, TOI, Zee"
etc. connected to a TV camera. A darkish cloud above
the toilet is illuminated by the TV lights. Caption:
"It's becoming very difficult to breathe due to the
thick smoke of bomb blasts... Reporting live from
Kathmandu!" In a press meeting on Monday, Deputy Prime
Minister Adhikari criticized the handling of information
about the blockade by some foreign media. END SUMMARY

The following excerpts appeared above the cartoon in the
Kathmandu Post:

BEGIN QUOTE

Rare media spotlight fell on Nepal once again this week.
Often hyped and sensationalized, the world media,
specifically Indian media, were nowhere near ground
reality when they splashed or broadcast reports on the
Maoist 'blockade.' Here are some samples.

Maoist rebels cut off routes to Kathmandu
(The Times of India, August 19)
Maoist rebels in Nepal blocked routes to capital
Kathmandu on Wednesday, bringing hardship and shortages
to the city of 1.5 million people as transporters stayed
off the highways. All roads leading to Kathmandu were
nearly empty as buses, trucks and cars stopped plying on
Tuesday midnight as the blockade began.

Rebels scare away road traffic to Kathmandu
(The Hindustan Times, August 19)
The roads to Kathmandu fell silent on Wednesday. Maoist
rebels successfully began an indefinite blockade of the
Nepalese capital despite a strong army presence. There
was almost no vehicular traffic on the main arterial
roads to the city. It was a sign of their confidence
that they targeted Kathmandu and demanded, among other
things, the release of some of their leaders held in
Nepalese and Indian prisons.

Maoists capture two highways leading to Kathmandu
(Star News, India,August 20)
The Maoists have captured the two highways connecting
Kathmandu with the rest of the country. The situation
in Kathmandu is very serious. People are afraid to go
outside the capital. Even within the city, the people
are afraid to come out of their homes. The food supply
is scarce, with the prices of essential goods sky-
rocketing.

On Kathmandu's food stocks
(CNN, August 20)
Nepal's capital Kathmandu has only a few days worth of
fresh produce and cooking fuel, officials say, as a
rebel blockade enters its third day.

Indian food support to Nepal
(NDTV With PTI inputs Monday, August 23)
India has reportedly sent 70 trucks of essential
commodities to help break the Maoist blockade of
Kathmandu. The Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur
Deuba, has rejected the UN offer of mediating in talks
with the rebels. However, Deuba has not ruled out an
expanded role for India in resolving the conflict in the
Himalayan kingdom. When asked, Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat denied that Nepal
has made any such request. "I am not aware of any such
request," Mahat told the Post. "I should be knowing but
there is no such move."

Supplies roll into Kathmandu after Delhi-backed plan
hits ground
(Indian Express, August 23)
`The Siege Next Door', said the catchy sub-head. On
Saturday night, under a tight security cover thrown by
the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA),10 trucks loaded with
vegetables and essential commodities quietly slipped
into the Capital Valley. Believed to be driven by
Indian drivers all the way from Raxaul.

(To this, RNA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Thapa said,
"This is ridiculous, we do have close cooperation
between the two security forces, but there's no such
thing as a New Delhi-backed plan.")

END QUOTE


2. "The capital under siege"

Opinion by regular columnist Ameet Dhakal in the
"Kathmandu Post" (8/24): "Last one week has been both
bizarre and surreal. We, about two million
Kathmanduites, have been living under Maoist blockade.
Bizarre because, blockade of a city, that too, for an
indefinite period, is in itself an archaic thing.
Completely anachronous!"
"And surreal because, 'the capital under siege' is
living a normal life. Yes, the price of green vegetables
and our all time favorite aaloo has shot up. But
everything else is following a mundane routine of a city
life. Crowded traffic, people rushing to office, cafs
packed for afternoon snacks and restaurants for evening
booze. And constant inquiries at DVD parlors about
Fida's arrival. Nothing has changed. There are no long
queues for essential goods, no much hoarding, no panicky
at all."

"There are no signs of 'city under siege' except in the
idiot box of the foreign TV channels and in the pages of
the foreign newspapers. All the parachute journalists,
who landed in Kathmandu with a foregone conclusion of
'city under siege' while they were in London, Bangkok or
in New Delhi saw nothing but the 'siege.' One Indian TV
channel reported, 'People are scared to come out of
their home and Maoists have taken control of the
highways leading to Kathmandu.' Yes, I was 'scared'
after I watched that report in the idiot box, not
before. The old adage, 'when hammer is the only tool in
your hand, all you'll see is nails' proved so true once
again."

"Gaurav C Sawant, special correspondent of the STAR
News, came to my office and talked to me on Friday. He
had landed the same day to cover the 'siege.' After I
explained how normal Kathmandu was, he, at one point,
told me that the minister, who he was going to talk to
later on, would defend the normalcy. So, he wanted me
to talk the 'abnormal' while there wasn't one. It is
not that he didn't know how normal life was in
Kathmandu. Actually, Gaurav booked a plane ticket for
his wife, Aditee, to come to Kathmandu so that they
could enjoy the evening life in Thamel. I jokingly told
him not to forget to mention in his STAR News report
that his wife was coming to Kathmandu so that people
will understand the essence of the 'city under siege.'
Of course, the number of vehicles coming to and going
out from Kathmandu has gone down. So what, when life
hasn't changed much in Kathmandu?"

"I earnestly hope that the foreign media would reflect
on how they covered Maoist blockade in Kathmandu and the
Maoists on how Kathmandu has reacted to the blockade."

"It should ring an alarm bell to the Maoists. They
imposed a blockade on this capital city out of deep
resentment. They must have been wondering how Kathmandu
could live a normal life, and with much apathy to their
'People's War' when much of the kingdom is reeling under
their terror. They also have other reasons to resent:
Their over 150 Special Task Force (STF) militias under
special assignment in the valley have been killed. So
flop was their STF operation that, insiders say, it was
finally pulled off. Moreover, many of their senior
leaders assigned in the valley have been either captured
or killed. Some of them have even 'defected' to the
security forces and leaked crucial information."

"Thus, the valley blockade had two objectives. First, to
display Maoists rancor, and, second, to force people to
revolt against the state out of ensuing crises due to
the blockade. However, if the Maoists acted out of deep
resentment against the people of Kathmandu, the latter,
too, has responded with defiance. Even with vengeance."

"The blockade has not only reinforced Kathmandu's apathy
towards Maoists, but it has also added to people's
suspicion of them. Many people are already talking
about the possibility of Year Zero in Nepal, as it
happened in Cambodia, should the Maoist capture
Kathmandu. The shut down of the ten big industries in
Kathmandu due to Maoist threat, killing of journalist
Dekendra Raj Thapa and death threat to other ten
journalists has made the possibility of the Year Zero in
Nepal all the more real."

"If this blockade was intended to scare people of
Kathmandu and to provoke them for a popular revolt
against the state, it has exactly done the opposite.
Industrialists, media and common people seem eager than
ever to express solidarity with the government. Now,
the Maoists should do a soul searching: what's the point
of the blockade that only punishes the common men (and
women) of Kathmandu? After all, the price rise in
Kathmandu is going to hit the poor, not the elite.
A revolution or a movement aimed at a meaningful social
change cannot be based on resentment, a divisive force.
It has to be based on hope and optimism that unifies
masses and galvanizes them for a positive social change.
Unfortunately, the whole Maoist philosophy and movement
sources so much from the hatred and resentment pool.
Using divisive language for political benefit is,
however, not only a Maoist thing. Even in the United
States, 'people' vs 'powerful' has remained an all-time
rhetoric of the democrats except in the present
presidential campaign. John Kerry, the Democratic
presidential candidate, has deliberately avoided using
this 'two America' slogan. 'I want to unify the nation,
not divide,' Kerry has been quoted as saying."

"But Maoist tactics has been to polarize and divide the
nation along the fault lines of class, ethnicity and
geography. The last one week has only exposed its risk:
If we continue to remain divided and muddled, foreigners
will meddle. Therefore, let's unite and jointly explore
our common destiny."



3. "Valley sees rise in to-and-fro vehicle flow"

Report in the pro-India "Himalayan Times" (E/D, 8/24):
"There is steady increase in the number of vehicles
plying in and out of the Valley after the security
forces' claim that the security has been tightened at
the highways linking Valley from outside. Despite the
fear among the Kathmanduites that the essential
commodities would fall short, the security have been
claiming there is no need to fear and people should defy
Maoists blockade. According to the Royal Nepa-lese
Army, 399 vehicles passed Nagdhunga checkpoint, 1,593
Sanga and 169 Mudkhu checkpoint before entering the
Valley, while 506 vehicles left the Valley from
Nagdhunga, 1,424 from Sanga and 161 vehicles valley from
Mudkhu check point. "It's certain that people cannot
tolerate such blockades for long and their defiance
would rise gradually," said Bishnu Rimal, general
secretary of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade

SIPDIS
Unions (GEFONT). A protest programme would be organised
by GEFONT and Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) tomorrow
seeking removal of the indefinite blo-ckade and the
opening of 12 companies been shut by the Maoists."


4. "World media `over blowing' situation here"
Report in "The Himalayan Times" (8/24): "Minister for
Information and Communication Dr Mohammad Mohsin today
said that international media overblew Nepal's present
situation as multinational companies shut down their
industries reacting to the Maoist threats. Some of the
major multinational companies and a leading hotel
stopped operating their businesses since last Wednesday,
citing threats from the Maoists. 'These companies
closed their businesses despite the government's
assurances of providing full security,' Mohsin, who is
also the government spokesperson, told this daily. He
said that the international media "exaggerated the
present situation". Today's regular cabinet meeting also
expressed its concern over the media reports that the
rebels had encircled the Kathmandu Valley from all sides
to create havoc to its residents. Minister Raghuji Pant
said the government is determined to foil the Maoist-
called blockade. Meanwhile, a seven-member taskforce
constituted to draft a terms of reference for the High-
Level Peace Committee Nepal submitted its report to the
Prime Minister yesterday."

5. "Blockade fizzles out due to security: DPM"

Report in the government-owned "Rising Nepal" (E/D,
8/24): "Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister
Bharat Mohan Adhikari said Monday that the Maoist
sponsored so-called blockade of the Kathmandu valley had
gradually been weakened with the government's move to
step up security to foil it altogether."

'The valley life is normal. The valley dwellers are not
panicking over the so-called blockade, as the government
has been able to keep the price of food items and
petroleum products under control. With the passage of
time, the effect of the so-called blockade has waned
gradually ever since it was said to have been called
five days back,' Adhikari told a face-to-face program
organized by the Reporters' Club. A large number of
journalists from the national and international media
had attended the program. Adhikari also called on the
owners of the closed industries and hotels to resume
business, reaffirming the government's commitment to
provide security to them."
"The industrialists overreacted to the Maoist threats
and blasts by closing down their industries, he said.
Adhikari said it was high time that business
entrepreneurs cooperated with the government in this
difficult hour."

"He also expressed regret over the handling of
information about the blockade by a section of the
Indian media. 'I urge the foreign media people to visit
hotels, restaurants and night clubs and find the truth.'
On the talks with the rebels, Adhikari said that the
government was for result-oriented and meaningful
talks."

"He claimed that the environment was becoming favourable
to hold talks with the Maoists, but he said the
government had not yet contacted them. Asked whether
the government is planning to remove the terrorist tag
on the rebels as a prerequisite for the negotiation,
Adhikari said until they show good faith, it is unlikely
that the government would remove the terrorist tag and
red corner notice issued against them."

"But we are ready to sit for peace talks without any
conditions. 'We will present ourselves with maximum
flexibility in the talks if it will take place.' Also
speaking at the function, human rights activist and ex-
facilitator of the earlier government-Maoist peace talks
Padam Ratna Tuladhar stood to disagree with Adhikari and
said the government had not taken any serious initiative
to hold talks."

"'I agree that the forthcoming peace talks should be
held confidentially but to my knowledge the government
has not yet shown seriousness to the talks,' he claimed.
Ex-Chief of the Army Staff Satchit Shumsher JBR said
that the Royal Nepalese Army had destroyed the strength
of the Maoists and they were not in the position to
launch offensive against the troops.
'The Maoists have now resorted to terror tactics. And
the blockade is one other way of the Maoists to
terrorise the people,' Rana said. Rana said that the
Maoist insurgency had flared up largely due to the poor
security situation in the past. Conflict experts Dr.
Bishnu Raj Upreti and Dr. Indrajeet Rai claimed that the
Maoists had strategically succeeded to draw the
attention at national and international levels by
imposing the blockades in the Kathmandu Valley."

"Both of them said that the government should first
remove the terrorist tag and red corner notice issued
against the rebels as part of the confidence building
measure before starting the negotiation."


6. "India preparing to air-drop food from air"

Commentary in leftist "Nispakshya" (V/W, 8/24):
"The nation's capital is under siege after some low-
level Maoist leader issued a statement. The party
leadership has not reacted to this blockade called by
some district leaders. The blockade has not affected
the rich but the poor people only. If the Maoists'
movement runs under the orders of some district level
leaders, then it sure has moved out of hand from the
central leaders. The government seems unaffected by the
blockade. It's unfortunate that the foreign media
persons who came to cover the `blockade' have not tried
to give the real picture and are instead indulging in
showing the sad situation of Nepalis. It is according
to the grand design that the Indian government is
planning to hurl food from air and mobilize the Indian
army, citing worsening situation."


7. "Why international outcry saying security situation
is not right?"

Commentary in pro-palace "Gorkha Express" (V/W, 8/24):
"A statement by the Maoists asking some multinationals
to shut down sent tremors around the world. The
international media went wild with reports stating that
situation in Nepal has worsened. Their energy went into
giving an impression of anarchy. Is it not an attempt
to march in Indian army on the reference of security
situation? Nepalese should be careful of the potential
dangers."

MORIARTY