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

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP PHUM
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, JANUARY 24-30,
2004

REFERENCE: 03 KATHMANDU 2475


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


1. An attempted bank robbery by Maoists on January 23 was
foiled by security forces, leaving six dead. Twenty-six
other Maoists reportedly were killed in separate incidents
with security forces. Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa
claimed the Government of Nepal (GON) clearly has the "upper
hand" in fighting the insurgency. A total of 186 Maoists
reportedly have surrendered since the GON's amnesty program
was announced. Surrendered female Maoists alleged rampant
sexual abuse by Maoists against their female comrades.
Allegations of forced evictions of Nepalis living along the
India-Nepal border by Indian security forces have provoked
published denials by the Indian Embassy. Acknowledging the
increase in cross-border terrorism, Indian Ambassador Shyam
Saran said that security at border checkpoints would be
improved. A two-member team from Amnesty International (AI)
arrived in Nepal on January 24 to assess the human rights
situation. At a press briefing on January 29, the Royal
Nepal Army (RNA) spokesman said action had been taken
against 23 soldiers for various human rights violations over
the past two years. RNA officials also announced that its
troops had successfully established bases in four districts
considered to be Maoist strongholds. On January 26,
simultaneous bombs rocked the buildings of two prominent
India-Nepal joint ventures. Maoists reportedly rounded up
almost 300 students in the far west for forced participation
in rebel programs. Maoists in the western district of
Baglung have warned of "dire consequences" to any nominated
officials who do not resign. Insurgents destroyed medicine
and health posts, and went on looting sprees throughout
Nepal. End Summary.

MAOIST BANK HEIST ENDS VIOLENTLY
--------------


2. A failed bank robbery attempt by Maoists on January 23
left six people dead. Security forces, already on high
alert, shot dead six people who they claimed were Maoists
attempting to rob the Agricultural Development Bank in
Chitwan District. Several others reportedly managed to
escape. Before entering the bank, the armed insurgents
reportedly cut the phone lines and subsequently overpowered
bank personnel. According to press reports, one person
killed was an innocent civilian. On January 25, the Maoists
claimed responsibility for the foiled attempt, and said they
were trying to determine why the robbery failed. Their
website also claimed only five of the people killed were
Maoists and supported local press reports that the sixth
person killed was an innocent Indian national. Royal Nepal
Army (RNA) spokesman Colonel Deepak Gurung announced on
January 24 that seven RNA personnel responding to the bank
robbery had received promotions for "their bravery."


3. Twenty-six other Maoists reportedly were killed in
separate clashes with security forces. On January 27, two
were killed in Nawalparasi District, and a Maoist commander
in Janakpur on January 26. On January 25, security
personnel killed two insurgents in Dailekh and two in
Surkhet, and four more in Bara District on January 24. On
that same day, one rebel was killed in Dhading. On January
23, fourteen Maoists were killed in separate clashes in the
districts of Jajarkot, Nuwakot, Udayapur, Baglung and
Sindhupalchowk.

4. On January 29, the RNA announced that its troops had
successfully established bases in the Maoist heartland areas
of Rolpa, Rukum, Dailekh, and Jajarkot Districts in the
west. The movement comes after the Maoists announced an
autonomous government in the region, declaring that no
foreign organizations or state representatives would be
permitted entry. Maoist cadres had threatened that those
who tried to enter would not return alive. RNA officials
said they met no resistance when entering the districts, and
that the Maoists had run away. In a recent interview with
Time Magazine, Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa said the
Government of Nepal (GON) clearly has the "upper hand" in
fighting the insurgency. Thapa said the "Maoists are
feeling the heat" and would be forced to return to the
negotiating table.

MAOIST COMMANDERS URGE SURRENDER
--------------


5. On January 24, five surrendered former high-ranking
commanders of the Maoists called on other Maoist cadre to
surrender, declaring that the so-called "Peoples' War" is
not for the "well-being of the country and the people." The
former brigade commanders urged people to take advantage of
the Government of Nepal's (GON) amnesty program, and return
to a "normal life." On January 29, for the first time in
the far-eastern district of Morang, a district-level Maoist
leader surrendered, saying he was "disgusted" with the
senseless violence committed by the Maoists. Twenty more
Maoists, including eight area commanders, surrendered to
security and government officials this week, bringing the
total to 186 since the amnesty program was announced.


6. On January 29, the local press reported allegations of
rampant sexual abuse by Maoists against their female
comrades. A group of recently surrendered female Maoists
told reporters that they were sexually exploited and at
times beaten by higher-level cadres. The women also said
that there were many other women who want to surrender but
are unable to escape. On January 28, Maoists in Gorkha
District reportedly killed two former cadres who had
surrendered, accusing them of betraying their party.

INDIA-NEPAL BORDER ISSUES
--------------


7. Allegations of forced evictions have evoked a war of
words between the Indian Embassy and the local press. On
January 26, the local press reported that India's Special
Services Bureau (SSB),which patrols the India-Nepal border,
was forcibly evicting Nepalese families from residences
along the eastern border of Nepal. According to the Chief
District Officer (CDO) in Morang District, which borders
India in the far east, an agreement was made to vacate a
security corridor along the Indian side. Locals, however,
alleged that the SSB was torturing and threatening Nepalese
families, and that SSB had issued eviction notices that
caused panic among Nepalis living near the border. A SSB
post commander acknowledged that "all houses and huts on the
Indian side" are being cleared to curb criminal activity.
In a press statement released on January 28, the Indian
Embassy in Kathmandu hotly denied the reports of forced
eviction, calling the news reports "factually incorrect and
baseless," and "contrary to the prevailing spirit of
friendship and cooperation." The statement further said
that SSB patrols routinely come upon families encroaching on
Indian land, and advise them that "their occupation of the
land is illegal."

8. Indian Embassy contacts confirmed to Post that there are
over 2,000 SSB troops deployed at strategic points along the
India-Nepal border, with future reinforcements possible.
However, the contact denied press reports that the troops
were forcing out Nepali families, and reiterated that only
homes that fell on Indian land were being leveled. Both
sides reportedly have agreed to create a corridor five
meters wide on both sides free of structures, but Nepalese
families apparently have not adhered to this.


9. On January 26, Indian Ambassador Shyam Saran said that
security at border checkpoints would be improved in order
better to monitor the thousands of people who travel between
Nepal and India daily. Acknowledging the increase in cross-
border terrorism, Saran said improvements at the major
border posts were necessary to keep out "unwanted elements."
Ironically, on that same day, SSB forces reportedly found
Maoist-laid explosives in India 100 meters from the border
of Nepal's Tanakpur District. The SSB, along with Nepali
security forces, defused them.

AI TEAM TO ASSESS HUMAN RIGHTS IN NEPAL
--------------


10. On January 24, the local press reported that a two-
member team from Amnesty International (AI) arrived in Nepal
to assess the human rights situation. The team plans to
meet with government and security officials, and will also
attempt to meet with Maoist leaders. Opining that "the
situation is definitely getting worse," one of the AI team
members said they will look into alleged human rights abuses
by both the government and the Maoists, and eventually make
public their final report.


11. At a press meet on January 29, RNA spokesman Colonel
Deepak Gurung said 23 soldiers had been disciplined, court-
martialed, and in some cases sent to prison, for various
human rights violations in the past two years. Brigadier
General B.A. Kumar Sharma, Chief of the RNA's Human Rights
Cell, reiterated the RNA's commitment to human rights, and
said they would continue to cooperate with local and
international human rights commissions and diplomats.


12. ON January 23, the Committee for Human Rights Concern
(CHRC),a local NGO, published a list of 254 people who
allegedly have gone missing in the past four months alone.
Representatives from CHRC accused both the GON and the
Maoists of committing human rights violations, and demanded
information on the whereabouts of those missing.

MAOISTS FOLLOW THROUGH ON EXTORTION THREAT
--------------


13. On January 26, simultaneous bombs rocked the Durbar
Nepal and Surya Tobacco Nepal Ltd buildings in the eastern
district of Bara. Maoists had demanded that the two
prominent India-Nepal joint ventures pay a "special tax" of
USD 135,000 and USD 67,000 by December 26, 2003 (Reftel).
No casualties were reported.

MAOISTS FORCIBLY INDOCTRINATING SCHOOLCHILDREN
-------------- -

14. On January 26, Maoists reportedly rounded up 150
schoolchildren from the far-western district of Accham, and
forced them to participate in Maoist programs. The children
were released several days later. On January 29, the local
press reported that rebels in neighboring Kalikot District
surrounded a school and forced 140 students, including 30
girls, to leave with them, warning of "severe punishment" if
they tried to escape. The children have yet to be released,
and authorities suspect they too are being forced to
participate in Maoist programs.


15. Maoist interference in education continues. Insurgents
in the central district of Tanahu reportedly are refusing to
allow teachers selected by the central government's
Education Service Commission to report to their new jobs.
Maoists have warned the newly-hired teachers not to enter
the schools where they have been assigned. In the western
district of Jajarkot, rebels have issued a new calendar
omitting religious and national holidays, as well as
holidays celebrating the King. It also calls for a boycott
of the old curriculum.

RESIGNATIONS AMID THREATS
--------------


16. Maoists in the western district of Baglung have warned
of "dire consequences" to any nominated officials who do not
resign. The rebels have demanded that all representatives
resign from their posts. To date, only one ward chairman
has resigned. In Dhading District, west of Kathmandu,
insurgents have also ordered the chairman of the Urban
Development Committee to resign in ten days.

MAOIST LOOTING SPREE
--------------


17. On January 26, Maoists reportedly robbed twenty
vehicles in a one-hour span. The rebels blocked a major
highway in the eastern district of Rautahat and stopped
buses and trucks traveling the route. The insurgents, armed
with guns and knives, then robbed the occupants.


18. On January 25, Maoists in the northern district of
Gorkha torched two vehicles, including one that was carrying
medicine. The insurgents stopped the vehicles and ordered
the passengers out, torching them afterwards. On January
25, Maoists in Lamjung District looted medicine from a
health post, and on January 29 Maoists in Nepalgunj set fire
to a health post, destroying all of the medicine inside.

MALINOWSKI