UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, FEBRUARY 21-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KATHMANDU 000367 SIPDIS STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS HQ USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST AND JIM BEVER MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY 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 MILLARD SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA LILIENFELD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP PHUM SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, FEBRUARY 21- 27, 2004 REFERENCE: (A) KATHMANDU 0313 (B) KATHMANDU 0280 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Three senior members from the Maoist Victims' Association (MVA) have resigned following the murder of its president. The Prime Minister acknowledged that human rights abuses have increased, but said steps would be taken to ensure that it would not continue. The Prime Minister also said that general elections could be held in October, without any need for UN mediation of a peace accord with the Maoists. Tibetan authorities reportedly arrested seven people for supplying arms to the Maoists. Maoist ambushes on security forces killed nine security personnel and injured thirty-two. Fifteen insurgents reportedly were killed by security forces in clashes this week. A Maoist- called nationwide closure (bandh) yielded unusually low levels of popular compliance. The Home Ministry reported that the total number of surrendered Maoists has reached nearly six hundred. Tribhuvan University proceeded with the Free Students Union (FSU) elections on February 26 despite Maoist threats. Maoists reportedly continue to round up large numbers of students. Attacks on civilians left four people dead, including a nine-year-old child. End Summary. RESIGNATIONS FOLLOW CHILUWAL MURDER -------------- ¶2. Following the brutal murder of Ganesh Chiluwal, President of the Maoist Victims' Association (MVA),(Ref A) three senior members from the organization have resigned. Chiluwal was gunned down on February 15 by two Maoist hitmen reportedly for his part in organizing a rally in which effigies of Maoist leaders Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai were burned. The treasurer and a central committee member of the MVA resigned on the day of Chiluwal's killing. On February 21, another central committee member announced his resignation, quick to point out that "I was not involved in �0A;the burning of Maoists' effigies on February 13." Maoists issued a statement on February 18, claiming responsibility for the cold-blooded murder, accusing Chiluwal of spying on them. PRIME MINISTER ADMITS INCREASE IN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS -------------- ¶3. Addressing the Nepal Bar Association on February 26, Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa admitted that human rights abuses had increased. The Prime Minister blamed the "abnormal situation" in the country and the collapse of the ceasefire for the increase, but assured the audience that it would not continue. Thapa also said he would tell the appropriate government bodies to make public the whereabouts of detainees, and promised that anyone found guilty of violating human rights would be "punished as per the existing laws." NO UN MEDIATION NEEDED -------------- ¶4. Speaking to reporters on February 26, the Prime Minister said United Nations (UN) mediation was not necessary and the Government of Nepal (GON) would "not accept mediation by a third party" in the GON-Maoist conflict. The Prime Minister declared that the "Maoist problem" would be solved by holding dialogue or by "other ways" soon. ELECTIONS IN OCTOBER -------------- ¶5. Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa said the GON has "almost finished the work" needed to hold general elections, which he said could be held as early as October or November. Thapa said security in the country had improved significantly and the GON could now focus on forming an all- party government. MAOIST SUPPLIERS ARRESTED IN TIBET -------------- ¶6. A report on February 22 from the eastern district of Sankhuwasabha, said that Tibetan police arrested seven people, including four Nepalese businessmen, on charges of supplying arms and explosives to Maoists from Tibet. The seven were later released after paying a fine, and Tibetan authorities reportedly have now imposed a ban on people without identification crossing the Nepal-Tibet border freely. MORE CASUALTIES -------------- ¶7. Maoist ambushes on security forces killed nine security personnel and injured thirty-two. On February 23, a police constable was killed by Maoists in the eastern district of Morang while returning home. The rebels reportedly took him to the center of town and shot him nine times. On February 22, Maoist detonated landmines in the districts of Bara and Kapilbastu killed two Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers, two policemen and a civilian bus driver. On February 21, Maoists shot and killed a police constable in Bara District, and three RNA soldiers were killed and eighteen injured by a Maoist-planted landmine in Khotang District in the east. ¶8. On February 22, Maoists launched an unsuccessful attempt on security personnel guarding the Bhote Koshi power plant in Sindhupalchowk. According to Post's contacts, the rebels tried to push a boulder from off a cliff onto the army's helicopter pad. Unable to budge the boulder, the rebels launched several socket bombs which caused no harm. Ultimately, the members of the so-called "Peoples' Army" resorted to throwing stones at the army personnel. No injuries were reported from the Maoist "attack." (FYI: The company guarding the power plant was attacked during the celebration of the same anniversary last year in the western district of Accham). ¶9. Fifteen insurgents reportedly were killed by security forces this week: one in the eastern district of Rautahat on February 26; two rebels were killed in Sarlahi District in the east on February 24; five in the central and western districts of Kapilbastu and Dailekh on February 21; and seven in the western district of Banke on February 20. ¶10. At a press conference on February 20 Home Ministry spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Pandey said 1,674 people have been killed in the current fiscal year: 1100 Maoists, 259 civilians, 130 policemen, 56 Armed Force Police (APF) personnel, and 129 RNA soldiers. (Note: Nepal's fiscal year begins July 15. End note). STRIKE YIELDS MIXED RESULTS -------------- ¶11. The All Nepal National Independent Student Union- Revolutionary (ANNISU-R),the Maoist-affiliated student wing, called off its five-day nationwide closure after the first two days were ineffective. The strike yielded mixed results, with many businesses and schools remaining open, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley. A large number of vehicles were also seen on the roads. The strike began on February 25 amid confusion after ANNISU-R accused "reactionaries" of publishing false stories that the strike would be limited to educational institutions. The Home Ministry appealed to people to defy the bandh, assuring them that adequate security measures had been taken to maintain law and order. For the most part the two-day strike remained peaceful, although there were reports of bomb blasts at two college campuses in the Kathmandu Valley on the first day of the strike. Three other pressure cooker bombs were found in Kathmandu District on February 26. Security forces defused two of them, and one exploded. No casualties were reported. ¶12. The United Nations (UN) issued a press release on February 24, urging the Maoists to withdraw the strike. The statement decried the strike as "tragic" and said children should not be deprived of learning "because of a political dispute among adults." MAOIST SURRENDERS EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED -------------- ¶13. At a press briefing on February 24, Home Ministry Spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Pandey reported that the total number of surrendered Maoists had surpassed 555 since the announcement of the Government of Nepal's (GON) amnesty program. Maoists from 56 of the country's 75 districts have surrendered. Recent surrenders include a battalion commander and twenty-two members of Maoist-affiliated student organizations. The surrendered rebels also relinquished ammunition, weapons, socket bombs and money. The amnesty program's deadline has been extended to April ¶12. STUDENTS DEFY MAOISTS; ELECTIONS HELD -------------- ¶14. On February 26, the Free Students Union (FSU) elections were held at the majority of campuses in Kathmandu, despite threats and a nationwide strike called by the All Nepal National Independent Student Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R). The local press reported a large turnout for the elections. ANNISU-R is protesting the elections, and has warned the vice-chancellor and election commission members of Tribuhvan University to quit. MAOIST ABDUCTIONS CONTINUE -------------- ¶15. On February 26, Maoists reportedly abducted sixty students from a school in the remote district of Rukum. On February 20, the local press reported that Maoists had gathered three hundred students from a school in Rolpa District, a Maoist stronghold. It is believed that the students have been taken forcibly to participate in the rebels' military training and indoctrination programs. On February 22, Maoists reportedly abducted fifty-two people in separate incidents. The local press reported that forty-six teachers were gathered from the western district of Kailali and taken to an unidentified location. They were released five days later on the condition that they would teach only communist education. On that same day, six people were rounded up in Nawalparasi District and remain missing. On February 24, the local press reported that Maoists abducted six girls who had managed to break free from the rebels after security forces confronted the group. The women had been trying to return home for the past week when the insurgents caught up with them again. On February 22, Maoists reportedly abducted a fourteen-year-old boy from his home in Dadeldhura District. ¶16. The recent spate of "abductions" have caused alarm after an article in an English-language newspaper said the Maoists plan to raise a 50,000 strong child militia by May. According to Kamal Shahi, a central secretariat member of the All Nepal National Independent Student Union- Revolutionary (ANNISU-R),the Maoist-aligned student wing, recruitment will be conducted under the slogan "one educational institution, one excellent militia." The insurgents claim it is to help the students defend themselves in case of an "attack by the RNA." Representatives from UNICEF have condemned the recent spate of abductions, declaring that "children must not be used in any form in war." Local human rights organizations claim that over thirty percent of the Maoists' army is under the age of eighteen. MAOIST ATTACKS LEAVE CIVILIANS DEAD -------------- ¶17. A nine-year-old boy was killed on February 26 by a Maoist-planted bomb in Rautahat District. On that same day, rebels reportedly shot and killed a member of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in Jhapa. He reportedly had escaped after being abducted by the insurgents. On February 22 Maoists reportedly shot and killed two people in Bara District: a Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) activist and a teacher. MALINOWSKI