UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, MARCH 13-19,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KATHMANDU 000496

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PTER CASC PGOV NP PHUM
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, MARCH 13-19,
2004

REFERENCE: (A) KATHMANDU 0437
(B) KATHMANDU 0465

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


1. The Minister of Foreign Affairs defended the Government
of Nepal's (GON) human rights record in Geneva, affirming
that "we keep human rights uppermost in our mind." Maoist
supremo Prachanda claims to be receptive to UN mediation,
while the Prime Minister says it is not necessary. The Home
Minister said that security in Nepal must be improved before
elections can be held. Political party leaders are
considering involving the Maoists in their movement against
"regression." Four security personnel and eight Maoists
were killed in clashes this week. The Maoist-imposed
blockade of major roads has spread to sixteen districts in
the western region. UN agencies and donors published
statements reiterating their policy not to pay extortion
demands. Maoists demanded the resignation of local
officials and those involved in organizing the King's
upcoming visit to Pokhara. A powerful Maoist-planted
landmine in the far west left eleven civilians dead. A six-
year-old child was killed and four other civilians seriously
injured by Maoist bombs in separate incidents. Maoists
reportedly took 56 students and teachers forcibly from
schools in the far west, and are setting up training camps
in the schools. Maoist surrenders have reached nearly 700
since the announcement of the GON's amnesty program. End
Summary.

GON COMMITTED TO HUMAN RIGHTS
--------------


2. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Bekh Bahadur Thapa
defended the GON's human rights record to the UN Human
Rights Commission in Geneva, affirming that "we keep human
rights uppermost in our mind." Dr. Thapa, addressing the UN
session on March 18, blamed Maoist threats and violence for
the current instability in Nepal. He said the GON is "aware
and committed" to respect human rights, but that violence,
kidnapping, executions and the displacement of thousands of
civilians have "seriously undermined" the efforts of the
government.


3. Human rights organizations have consistently voiced
concern that human rights abuses are increasing, alleging
that violence, torture, abductions and illegal detentions
continue to rise since the ceasefire ended in August 2003.
Representatives accuse both sides of failing to follow
international law, saying "Prachanda and the government do
not listen to us." The Chief of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA)
Human Rights Cell, however, said the army is committed to
protecting individuals' rights, but criticized local
organizations for not expressing concern when "our men lose
their lives."

PRACHANDA CLAIMS TO WELCOME UN MEDIATION
--------------


4. Maoist supremo Prachanda issued a statement on March 17
claiming that he was receptive to UN mediation, one day
after Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa ruled out foreign
intervention on the grounds it would "create further
problems." Prachanda accused the Government of Nepal (GON)
of not being ready to sit for dialogue, but of continuing
"military totalitarianism." Prachanda also claimed that his
party is "totally committed to the Geneva Convention and
other international conventions on human rights," despite
reports of countless atrocities committed by Maoist cadres
daily. He did, however, defiantly invite human rights
organizations to come to the field to assess human rights
violations "by the state." He also reiterated his party's
demand for a constituent assembly, although he acknowledged
that demand "ruined the talks."


5. The European Union (EU) reportedly is trying to bring
both sides back to the negotiating table. EU officials
reportedly met with government officials, security chiefs,
and senior Maoists last week in an effort to resume a peace
dialogue.

SECURITY FIRST; ELECTIONS LATER
--------------


6. Home Minister Kamal Thapa told reporters on March 18
that security in the country needs to be improved before
elections can be held. Thapa said the GON would announce a
date for elections soon, and that it is "willing to hand
over power" as soon as possible. The Home Minister also
said that the GON "is always ready" for talks with the
Maoists, but the rebels are not "creating a conducive
environment" for talks. He dismissed Prachanda's professed
acceptance of UN mediation, declaring there was "no need"
for a third party for mediation.

POLITICAL PARTIES PONDER MAOIST INVOLVEMENT
--------------


7. Representatives of Nepal's main political parties
(Nepali Congress (NC),Communist Party of Nepal-United
Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML),Peoples' Front Nepal (PFN),
Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP),and Nepal
Sadbhavana Party) met on March 13 to discuss the next phase
of their "movement against regression." PFN leader Lila
Mani Pokharel said they discussed the possibility of
including the Maoists in their movement, and agreed to
"initiate discussion" with the rebels. NC spokesman Arjun
Narsingh KC, however, said the Maoists would not be included
unless they renounced violence.

AMBUSHES KILL FOUR
--------------


8. Three policemen and one Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldier
were killed in separate Maoist ambushes: in Banke District a
RNA soldier was killed on March 16; a policeman was gunned
down in his traffic office in Panchthar District, in the far
eastern region, on March 15; and two policemen died from a
Maoist-planted landmine in Chitwan.


9. Eight Maoists reportedly were killed during security
operations: two in the western district of Dang and two in
the central district of Dhading on March 19; two in the
western district of Bardiya on March 15; and two in the
western districts of Achham and Jhapa on March 13.


10. On March 16, a powerful Maoist-planted landmine in the
far-western district of Kanchanpar tore through a vehicle
carrying staff from the Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve
and several civilians, leaving eleven dead and four injured.
According to security officials parts of the vehicle were
scattered up to 500 meters away. On March 18, a ten-year-old
child in the western district of Salyan
was seriously injured from a bomb left by Maoists. Three
other civilians also were seriously injured from Maoist
landmines in the far-western district of Achham on March 13.
On March 15, a six-year-old girl was killed when her brother
mistook a bomb for a toy and it exploded.


11. On March 3, a vernacular newspaper reported that the
RNA had received a report suggesting that the Maoists were
facing difficulties due to cadres quitting and
malfunctioning weapons. The report also stated that lack of
trained Maoist cadres was contributing to the failure of
planned attacks.

MAOIST BLOCKADE CONTINUES
--------------


12. The Maoist-imposed blockade of major roads has spread
to sixteen districts in the western region (Ref A) and
continues to wreak economic havoc and endanger health care.
On March 14, Maoists bombed the transportation office in
Pokhara, and Maoists in the western district of Salyan
reportedly seized the only ambulance in that region, denying
emergency service to people in the area. The rebels planned
to keep it until the blockade ended, but RNA personnel
retrieved it. Throughout sixteen districts in the west,
main highways also remain closed, some passenger buses have
stopped running, and over 250 trucks reportedly are stranded
at the India-Nepal border. Supplies of food and commodities
have been unable to reach their destinations, and due to the
blockade, petroleum dealers said the Kathmandu Valley is
experiencing a shortage of petroleum, cooking gas and
kerosene. The spokesperson of Nepal Oil Corporation denied
any shortages, however, and said "everything is smooth."
The Maoist-imposed blockades reportedly are intended to
prevent the population in that region from traveling to meet
the King during his scheduled visit to Pokhara later this
month. Political leaders and civil organizations have
appealed to the rebels to end the blockades.


13. In an effort to offset the Maoist blockades, the Royal
Nepal Army (RNA) is providing escorts for trucks carrying
essential commodities and for passenger buses. Speaking at
a press meet on March 18, RNA spokesman Colonel Deepak
Gurung said the RNA was "trying our best to normalize the
situation," and that security forces had escorted hundreds
of vehicles. In defiance of the blockade, over 50 buses
from Pokhara resumed their services on March 17 to different
parts of Nepal. Maoists had torched a passenger bus in
Pokhara on the previous day. The GON, in a move to
encourage the transportation industry and delivery of goods,
had announced compensation for any public service vehicle
damaged during the blockade.

MAOIST EXTORTION JEOPARDIZING UN PROJECTS
--------------


14. On March 17, the local press quoted a UN source as
saying "some projects will be closed soon" if Maoist threats
do not stop. In a public attempt to pressure the Maoists to
stop their extortion demands, the UN agencies and donor
groups have placed statements in both vernacular and English
language newspapers reiterating their policy not to pay
extortion demands, and warning that continued threats could
place the future of some programs in jeopardy. A UN
official admitted that project offices have received letters
"from underground rebels demanding monetary assistance." No
official public comment has been given on what programs
would be suspended or in which regions of Nepal.


15. A weekly vernacular newspaper reported on March 10 that
Maoists in the eastern district of Siraha have demanded that
Save The Children (US) close its office (Ref B). A notice
signed by the Maoist district secretary demands that the NGO
and all other American programs leave the district.
Declaring it their "last warning," the rebels said they must
expel the organizations to "finish off the American spies
working in social organizations."

AMCIT VEHICLE TORCHED
--------------


16. Post received a report that earlier this week two
American doctors traveling by road with their Nepalese
colleagues in the northeastern district of Dolakha were
stopped by armed Maoists who "politely" asked them to step
out of the car. The Maoists subsequently torched the
vehicle. The individuals are affiliated with an American
university which does medical research with tapeworms.


16. In a separate incident, a group of French trekkers were
approached by Maoists in Syangja District and given
permission to proceed after a member of the so-called Maoist
District Government reportedly told them "We do not restrict
any foreign tourists visiting Nepal except Americans."

MAOISTS FORCE RESIGNATIONS
--------------


17. According to a statement released on March 12, Maoists
in Kaski District have demanded the resignations of all
personnel involved in organizing the civic reception for the
King's visit to Pokhara on March 28. The rebels warned the
people if they fail to comply, they will be expelled from
the country and have their property confiscated.


18. On March 16, the local press reported that 44 employees
in Chitwan District resigned due to Maoist threats.
Insurgents in that district reportedly confronted the
employees the previous day and demanded their resignations.
The staff said they were threatened with "dire consequences"
if they did not comply.

ROUND UP OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CONTINUE
--------------


19. Maoists reportedly kidnapped 56 students and teachers
from schools in the far-western district of Dadeldhura on
March 13. It is believed the rebels are taking them for
participation in Maoist programs and indoctrination. In
nearby Darchula District, bordering India, 50 percent of the
schools have shut down due to forced conscription into
Maoist programs, continued extortion demands, and use of
students as porters. Locals also said the rebels are
converting the schools into Maoist training centers.

MAOISTS SURRENDERS STEADY
--------------


20. At a March 18 press briefing RNA spokesman Colonel
Deepak Gurung said 693 Maoist have surrendered since the
announcement of the GON's amnesty program. Several have
already been released from the rehabilitation center after
completing training.

MALINOWSKI