UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, APRIL 10-16,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KATHMANDU 000722

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA
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USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST AND JIM BEVER
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA
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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, APRIL 10-16,
2004

REFERENCE: (A) KATHMANDU 0673

(B) KATHMANDU 0588
(C) KATHMANDU 0591

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


1. Separate attacks and clashes reportedly left fifteen
Maoists and three security personnel dead. The local press
reported that Maoist leadership was "considering" releasing
forty policemen taken captive last week (Ref A). An Indian
article reprinted in the local press reports that arrested
Maoist leader Mohan Vaidya (Ref B) claims the Maoists have
forged a "working relationship" with Indian militant groups.
An aerial attack by the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) on a
secondary school in the far western district of Accham
reportedly killed five civilians, including a teacher and
fourteen-year-old boy, and injured fifteen others. The
local press reported that Maoists rounded up more than 300
people from the far west to participate in Maoist programs.
Maoist bombs killed five children and damaged several
buildings. The Government of Nepal (GON) announced another
three-month extension to its amnesty program. The National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) accused the GON of failing to
implement many parts of the 25-point commitment paper
released by the Prime Minister (Ref C). According to a
report released on April 9 by a local human rights
organization 2003 was one of the most violent years in the
eight-year Maoist insurgency with over 2,000 people killed.
King Gyanendra said democracy must be at the top of the
national agenda, but peace must be achieved before elections
could be held. End Summary.

SPORADIC CLASHES CONTINUE;
ABDUCTED POLICEMEN REMAIN MISSING
--------------


2. Separate incidents throughout Nepal left fifteen Maoists
and three security personnel dead. On April 15, two rebels
were killed in Nuwakot District, north of Kathmandu; two in
the districts of Therathum and Dailekh on April 11; three in
the districts of Nuwakot, Sarlahi and Dang on April 10; and
three in the western district of Kavre on April 9. Five
others were killed on April 13 in the far-eastern district
of Ilam after security forces attempted to rescue forty-one
policemen taken hostage after the rebels attacked their
police post April 7 (Ref B). Security forces reportedly
were able to rescue one of the hostages, an assistant police
inspector, on the previous day, but the whereabouts of the
other hostages are unknown. The local press reported on
April 14 that the Maoist leadership was "considering"
releasing the captives. The article quoted a Maoist cadre
as saying the hostages were being treated well, but demanded
that security forces cease operations in the area before the
men are released. On April 14, Maoists launched an attack
on a police post in the far-eastern district of Panchthar.
Security forces were able to repel that attack and no
casualties were reported.


3. Three security personnel died from Maoist-planted
explosives; one Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldier on April 14
in Kaski District; and one each in Nuwakot District and
Dolpa District on April 10. Five RNA soldiers were also
injured on April 9 when their convoy was ambushed by
insurgents.


4. On April 11, Maoists issued a public statement
threatening to attack the district headquarters in
Taplejung, in the far northeast. According to the locals,
the rebels have warned of an imminent attack, but security
forces dismiss the threat as "psychological war" tactics.
Security personnel said any attack by the rebels would be
repulsed.

MAOIST LEADER CLAIMS LINK
WITH INDIAN MILITANTS
--------------


5. An Indian article, reprinted in the local press on April
12, reports that arrested Maoist leader Mohan Vaidya (Ref B)
claims the Maoists have forged a "working relationship" with
the Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO),an Indian
separatist group in Assam. Vaidya reportedly said the
Maoists "largely depended" on similar guerilla organizations
in India, particularly for access to sanctuary. A senior
official with India's Special Services Bureau is quoted as
saying KLO militants have used parts of Nepal for hideouts
after attacks, while Maoists have sought cover in North
Bengal. Vaidya is due to appear in Indian Court on April

22. He is charged with five counts of violations under the
Indian Penal Code, including treason.


6. After the increase in violence against Indian nationals
and businesses following Vaidya's arrest (Ref A),Indian and
Nepalese security officials reportedly have agreed to
increase security along the India-Nepal border ahead of
Indian elections on April 26. Indian security forces along
the border have also imposed a ban on the export of pressure-
cookers to Nepal. Maoists regularly use pressure-cookers to
make landmines and bombs to target security personnel.

AERIAL BOMBING KILLS CIVILIANS
--------------


7. On April 12, security forces launched an aerial attack
on an assembly of Maoists at a secondary school in the far
western district of Accham, reportedly killing five
civilians, including a teacher and fourteen-year-old boy,
and injuring fifteen others. Security officials claim that
they were forced to retaliate after Maoists fired upon their
helicopter from the ground, and that the rebels were using
the school to conduct a "peoples' resistance campaign."
Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara issued a press
statement on April 14 denying that any Maoist cadre were at
the school, and blamed the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) for
killing locals who "were celebrating a festival."
Subsequent reports continued to offer conflicting stories,
with some locals claiming they were forced to attend a
Maoist program at the school in the presence of Maoist
district leaders.

300 ABDUCTED BY MAOISTS IN FAR-WEST
--------------


8. On April 11, the local press reported that Maoists had
rounded up more than 300 people from the far-western
district of Dadeldhura. They reportedly are being forced to
participate in Maoist cultural programs, and are receiving
training in the Maoists' "peoples' mobilization program."
In what is perhaps an ominous foreshadowing of life under
Maoist rule, Maoist leaders in Dadeldhura District
reportedly ordered anyone opposed to Maoist ideology to
leave their homes. According to locals, the rebels have
warned the villagers that they will not allow people opposed
to their movement or those who refuse to join the Maoist
militia to remain in the district. Maoist leaders also
announced plans to recruit at least 50 youths from each
village, causing many of them to flee their homes.

9. In the far-eastern district of Taplejung, Maoists
reportedly also abducted 60 teachers from their homes. In
neighboring Panchthar District, Maoists have resumed their
recruitment campaign, demanding one person from each house,
provoking a large exodus of young people. Maoists deny they
are forcing people to join their party, claiming they are
doing so "of their own free will." In the western district
of Banke, Maoists forced fifty people, some as young as
seven years old, to participate in their cultural programs.
Part of the programs reportedly involved participants
wearing bombs around their necks. An eight-year-old child
who was part of the program said the bomb around his neck
was "for anyone who comes to attack me."

PLAYING WAR ON SCHOOLGROUNDS
--------------


10. Last month a Maoist student leader reportedly told a
gathering in the western district of Banke that "we will
raise a 50,000 strong force of child soldiers." An article
published in the April 16 edition of an English-language
weekly reports that some cadres seem intent on fulfilling
that goal. Despite denials by senior Maoist leadership that
the rebels recruit children for their militia, Maoist cadres
in the west make no attempt to keep the recruitment of
children a secret and are actively using schoolgrounds as
training centers. In the far-western districts of Jumla and
Dang, it is not uncommon to see children dressed in military
uniforms carrying grenades, bombs and guns. A ten year old
girl, carrying two grenades, is quoted in the article as
proudly saying that her job is to sit by the side of the
road and wait for security forces to come. When they
arrive, she is instructed to "throw it (grenade) and run
away." Another soldier, an eleven year old girl, said "when
we grow up we will take part in attacks on Royal Nepal Army
bases."


11. In addition to receiving training in warfare tactics,
the children also undergo ideological indoctrination, much
of which they don't appear to comprehend. Standard mantras
include "defeat imperialism," and "fight exploitation,
suppression, and atrocities." Children speak of becoming
martyrs in the "struggle to liberate our brothers and
sisters." Those children not enticed by military parades
and training exhibitions at their schools are often forced
to join the Maoists, knowing if they refuse, the rebels will
harm their families. Some villages are nearly empty due to
the large number of people who have fled fearing Maoist
recruitment.

MAOIST TERROR GOES ON
--------------


12. On April 12, a bomb left behind by Maoists killed three
members of a family in the western district of Jajarkot. On
that same day in neighboring Jumla District, rebels
reportedly beat to death a 75 year-old man for speaking out
against Maoist torture and extortion. On April 10, two
children in Banke District died after they picked up a bomb
left by Maoists and it exploded. An 85 year old man died on
April 15 after Maoists threw a bomb into his house in
Dhading District. Three other family members sustained
injuries.


13. Indiscriminate bombs by Maoists damaged several
government buildings: an area forest office in Bara District
was destroyed on April 10; and on April 9, Maoists set off
bombs in two Agricultural Development Bank office buildings
in Kailali District, causing over USD 280,000 in damages.
On that same day in Chitwan, a group of armed rebels set
fire to a checkpost inside the Royal Chitwan National Park,
a popular tourist destination.


14. Businessmen in the eastern district of Sarlahi are
witnessing an increase in extortion demands by Maoists. The
rebels are demanding as much as USD 4000 from local
businesses. If the businessmen do not or cannot meet the
demands, they are being told to leave the district.

GON EXTENDS AMNESTY PROGRAM AGAIN
--------------


15. On April 15, the GON announced a second extension to
its amnesty program. The program has been extended for an
additional three months, allowing Maoists the opportunity to
surrender until mid-July. Surrendered Maoists receive
training and rehabilitation services at a center in Tanahu
District in the midwest. To date, nearly 900 Maoists have
surrendered.

NHRC LASHES OUT AT GON
--------------


16. On April 14, the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) accused the GON of failing to implement any part of
the 25-point commitment paper released by Prime Minister
Surya Bahadur Thapa on March 26 (Ref C). Sushil Pyakurel,
member of the NHRC, alleged that security forces are still
detaining people at night, and that the GON has failed to
address the disappearances of over 1200 people. Foreign
Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya countered the charges by

SIPDIS
saying the GON had "made every effort" to prevent human
rights abuses despite a lack of resources and an ongoing
Maoist insurgency.


17. According to the Human Rights Yearbook 2004, released
on April 9 by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC),a
local human rights organization, 2003 was one of the most
violent years in the eight-year Maoist insurgency with over
2,000 people killed. In the report, INSEC accuses both the
Maoists and security forces of committing brutal executions,
abductions and illegal detentions. INSEC charges that the
Maoists killed almost 700 people by "beatings, smashing them
with boulders, beheading, lacerating, and hammering them to
death," while security forces violate individuals' freedoms
"in the name of quelling the insurgency." INSEC claims that
the brutality "is being sanctioned by the state," and warned
of increased tolerance of abuses if there is no commitment
to protect human rights.


18. Amnesty International's (AI) website says there is a
"human rights catastrophe" in Nepal, and urged the USG to
address the crisis by sponsoring a resolution at the United
Nations Commission On Human Rights (UNHCR) session in
Geneva. The report on the website condemns both the GON and
the Maoists for human rights violations that have "escalated
sharply" since the Maoists abandoned the ceasefire in August

2003.
ELECTIONS AFTER PEACE
--------------

19. In his Nepali New Year's address on April 13, King
Gyanendra said democracy must be at the top of the national
agenda. Although no exact date has been set for elections
to be held, the King said it was important to create the
environment necessary to enable the people of Nepal to go
forward in creating a "constructive and democratic" way of
life. A day earlier, Minister of Education Hari Bahadur
Basnet said that elections are "impossible" if Nepal's
principal political parties continue with their ongoing
protests. Minister Basnet called on the parties to
cooperate with the government to create a peaceful
environment for elections. Nepal's five principal parties
have continued protests for fifteen consecutive days since
the start of their rally against "regression" on April 1.

MALINOWSKI