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 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, 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