NEPAL'S G8 COUNTER-TERRORISM ACTION GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001007 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT: JOHN SANDAGE/ERIC ROSAND, SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL NP SUBJECT: NEPAL'S G8 COUNTER-TERRORISM ACTION GROUP REF: STATE 58471 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d). Presentation By HMGN On Nepal's Threat From Terrorism -------------- -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On April 13, Russian Ambassador Andrey Trofimov organized a discussion among the local G8 Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) to discuss the terrorism threat in Nepal. (Note: Our discussion did not focus on "ideological radicalization," nor did any member promote a law-enforcement approach (reftel). End Note.) The Russian Embassy first organized a presentation by His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMGN) senior officials, led by Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) Director of Military Intelligence Brigadier General Anil Thapa on HMGN's view of Nepal's terrorism. General Thapa estimated the current strength of hard-core Maoists to be 8,000 people. He commented that the RNA had recent information that the Maoists realized they could not win militarily and so had decided to focus on the cities with the help of the political parties. The General also noted that the Maoists were indoctrinating RNA family members and attempting to incite rebellion within the security forces. CTAG Discussion Focuses on Maoists in Nepal -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The subsequent discussion focused on the Maoist threat in Nepal. The Russian Ambassador characterized Nepal's terrorism problem as being "transborder" rather than international in scope. While all agreed the Maoists conducted terrorist acts, representatives from EU countries said the EU had not decided whether the Maoists were terrorists. The group agreed that the government needed to do more to win the hearts and minds of the population, and that we should look at the social and development aspects of combatting terrorism in Nepal. Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) The Russian Embassy prepared a report to send to Moscow, which planned to focus on only three countries in preparation for the April 28 meeting of CTAG in Moscow. The Russian Embassy in Kathmandu hoped Nepal would be one of the focus countries. MORIARTY