MAOISTS REJECT "PEACE FETISHISM" AND RESUME ARMED

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 000107 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV NP SUBJECT: MAOISTS REJECT "PEACE FETISHISM" AND RESUME ARMED STRUGGLE TO TOPPLE MONARCHY REF: A. KATHMANDU 13 ¶B. 05 KATHMANDU 2956 ¶C. KATHMANDU 47 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d). Maoists Stress Use of "Armed Struggle" ... -------------- ¶1. (U) Maoist deputy Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has publicly reiterated that "to achieve a democratic republic both armed and unarmed struggles" in the villages and cities must be used. In the op-ed "Question of Armed and Unarmed Struggle," dated January 4, 2006, in the January 6 Nepali-language weekly "Samaya," Bhattarai stressed that the Maoists will work with "all democratic forces," referring to the seven-party alliance with whom it formed the November 17, 12-point understanding, to coordinate between rural and urban and armed and unarmed struggles. "In the coming days it is necessary to create a storm of armed and unarmed struggle in the villages and cities." He explained that the "Maoists will now adopt the strategy of 'concentrating on cities and paying attention to villages.'" Countering any argument to use nonviolent means only, he noted that "the means become trivial when the goal is important." According to Bhattarai, "it is sad that some international forces and political and intellectual leaders still think that autocracy can be defeated through peaceful measures. This peace fetishism sounds good, but that can either be suicidal or lead to status quo." He added that the insurgents will focus on the roads, as the link between the villages and the cities. Bhattarai also argued for the dismantlement of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and use of the Maoists' people's army as the basis of a new national army. ... And Actions Match Words -------------- ¶2. (C) The surge in violence since the Maoists ended their cease-fire on January 2 demonstrates that they are intent on using armed struggle to achieve their goal. Although the Maoists had never really observed their unilateral cease-fire and had continued abductions and extortions, the number of killings had noticeably dropped. That has changed, with daily reports of Maoists bombing government offices in the districts (13 districts since January 2). The Maoists have killed five Armed Police Force personnel (three in Nepalgunj, Banke District, two at the Bhairahawa Customs Office in Rupandehi District). They also killed two children and injured a woman when they set off a socket bomb inside a civilian's house in Dolpa District, and injured three civilians in separate incidents across the country. With Increased Violence to Come -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) Other reporting indicates that Maoist Special Task Forces have gathered to attempt to enter the Kathmandu Valley. This not only follows the Maoist strategy of attacking the cities but is also in line with the Maoist-Parties agreement to disrupt the municipal elections scheduled for February 8. Admittedly, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said the Maoists had provided assurances that they had not instructed their cadre to abduct or kill candidates as part of their anti-election campaign (ref B). That said, the press has already reported that three candidates in Dailekh District sought shelter in security forces barracks because the Maoists had threatened them; another group campaigning in Dailekh had also claimed to have received written threats from the Maoists. (Note: CPN-UML General Secretary MK Nepal recently told the Ambassador that the Maoists had lied to OHCHR, Ref C. End Note.) Candidates reportedly also fear Maoist reprisals after the polls. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Despite the Maoists' resumption of violence and killing of civilians and children, the Parties and most of the international community have remained silent, apparently in hopes of rescuing the 12-point understanding with the Maoists. Bhattarai has clearly stated that the insurgents intend to use armed struggle and that the means (we infer the killing of civilians and innocents) do not matter in order to reach their goal of a "democratic republic." In the coming weeks, we will attempt to convince the political parties here, as well as portions of the international community, that Maoist tactics and intentions cannot be safely ignored. MORIARTY