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" ...
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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
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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
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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
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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