MAOISTS ATTEMPT TO RAISE PROFILE, BUT GET PUSHBACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001299

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV NP
SUBJECT: MAOISTS ATTEMPT TO RAISE PROFILE, BUT GET PUSHBACK


Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).

Summary
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1. (U) Maoists continued to raise their profile by organizing
mass gatherings throughout the country, bombing the house of
a Nepali Congress party member, recruiting new fighters, and
extorting businesses. Businessmen in central Bara District
pushed back, and threatened to close their businesses if the
Maoists did not enter into dialogue with them. Media were
also becoming more critical of Maoist actions, with an
editorial in a leading daily noting that the Maoists would
have won much more public support if they had stopped
threatening to raise arms again. End Summary.

Maoists Out and About...
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2. (U) The Maoists continued to be active despite the ongoing
cease-fire. A vernacular daily reported on May 22 that
thousands of armed Maoists were gathering on the outskirts of
Kathmandu to provide security for mass meetings they were
holding in each neighboring district, including Kavre,
Ramechap and Makwanpur. Maoists have scheduled a mass
meeting in Kathmandu for June 2.

...Bombing Political Party Members
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3. (U) Despite an ongoing cease-fire, Maoist cadre detonated
bombs on May 22 at the house of Jogendra Sahani, Nepali
Congress District Committee member, in the central terai
Tautahat District, injuring Sahani's wife. Sahani was not at
home when the Maoists attacked. Maoists also badly beat up
five members of Sahani's family before abducting his two
sons. The Maoists took responsibility for the action,
explaining that they were planning a rally about 100 meters
from the house, but Sahani was "spying against them." Local
human rights organizations and political parties condemned
the Maoist bombing and abduction.

...Recruiting
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4. (U) The Maoists intensified recruitment into their
people's liberation army (PLA). A vernacular newspaper
reported on May 22 that Maoists in far-west Banke District
had openly advertised positions in the PLA. A Maoist worker
there was telling locals that those who enrolled in the PLA
would eventually get a job in the Nepalese Army.

... and Extorting
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5. (U) Dozens of industries in the central terai industrial
city of Birgunj, Bara District, shut down operations from May
19 to May 21 in response to Maoist extortion and
intimidation. "Cadres enter the factory premises forcefully,
organize mass meetings and even manhandle company officials,"
explained Sushil Mittal, Vice President of the Birgunj
Chamber of Industries. The Maoist-affiliated All Nepal
Federation of Trade Unions (ANFTU),embarrassed by the
industries' move, issued a statement denying that they were
forcing businesses to pay extortion money or were involved in
threatening industrialists. Industries restarted on May 22,
as ANFTU and industries entered into talks. Finance Minister
Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat told the media that the government was
concerned about the current environment in the industrial
sector, and worried that continued extortion could "cast a
shadow" over upcoming government talks with the Maoists.

Media Weary Of Maoists
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6. (U) The media were increasingly critical of the daily
barrage of Maoist incidents. The lead editorial of the May
22 English language daily, the Kathmandu Post, noted that
"the Maoists are finding it difficult to own the people's
victory," and that "the confusion in the Maoists is seen in
their contradictory statements in mass meetings around the
country, and unabated extortion." It concluded that the
Maoists would have won much more public support if they had
stopped threatening to raise their arms again. However,
"despite the bloody past, the people are still in a mood to
forgive them." In an editorial the same day, the English
language daily, the Himalayan Times, noted "both the
political leaders and the Maoists will have to prove their
trustworthiness." It urged "all political exercises" to
fulfill the goals of the people's movement - "to create a
sound, solid, cohesive and all-inclusive nation."

Comment
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7. (C) Maoist intimidation and violence are souring the
euphoria that gripped Nepal after the people's movement
toppled King Gyanendra's autocracy. Media scrutiny of Maoist
abuses - a welcome development in Post's view - continues to
remind Nepalis of the large threat the insurgents pose for
Nepal's future peace and stability.
MORIARTY