MAOISTS FANNING VIOLENCE IN NEPAL'S CITIES?

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001329 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER NP SUBJECT: MAOISTS FANNING VIOLENCE IN NEPAL'S CITIES? Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). MAOISTS INVOLVED IN MOB VIOLENCE AT HOSPITAL... -------------- --- ¶1. (C) Mob violence broke out at the Lumbini Zonal Hospital on May 23 in the south-central city of Butwal, after the alleged negligence of a doctor led to a patients death. Reports indicate that after news of the patient's death spread, a mob of several hundred, comprised of youths, street children, and Maoists vandalized the hospital, two nursing homes, an ambulance, and several clinics in the hospital compound. The mob attacked and beat the doctor who had treated the deceased patient, despite police attempts to assist him. In the evening, mobs burned another ambulance and looted medical shops. Krishna Gautam, Regional Coordinator for the Nepali NGO, the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC),said the mob in Butwal were Maoists. Police sources confirmed that Maoists were involved in the May 23rd violence, and said they gave orders for the mob to be controlled using minimum force and that there were no orders given to use firearms. This incident occurred a day before 100,000 Maoist supporters attended a planned Maoist rally on May 24 in Butwal. ...AND AT A NURSING HOME IN KATHMANDU? -------------- ¶2. (C) On May 24 in Kathmandu, a mob of approximately 100 smashed windows, burned tires, and protested the alleged negligent death of an asthma patient at the Everest Nursing Home in the New Baneshwor area. Family members reportedly did not recognize any of the faces of those involved. Anil Jha, Central Committee Member of the Nepal Sambhawana Party (NSP),speculated that the mob was neither Maoists nor family members of the deceased, but individuals taking advantage of the transition period in Nepal to protest about something. Police sources said they had no evidence of Maoist involvement in the violent protests and said "third party" individuals were responsible. Gautam said the mob was not comprised of Maoists, but were "reactionary forces." After hours of negotiation, the nursing home, seemingly admitting their negligence, agreed to give the deceased's family USD 3,500 (250,000 Nepali Rupees) in compensation. Separately, on May 25 in Kathmandu, mobs burned tires and attacked vehicles in response to an incident where police allegedly beat a cab driver involved in an accident (some eyewitnesses deny that such a beating occurred). MEDICAL SERVICES CLOSED NATIONWIDE ON MAY 25 -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Police sources confirmed that the Medical Association of Nepal shut down all but emergency medical services nationwide on May 25 in protest of the two violent mob incidents. Medical staff in Butwal's Rupandehi District began an indefinite strike on May 24. While demonstrations continued in Kathmandu on May 25, they had not turned violent. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) While sources have confirmed Maoist involvement in the May 23 violence in Butwal, we suspect Maoists were involved in inciting the violent protests in Kathmandu on May 24 as well. The Maoists' fanning of violence could be a political tool to keep pressure on the government or an attempt to create anarchy in Nepal's cities. It is obviously in the Maoists' interest to signal that the government is not in control. MORIARTY