Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU245
2006-01-25 09:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
HEAVY FIGHTING IN WESTERN NEPAL; ELECTION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000245
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV MOPS NP
SUBJECT: HEAVY FIGHTING IN WESTERN NEPAL; ELECTION
CANDIDATES DOUBTFUL
REF: KATHMANDU 107
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
MAOISTS ATTACK BORDER CITY OF NEPALGUNJ
---------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000245
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV MOPS NP
SUBJECT: HEAVY FIGHTING IN WESTERN NEPAL; ELECTION
CANDIDATES DOUBTFUL
REF: KATHMANDU 107
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
MAOISTS ATTACK BORDER CITY OF NEPALGUNJ
--------------
1. (C) Heavy fighting occurred when Maoist rebels attacked
Nepalese security forces the evening of January 24 in the
western border town of Nepalgunj. Reports indicated that
fighting started around 8:15 pm local time and continued
until approximately 10:00 pm. According to the press, there
were hundreds of Maoist attackers, while the Royal Nepalese
Army (RNA) asserted the attacks were not as "massive" as the
media portrayed. Police and RNA sources confirmed that there
were two waves of attacks. Dhawal Shamsher Rana, a former
mayor of Nepalgunj, told us he heard "several bomb explosions
and thousands of rounds of bullets." Bhavani Rana, who
operates a hotel in Nepalgunj, stated she heard gunfire at
the nearby Ward Police Office, three or four loud explosions,
and sporadic gunfire until 2:00 am. According to the Senior
Superintendent of Police, Maoists attacked the District
Police Office, Ward Police Office, District Jail and District
Administrative Office. In addition, the Informal Sector
Service Center (INSEC),a human rights NGO, reported that the
regional office of the Nepal Rastra Bank and the RNA's
Fultreja barracks were attacked. INSEC also noted that the
RNA and armed police force (APF) had reinforced their
positions at the District and Ward Police Offices before the
attacks due to recent Maoist threats to attack Nepalgunj.
The RNA reported that, as of the morning of January 25, the
situation in Nepalgunj was under control.
FEW CASUALTIES REPORTED
--------------
2. (U) Casualty reports varied slightly; police sources
indicated that two police officers, one RNA soldier and two
Maoists were killed in the fighting. INSEC reports added two
additional Maoists and one civilian to the casualty list.
However, a journalist source in Nepalgunj reported that at
least 12 security service personnel died and confirmed
INSEC's information that at least four Maoists were killed in
the fighting.
CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIONS NOT LIKELY TO RUN
--------------
3. (C) Dhawal and Bhavani Rana both opined that there was no
possibility of candidates running in the February 8 municipal
elections due to Maoist threats. The deadline to file for
candidacy is January 26. Home Minister Kamal Thapa was
scheduled to visit Nepalgunj today to encourage candidates to
run in the polls. A source from the west told us that the
Chief District Officers of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu Districts
(in western Nepal) had grave concerns about conducting the
polls.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) The Maoist attacks in Nepalgunj are in line with their
stated objectives of continuing armed struggle to overthrow
the monarchy and disrupting the municipal elections (reftel).
Post expects the Maoists to step up violent attacks in the
lead up to the February 8 municipal elections. Worryingly,
despite warnings of a possible Maoist attack, the insurgents
succeeded in entering the center of Nepalgunj, well-armed and
in large numbers.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV MOPS NP
SUBJECT: HEAVY FIGHTING IN WESTERN NEPAL; ELECTION
CANDIDATES DOUBTFUL
REF: KATHMANDU 107
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d)
MAOISTS ATTACK BORDER CITY OF NEPALGUNJ
--------------
1. (C) Heavy fighting occurred when Maoist rebels attacked
Nepalese security forces the evening of January 24 in the
western border town of Nepalgunj. Reports indicated that
fighting started around 8:15 pm local time and continued
until approximately 10:00 pm. According to the press, there
were hundreds of Maoist attackers, while the Royal Nepalese
Army (RNA) asserted the attacks were not as "massive" as the
media portrayed. Police and RNA sources confirmed that there
were two waves of attacks. Dhawal Shamsher Rana, a former
mayor of Nepalgunj, told us he heard "several bomb explosions
and thousands of rounds of bullets." Bhavani Rana, who
operates a hotel in Nepalgunj, stated she heard gunfire at
the nearby Ward Police Office, three or four loud explosions,
and sporadic gunfire until 2:00 am. According to the Senior
Superintendent of Police, Maoists attacked the District
Police Office, Ward Police Office, District Jail and District
Administrative Office. In addition, the Informal Sector
Service Center (INSEC),a human rights NGO, reported that the
regional office of the Nepal Rastra Bank and the RNA's
Fultreja barracks were attacked. INSEC also noted that the
RNA and armed police force (APF) had reinforced their
positions at the District and Ward Police Offices before the
attacks due to recent Maoist threats to attack Nepalgunj.
The RNA reported that, as of the morning of January 25, the
situation in Nepalgunj was under control.
FEW CASUALTIES REPORTED
--------------
2. (U) Casualty reports varied slightly; police sources
indicated that two police officers, one RNA soldier and two
Maoists were killed in the fighting. INSEC reports added two
additional Maoists and one civilian to the casualty list.
However, a journalist source in Nepalgunj reported that at
least 12 security service personnel died and confirmed
INSEC's information that at least four Maoists were killed in
the fighting.
CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIONS NOT LIKELY TO RUN
--------------
3. (C) Dhawal and Bhavani Rana both opined that there was no
possibility of candidates running in the February 8 municipal
elections due to Maoist threats. The deadline to file for
candidacy is January 26. Home Minister Kamal Thapa was
scheduled to visit Nepalgunj today to encourage candidates to
run in the polls. A source from the west told us that the
Chief District Officers of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu Districts
(in western Nepal) had grave concerns about conducting the
polls.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) The Maoist attacks in Nepalgunj are in line with their
stated objectives of continuing armed struggle to overthrow
the monarchy and disrupting the municipal elections (reftel).
Post expects the Maoists to step up violent attacks in the
lead up to the February 8 municipal elections. Worryingly,
despite warnings of a possible Maoist attack, the insurgents
succeeded in entering the center of Nepalgunj, well-armed and
in large numbers.
MORIARTY