MAOISTS ACTIVE IN RURAL SOLUKHUMBU

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002763 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV NP SUBJECT: MAOISTS ACTIVE IN RURAL SOLUKHUMBU Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) From September 29 to October 4, Emboffs traveled to southern portion of Solukhumbu District in eastern Nepal and observed and heard about the Maoist activities in that rural area. In Salleri, the district headquarters, the Maoists had established a "People's Government" office, complete with a "People's Court." The security forces continued to patrol the main airport in Phaplu, and around the military base in Salleri. However, in Rumjatar, south of Salleri, the Maoists were reportedly patrolling the airfield, and had forced the security forces to not carry their weapons. Local villagers told stories of Maoist intimidation and extortion, and expressed uncertainty about the future of the country. Maoists Have Nice Facilities -------------- ¶2. (C) Emboffs traveled to the southern portion of Solukhumbu District in eastern Nepal from September 29 to October 4. The Maoist "People's Government" office in Salleri, the district capital, was very well kept, with new signs, relatively nice facilities, and electricity. Within the offices, according to local sources, there was a "People's Court" and Maoist party offices. ¶3. (C) One local from Phaplu said that people did not like the Maoists, but generally liked the "People's Courts" because they gave quick verdicts and the problems were solved. When asked if the Maoists' verdicts were fair, the local said that "no courts in Nepal were fair." Maoists Patrolling in Some Places -------------- ¶4. (SBU) When Emboffs arrived in Phaplu, the security forces (a mix of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force (APF),and Nepal Army (NA) soldiers) were patrolling the area around the airport. After the flights were done for the day, the security forces returned to their camp in Salleri, the district capital. Security forces were publicly present in Salleri during the day, although no presence was noted outside of the village center. ¶5. (C) A pharmacist in Phaplu told Emboffs that the Maoists had begun patrolling the airport to the south of Salleri, in Rumjatar. When the Chief District Officer (CDO) told the police to go and patrol the same airport, the Maoists told the police that they could patrol theQirport with them, but the police could not carry any weapons. According to the pharmacist, the police accepted the restriction and now go to Rumjatar without weapons. People are Nervous about the Maoists -------------- ¶6. (C) Many people whom Emboffs spoke to while in Phaplu and Salleri expressed their fear of the Maoists. One person told Emboffs that the Maoists were still coming and asking for money from everyone in the village, and that local inhabitants were too frightened not to give something. Locals told Emboffs that in villages north of Phaplu, the local villagers would not let the Maoists stay in lodges or eat in restaurants and so the Maoists stayed away from those villages. However, in Phaplu and places south, the Maoists had attacked so often before the cease-fire, including blowing up the airport in Phaplu four times, that the people were afraid to stand up to them. Maoist Problem is Personal -------------- ¶7. (C) Several people with whom Emboffs spoke while in Phaplu and Salleri had intensely personal stories about Maoist activities. Sometimes this was as simple as remembering the day that the airport in Phaplu had been bombed. Other times, they had a friend or family member whom the Maoists had murdered or intimidated. This fear and strong feelings permeated many conversations about the Maoists in the two villages. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The situation in the rural villages of Nepal's eastern Solukhumbu district remain tense, with the Maoists continuing their campaign of extortion and intimidation. Although it tracks with what we have been hearing in Kathmandu, it is troubling to see the complete lack of government enforcement of law and order. The district is a prime tourist destination, but due to a lack of security in its southern portion, tourist numbers there are down and the local villages are suffering because of it. This trip underscored, more than ever, the necessity for the Government of Nepal to start using the security forces to crack down on Maoist crimes. DEAN