MAOISTS KIDNAP AND TORTURE MP'S BROTHER

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 003032 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM MASS NP SUBJECT: MAOISTS KIDNAP AND TORTURE MP'S BROTHER Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) A Nepali Congress (NC) Member of Parliament representing Bajhang District told us recently about the kidnapping of Malla's younger brother October 29 by the Maoists. Suresh Malla, who leads a faction of 15-20 anti-Maoist MPs, told Emboff that his brother had been tortured for three days and threatened with death because, according to the kidnappers, his "brother (Suresh Malla) is a problem." Malla also discussed the lack of law and order in his home district and his concern that Prime Minister Koirala, surrounded by "Maoist sympathizers," had not been discussing the peace talks with others in the NC leadership. MAOISTS KIDNAP, TORTURE MP'S YOUNGER BROTHER -------------- ¶2. (C) Suresh Malla, a Nepali Congress MP, told Emboff November 8 that Maoists had kidnapped and tortured his younger brother ten days previously. According to Malla, 20-25 Maoists kidnapped his brother off the street in the New Road shopping district of Kathmandu at seven o'clock in the evening on October 29. According to Malla's brother, the Maoists arrived in three taxis and three motorbikes, wearing civilian clothes and carrying 10-15 small bags with pistols in them. They had cell phones from "SPICE" company, a competitor of the Nepal Telecom Corporation -- the main local provider of cell phone service in Kathmandu. Malla said the Maoists grabbed one of his brother's friends and forced the friend to reveal Malla's brother's whereabouts. The Maoists then located and abducted Malla's brother. ¶3. (C) Malla said his brother was held for three days in Sindhupalchowk district, north of Kathmandu. He was blindfolded and first driven to Bhaktapur and Khavre districts before finally arriving in Sindupalchowk. (Note: Both Khavre and Sindhupalchowk districts are Maoist strongholds. End note.) While there, he was poorly fed and continually watched by 15 Maoists, who threatened him with execution. They also tried to break his arms and legs but he resisted. Malla's brother reported that the Maoists torturing him had said, "Your brother is a problem ... he is against us ... and if you report this to anyone, we will come for your family." ¶4. (C) The Maoists called Suresh Malla and demanded 1 million Nepali Rupees (approx. USD 13,888) ransom, but Malla eventually gave the Maoists 200,000 Nepali Rupees (approx. USD 2,777) for his brother's release. Malla reported that two of the Maoists in charge were identified as Chitra Rana Magar and Min Gopal Shrestha. Malla also said that his brother was initially afraid to give him details because the Maoists had threatened that if the brother told anyone, they would kill him. BACKGROUND: MP MALLA -------------- ¶5. (C) MP Malla is a member of the Nepali Congress party, and a staunch democrat who spent three months in jail during the King's direct rule. He is adamantly anti-Maoist and speaks against them often in the Parliament, where he leads a faction of 15-20 like-minded MPs. He told Emboff that the Maoists were after his faction's members, and that he now had a personal security guard in Kathmandu, on duty 24/7. He expressed concern that people he characterized as Maoist sympathizers in the political parties were surrounding Prime Minister Koirala. He complained that Koirala had not consulted senior members of his own party, the NC, during negotiations with the Maoists. He lamented that it was unclear whether the Parliament would be able to review the peace deal or vote on it. Maoists Control In The Countryside -------------- ¶6. (C) Malla also updated Emboff about the lack of government presence in his home district of Bajhang in far-western Nepal. He said he had visited for the first time in over three years during the Tihar holiday (October 22-26),and the Maoists were in complete control of the district. Malla told Emboff separately that the Government of Nepal (GON) could not provide safety and security to the citizens of the district. Malla said the local Maoist leadership warned him that he could visit the district but that they would not allow him to speak against them in any political forum. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) News of a Maoist kidnapping of an MP's brother is futher evidence of Maoist disdain for the Government of Nepal (GON),with which it has been negotiating a peace agreement and which it aspires to join. The incident once again highlights the pressing need for the GON to enforce law and order and punish the Maoists for criminal behavior. Effective GON law enforcement will be an essential element of a peace process that frees Nepalis from the fear of Maoist intimidation. MORIARTY