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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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