FIGHTING IN WEST CONTINUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000597 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR D, P, SA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2016 TAGS: MOPS PTER NP SUBJECT: FIGHTING IN WEST CONTINUES REF: A. KATHMANDU 321 ¶B. KATHMANDU 331 ¶C. KATHMANDU 474 ¶D. KATHMANDU 427 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d). More than 30 Die in Fighting in Western Districts -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) Since the January 31 Maoist attack on Tansen, headquarters of Palpa District (refs A and B),Embassy sources tell us up to 4,000 Maoists have remained in the area - Palpa, Rupandehi, Arghakhachi, and Nawalparasi Districts. The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) launched a counter-offensive, including search and destroy missions, which resulted in a number of clashes. In the most recent fighting on February 28, said to have been very fierce and lasting more than twelve hours, the Maoists attacked a patrolling team on the border between Palpa and Arghakhachi Districts. More than 30 people reportedly died - at least 11 security people, 18 Maoists and two civilians. Maoists claimed that they had captured several weapons, including 6 M-16s, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. According to an Embassy source, the civilians died as a result of RNA aerial attacks when helicopters were used to re-inforce RNA ground troops. Maoists Trying to Get Munitions -------------- ¶2. (C) On February 28, three kilometers north of the Nepal-India border, Rupandehi District police seized a truck that had come up from India full of explosive materials, hidden under a load of coal. Police believe the explosives, which included 475 kg of nepolite gelatin, 100 packets (2500 kg) of emulsion explosive, 10,200 pieces of electronic detonators and 29,500 detonator caps, were intended for the Maoists. An Embassy source also told us that it was likely that the Maoists had captured an RNA ammunition truck when they attacked an RNA convoy on February 9 in Nawalparasi. Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) The Maoists' ability to keep a force of up to 4,000 in the field engaged in fighting in a specific area for over a month is troubling. The Maoists are apparently working to restock munitions supplies from India as well as capturing RNA weapons and ammunition at every opportunity. This is especially worrisome in that the RNA is having to expend its dwindling munitions stocks, with little hope of resupply on the horizon, in countering the Maoist attacks. MORIARTY