Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI836
2008-03-20 13:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

ON EVE OF ELECTION, BHUTANESE WARY OF COMMUNIST

Tags:  KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL PTER BT IN 
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DE RUEHNE #0836 0801300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201300Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0986
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 2667
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1975
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 1772
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000836 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL PTER BT IN
SUBJECT: ON EVE OF ELECTION, BHUTANESE WARY OF COMMUNIST
TERRORISTS

REF: A. NEW DELHI 264


B. NEW DELHI 431

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000836

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL PTER BT IN
SUBJECT: ON EVE OF ELECTION, BHUTANESE WARY OF COMMUNIST
TERRORISTS

REF: A. NEW DELHI 264


B. NEW DELHI 431


1. (U) Due to months of low-level bombing campaigns by
leftist groups, Bhutan as a precaution is sealing two border
areas with India in the run-up to the Bhutanese National
Assembly elections scheduled for March 24. Just as occurred
during the December 31 upper house election, the border
between Bhutan and the Indian state of Assam will be secured
from March 23 - March 25 (0600) local time. The border
between Bhutan and West Bengal will be secured from March 22
- March 25. Both India and Bhutan have deployed additional
forces along their borders to mitigate any possible
infiltration by rebel groups.


2. (U) The Bhutanese elections are a milestone for the
monarchical state and there have been attempts to disrupt the
process. The most recent incident occurred when a man in
Dagana in Southwestern Bhutan was killed while handling an
explosive device in his house. According to the media, the
would-be-bomber (Bik Bahadur Subba) was handling the
explosive device left there by Communist Party of Bhutan
(CPB) cadre Ramesh Subba. Subba as well as three other
communist terrorists are being held responsible by Bhutan for
two bombs planted in Dagapela in Dagana district on January
20 (Ref A). Another bombing occurred on February 3 in the
Bhutanese Samste district, which was conducted by a
Nepalese-based Bhutanese insurgent group (Ref B).

Comment: Rebel Threat More A Nuisance
--------------


3. (SBU) The increased bombings by Bhutanese rebels have been
largely unsuccessful in disrupting the coming elections.
Nevertheless, Indian and Bhutanese authorities feel the need
to increase border security to make sure elections are
conducted without a hitch. The groups behind the attacks,
including the CPB, Bhutan Tigers Force (BTF),Bhutan Maoist
Party (BMP) and the Revolutionary Front of Bhutan (URFB) have
continued their attempts to undermine democratic
governance/reforms if their demands for repatriation of
Bhutanese in the Nepali camps and their inclusion in the
democratic process, are not met. All of these groups are
generally regarded as operating mostly from outside Bhutan
and make incursions or use contacts within Bhutan to conduct
attacks. Although several bombings have occurred over the
past few months, they have not blocked the path toward
Bhutan's elections. While it is good that the Bhutanese are
taking these threats seriously and increasing security, it
seems to be a precautionary measure, rather than a necessity
for successful elections. End Comment.
MULFORD