US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU496

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KATHMANDU 000496 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA 
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA 
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS HQ 
USAID FOR ANE/AA GORDON WEST AND JIM BEVER 
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA 
LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY 
TREASURY FOR GENERAL COUNSEL/DAUFHAUSER AND DAS JZARATE 
TREASURY ALSO FOR OFAC/RNEWCOMB AND TASK FORCE ON TERRORIST 
FINANCING 
JUSTICE FOR OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL/DLAUFMAN 
NSC FOR MILLARD 
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA LILIENFELD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS, PTER, CASC, PGOV, NP, PHUM, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NEPAL'S MAOIST INSURGENCY, MARCH 13-19, 
2004 
 
REFERENCE:  (A)  KATHMANDU 0437 
            (B)  KATHMANDU 0465 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  The Minister of Foreign Affairs defended the Government 
of Nepal's (GON) human rights record in Geneva, affirming 
that "we keep human rights uppermost in our mind."  Maoist 
supremo Prachanda claims to be receptive to UN mediation, 
while the Prime Minister says it is not necessary.  The Home 
Minister said that security in Nepal must be improved before 
elections can be held.  Political party leaders are 
considering involving the Maoists in their movement against 
"regression."  Four security personnel and eight Maoists 
were killed in clashes this week.  The Maoist-imposed 
blockade of major roads has spread to sixteen districts in 
the western region.  UN agencies and donors published 
statements reiterating their policy not to pay extortion 
demands.  Maoists demanded the resignation of local 
officials and those involved in organizing the King's 
upcoming visit to Pokhara. A powerful Maoist-planted 
landmine in the far west left eleven civilians dead.  A six- 
year-old child was killed and four other civilians seriously 
injured by Maoist bombs in separate incidents. Maoists 
reportedly took 56 students and teachers forcibly from 
schools in the far west, and are setting up training camps 
in the schools.  Maoist surrenders have reached nearly 700 
since the announcement of the GON's amnesty program.  End 
Summary. 
 
GON COMMITTED TO HUMAN RIGHTS 
----------------------------- 
 
2.  Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Bekh Bahadur Thapa 
defended the GON's human rights record to the UN Human 
Rights Commission in Geneva, affirming that "we keep human 
rights uppermost in our mind."  Dr. Thapa, addressing the UN 
session on March 18, blamed Maoist threats and violence for 
the current instability in Nepal.  He said the GON is "aware 
and committed" to respect human rights, but that violence, 
kidnapping, executions and the displacement of thousands of 
civilians have "seriously undermined" the efforts of the 
government. 
 
3.  Human rights organizations have consistently voiced 
concern that human rights abuses are increasing, alleging 
that violence, torture, abductions and illegal detentions 
continue to rise since the ceasefire ended in August 2003. 
Representatives accuse both sides of failing to follow 
international law, saying "Prachanda and the government do 
not listen to us."  The Chief of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) 
Human Rights Cell, however, said the army is committed to 
protecting individuals' rights, but criticized local 
organizations for not expressing concern when "our men lose 
their lives." 
 
PRACHANDA CLAIMS TO WELCOME UN MEDIATION 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4.  Maoist supremo Prachanda issued a statement on March 17 
claiming that he was receptive to UN mediation, one day 
after Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa ruled out foreign 
intervention on the grounds it would "create further 
problems."  Prachanda accused the Government of Nepal (GON) 
of not being ready to sit for dialogue, but of continuing 
"military totalitarianism."  Prachanda also claimed that his 
party is "totally committed to the Geneva Convention and 
other international conventions on human rights," despite 
reports of countless atrocities committed by Maoist cadres 
daily.  He did, however, defiantly invite human rights 
organizations to come to the field to assess human rights 
violations "by the state."  He also reiterated his party's 
demand for a constituent assembly, although he acknowledged 
that demand "ruined the talks." 
 
5.  The European Union (EU) reportedly is trying to bring 
both sides back to the negotiating table.  EU officials 
reportedly met with government officials, security chiefs, 
and senior Maoists last week in an effort to resume a peace 
dialogue. 
 
SECURITY FIRST; ELECTIONS LATER 
------------------------------- 
 
6.  Home Minister Kamal Thapa told reporters on March 18 
that security in the country needs to be improved before 
elections can be held.  Thapa said the GON would announce a 
date for elections soon, and that it is "willing to hand 
over power" as soon as possible.  The Home Minister also 
said that the GON "is always ready" for talks with the 
Maoists, but the rebels are not "creating a conducive 
environment" for talks. He dismissed Prachanda's professed 
acceptance of UN mediation, declaring there was "no need" 
for a third party for mediation. 
 
POLITICAL PARTIES PONDER MAOIST INVOLVEMENT 
------------------------------------------- 
 
7.  Representatives of Nepal's main political parties 
(Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal-United 
Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), Peoples' Front Nepal (PFN), 
Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), and Nepal 
Sadbhavana Party) met on March 13 to discuss the next phase 
of their "movement against regression."  PFN leader Lila 
Mani Pokharel said they discussed the possibility of 
including the Maoists in their movement, and agreed to 
"initiate discussion" with the rebels.  NC spokesman Arjun 
Narsingh KC, however, said the Maoists would not be included 
unless they renounced violence. 
 
AMBUSHES KILL FOUR 
------------------ 
 
8.  Three policemen and one Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldier 
were killed in separate Maoist ambushes: in Banke District a 
RNA soldier was killed on March 16; a policeman was gunned 
down in his traffic office in Panchthar District, in the far 
eastern region, on March 15; and two policemen died from a 
Maoist-planted landmine in Chitwan. 
 
9.  Eight Maoists reportedly were killed during security 
operations: two in the western district of Dang and two in 
the central district of Dhading on March 19; two in the 
western district of Bardiya on March 15; and two in the 
western districts of Achham and Jhapa on March 13. 
 
10.  On March 16, a powerful Maoist-planted landmine in the 
far-western district of Kanchanpar tore through a vehicle 
carrying staff from the Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve 
and several civilians, leaving eleven dead and four injured. 
According to security officials parts of the vehicle were 
scattered up to 500 meters away. On March 18, a ten-year-old 
child in the western district of Salyan 
was seriously injured from a bomb left by Maoists.  Three 
other civilians also were seriously injured from Maoist 
landmines in the far-western district of Achham on March 13. 
On March 15, a six-year-old girl was killed when her brother 
mistook a bomb for a toy and it exploded. 
 
11.  On March 3, a vernacular newspaper reported that the 
RNA had received a report suggesting that the Maoists were 
facing difficulties due to cadres quitting and 
malfunctioning weapons.  The report also stated that lack of 
trained Maoist cadres was contributing to the failure of 
planned attacks. 
 
MAOIST BLOCKADE CONTINUES 
------------------------- 
 
12.  The Maoist-imposed blockade of major roads has spread 
to sixteen districts in the western region (Ref A) and 
continues to wreak economic havoc and endanger health care. 
On March 14, Maoists bombed the transportation office in 
Pokhara, and Maoists in the western district of Salyan 
reportedly seized the only ambulance in that region, denying 
emergency service to people in the area.  The rebels planned 
to keep it until the blockade ended, but RNA personnel 
retrieved it.  Throughout sixteen districts in the west, 
main highways also remain closed, some passenger buses have 
stopped running, and over 250 trucks reportedly are stranded 
at the India-Nepal border.  Supplies of food and commodities 
have been unable to reach their destinations, and due to the 
blockade, petroleum dealers said the Kathmandu Valley is 
experiencing a shortage of petroleum, cooking gas and 
kerosene.  The spokesperson of Nepal Oil Corporation denied 
any shortages, however, and said "everything is smooth." 
The Maoist-imposed blockades reportedly are intended to 
prevent the population in that region from traveling to meet 
the King during his scheduled visit to Pokhara later this 
month.  Political leaders and civil organizations have 
appealed to the rebels to end the blockades. 
 
13.  In an effort to offset the Maoist blockades, the Royal 
Nepal Army (RNA) is providing escorts for trucks carrying 
essential commodities and for passenger buses.  Speaking at 
a press meet on March 18, RNA spokesman Colonel Deepak 
Gurung said the RNA was "trying our best to normalize the 
situation," and that security forces had escorted hundreds 
of vehicles.  In defiance of the blockade, over 50 buses 
from Pokhara resumed their services on March 17 to different 
parts of Nepal.  Maoists had torched a passenger bus in 
Pokhara on the previous day.  The GON, in a move to 
encourage the transportation industry and delivery of goods, 
had announced compensation for any public service vehicle 
damaged during the blockade. 
 
MAOIST EXTORTION JEOPARDIZING UN PROJECTS 
----------------------------------------- 
 
14.  On March 17, the local press quoted a UN source as 
saying "some projects will be closed soon" if Maoist threats 
do not stop.  In a public attempt to pressure the Maoists to 
stop their extortion demands, the UN agencies and donor 
groups have placed statements in both vernacular and English 
language newspapers reiterating their policy not to pay 
extortion demands, and warning that continued threats could 
place the future of some programs in jeopardy.  A UN 
official admitted that project offices have received letters 
"from underground rebels demanding monetary assistance."  No 
official public comment has been given on what programs 
would be suspended or in which regions of Nepal. 
 
15.  A weekly vernacular newspaper reported on March 10 that 
Maoists in the eastern district of Siraha have demanded that 
Save The Children (US) close its office (Ref B).  A notice 
signed by the Maoist district secretary demands that the NGO 
and all other American programs leave the district. 
Declaring it their "last warning," the rebels said they must 
expel the organizations to "finish off the American spies 
working in social organizations." 
 
AMCIT VEHICLE TORCHED 
--------------------- 
 
16.  Post received a report that earlier this week two 
American doctors traveling by road with their Nepalese 
colleagues in the northeastern district of Dolakha were 
stopped by armed Maoists who "politely" asked them to step 
out of the car.  The Maoists subsequently torched the 
vehicle.  The individuals are affiliated with an American 
university which does medical research with tapeworms. 
 
16.  In a separate incident, a group of French trekkers were 
approached  by  Maoists  in  Syangja  District   and   given 
permission to proceed after a member of the so-called Maoist 
District Government reportedly told them "We do not restrict 
any foreign tourists visiting Nepal except Americans." 
 
MAOISTS FORCE RESIGNATIONS 
-------------------------- 
 
17.  According to a statement released on March 12, Maoists 
in Kaski District have demanded the resignations of all 
personnel involved in organizing the civic reception for the 
King's visit to Pokhara on March 28.  The rebels warned the 
people if they fail to comply, they will be expelled from 
the country and have their property confiscated. 
 
18.  On March 16, the local press reported that 44 employees 
in Chitwan District resigned due to Maoist threats. 
Insurgents in that district reportedly confronted the 
employees the previous day and demanded their resignations. 
The staff said they were threatened with "dire consequences" 
if they did not comply. 
 
ROUND UP OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CONTINUE 
------------------------------------------- 
 
19.  Maoists reportedly kidnapped 56 students and teachers 
from schools in the far-western district of Dadeldhura on 
March 13.  It is believed the rebels are taking them for 
participation in Maoist programs and indoctrination.  In 
nearby Darchula District, bordering India, 50 percent of the 
schools have shut down due to forced conscription into 
Maoist programs, continued extortion demands, and use of 
students as porters.  Locals also said the rebels are 
converting the schools into Maoist training centers. 
 
MAOISTS SURRENDERS STEADY 
------------------------- 
 
20.  At a March 18 press briefing RNA spokesman Colonel 
Deepak Gurung said 693 Maoist have surrendered since the 
announcement of the GON's amnesty program.  Several have 
already been released from the rehabilitation center after 
completing training. 
 
MALINOWSKI