US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU722

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KATHMANDU 000722 
 
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, APRIL 10-16, 
2004 
 
REFERENCE:  (A)  KATHMANDU 0673 
 
            (B)  KATHMANDU 0588 
(C)  KATHMANDU 0591 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.    Separate attacks and clashes reportedly left fifteen 
Maoists and three security personnel dead.  The local press 
reported that Maoist leadership was "considering" releasing 
forty policemen taken captive last week (Ref A).  An Indian 
article reprinted in the local press reports that arrested 
Maoist leader Mohan Vaidya (Ref B) claims the Maoists have 
forged a "working relationship" with Indian militant groups. 
An aerial attack by the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) on a 
secondary school in the far western district of Accham 
reportedly killed five civilians, including a teacher and 
fourteen-year-old boy, and injured fifteen others.  The 
local press reported that Maoists rounded up more than 300 
people from the far west to participate in Maoist programs. 
Maoist bombs killed five children and damaged several 
buildings.  The Government of Nepal (GON) announced another 
three-month extension to its amnesty program.  The National 
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) accused the GON of failing to 
implement many parts of the 25-point commitment paper 
released by the Prime Minister (Ref C).  According to a 
report released on April 9 by a local human rights 
organization 2003 was one of the most violent years in the 
eight-year Maoist insurgency with over 2,000 people killed. 
King Gyanendra said democracy must be at the top of the 
national agenda, but peace must be achieved before elections 
could be held.  End Summary. 
 
SPORADIC CLASHES CONTINUE; 
ABDUCTED POLICEMEN REMAIN MISSING 
---------------------------------- 
 
2.  Separate incidents throughout Nepal left fifteen Maoists 
and three security personnel dead.  On April 15, two rebels 
were killed in Nuwakot District, north of Kathmandu; two in 
the districts of Therathum and Dailekh on April 11; three in 
the districts of Nuwakot, Sarlahi and Dang on April 10; and 
three in the western district of Kavre on April 9.  Five 
others were killed on April 13 in the far-eastern district 
of Ilam after security forces attempted to rescue forty-one 
policemen taken hostage after the rebels attacked their 
police post April 7 (Ref B).  Security forces reportedly 
were able to rescue one of the hostages, an assistant police 
inspector, on the previous day, but the whereabouts of the 
other hostages are unknown.  The local press reported on 
April 14 that the Maoist leadership was "considering" 
releasing the captives.  The article quoted a Maoist cadre 
as saying the hostages were being treated well, but demanded 
that security forces cease operations in the area before the 
men are released.  On April 14, Maoists launched an attack 
on a police post in the far-eastern district of Panchthar. 
Security forces were able to repel that attack and no 
casualties were reported. 
 
3.  Three security personnel died from Maoist-planted 
explosives; one Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldier on April 14 
in Kaski District; and one each in Nuwakot District and 
Dolpa District on April 10.  Five RNA soldiers were also 
injured on April 9 when their convoy was ambushed by 
insurgents. 
 
4.  On April 11, Maoists issued a public statement 
threatening to attack the district headquarters in 
Taplejung, in the far northeast.  According to the locals, 
the rebels have warned of an imminent attack, but security 
forces dismiss the threat as "psychological war" tactics. 
Security personnel said any attack by the rebels would be 
repulsed. 
 
MAOIST LEADER CLAIMS LINK 
WITH INDIAN MILITANTS 
------------------------- 
 
5.  An Indian article, reprinted in the local press on April 
12, reports that arrested Maoist leader Mohan Vaidya (Ref B) 
claims the Maoists have forged a "working relationship" with 
the Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO), an Indian 
separatist group in Assam.  Vaidya reportedly said the 
Maoists "largely depended" on similar guerilla organizations 
in India, particularly for access to sanctuary.  A senior 
official with India's Special Services Bureau is quoted as 
saying KLO militants have used parts of Nepal for hideouts 
after attacks, while Maoists have sought cover in North 
Bengal.  Vaidya is due to appear in Indian Court on April 
22.  He is charged with five counts of violations under the 
Indian Penal Code, including treason. 
 
6.  After the increase in violence against Indian nationals 
and businesses following Vaidya's arrest (Ref A), Indian and 
Nepalese security officials reportedly have agreed to 
increase security along the India-Nepal border ahead of 
Indian elections on April 26.   Indian security forces along 
the border have also imposed a ban on the export of pressure- 
cookers to Nepal.  Maoists regularly use pressure-cookers to 
make landmines and bombs to target security personnel. 
 
AERIAL BOMBING KILLS CIVILIANS 
------------------------------ 
 
7.  On April 12, security forces launched an aerial attack 
on an assembly of Maoists at a secondary school in the far 
western district of Accham, reportedly killing five 
civilians, including a teacher and fourteen-year-old boy, 
and injuring fifteen others.  Security officials claim that 
they were forced to retaliate after Maoists fired upon their 
helicopter from the ground, and that the rebels were using 
the school to conduct a "peoples' resistance campaign." 
Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara issued a press 
statement on April 14 denying that any Maoist cadre were at 
the school, and blamed the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) for 
killing locals who "were celebrating a festival." 
Subsequent reports continued to offer conflicting stories, 
with some locals claiming they were forced to attend a 
Maoist program at the school in the presence of Maoist 
district leaders. 
 
300 ABDUCTED BY MAOISTS IN FAR-WEST 
----------------------------------- 
 
8.  On April 11, the local press reported that Maoists had 
rounded up more than 300 people from the far-western 
district of Dadeldhura.  They reportedly are being forced to 
participate in Maoist cultural programs, and are receiving 
training in the Maoists' "peoples' mobilization program." 
In what is perhaps an ominous foreshadowing of life under 
Maoist rule, Maoist leaders in Dadeldhura District 
reportedly ordered anyone opposed to Maoist ideology to 
leave their homes.  According to locals, the rebels have 
warned the villagers that they will not allow people opposed 
to their movement or those who refuse to join the Maoist 
militia to remain in the district.  Maoist leaders also 
announced plans to recruit at least 50 youths from each 
village, causing many of them to flee their homes. 
9.  In the far-eastern district of Taplejung, Maoists 
reportedly also abducted 60 teachers from their homes.  In 
neighboring Panchthar District, Maoists have resumed their 
recruitment campaign, demanding one person from each house, 
provoking a large exodus of young people.  Maoists deny they 
are forcing people to join their party, claiming they are 
doing so "of their own free will."  In the western district 
of Banke, Maoists forced fifty people, some as young as 
seven years old, to participate in their cultural programs. 
Part of the programs reportedly involved participants 
wearing bombs around their necks.  An eight-year-old child 
who was part of the program said the bomb around his neck 
was "for anyone who comes to attack me." 
 
PLAYING WAR ON SCHOOLGROUNDS 
---------------------------- 
 
10.  Last month a Maoist student leader reportedly told a 
gathering in the western district of Banke that "we will 
raise a 50,000 strong force of child soldiers."  An article 
published in the April 16 edition of an English-language 
weekly reports that some cadres seem intent on fulfilling 
that goal.  Despite denials by senior Maoist leadership that 
the rebels recruit children for their militia, Maoist cadres 
in the west make no attempt to keep the recruitment of 
children a secret and are actively using schoolgrounds as 
training centers.  In the far-western districts of Jumla and 
Dang, it is not uncommon to see children dressed in military 
uniforms carrying grenades, bombs and guns.  A ten year old 
girl, carrying two grenades, is quoted in the article as 
proudly saying that her job is to sit by the side of the 
road and wait for security forces to come.  When they 
arrive, she is instructed to "throw it (grenade) and run 
away."  Another soldier, an eleven year old girl, said "when 
we grow up we will take part in attacks on Royal Nepal Army 
bases." 
 
11.  In addition to receiving training in warfare tactics, 
the children also undergo ideological indoctrination, much 
of which they don't appear to comprehend.  Standard mantras 
include "defeat imperialism," and "fight exploitation, 
suppression, and atrocities."  Children speak of becoming 
martyrs in the "struggle to liberate our brothers and 
sisters."  Those children not enticed by military parades 
and training exhibitions at their schools are often forced 
to join the Maoists, knowing if they refuse, the rebels will 
harm their families.  Some villages are nearly empty due to 
the large number of people who have fled fearing Maoist 
recruitment. 
 
MAOIST TERROR GOES ON 
--------------------- 
 
12.  On April 12, a bomb left behind by Maoists killed three 
members of a family in the western district of Jajarkot.  On 
that same day in neighboring Jumla District, rebels 
reportedly beat to death a 75 year-old man for speaking out 
against Maoist torture and extortion.  On April 10, two 
children in Banke District died after they picked up a bomb 
left by Maoists and it exploded.  An 85 year old man died on 
April 15 after Maoists threw a bomb into his house in 
Dhading District.  Three other family members sustained 
injuries. 
 
13.  Indiscriminate bombs by Maoists damaged several 
government buildings: an area forest office in Bara District 
was destroyed on April 10; and on April 9, Maoists set off 
bombs in two Agricultural Development Bank office buildings 
in Kailali District, causing over USD 280,000 in damages. 
On that same day in Chitwan, a group of armed rebels set 
fire to a checkpost inside the Royal Chitwan National Park, 
a popular tourist destination. 
 
14.  Businessmen in the eastern district of Sarlahi are 
witnessing an increase in extortion demands by Maoists.  The 
rebels are demanding as much as USD 4000 from local 
businesses.  If the businessmen do not or cannot meet the 
demands, they are being told to leave the district. 
 
GON EXTENDS AMNESTY PROGRAM AGAIN 
--------------------------------- 
 
15.  On April 15, the GON announced a second extension to 
its amnesty program.  The program has been extended for an 
additional three months, allowing Maoists the opportunity to 
surrender until mid-July.  Surrendered Maoists receive 
training and rehabilitation services at a center in Tanahu 
District in the midwest.  To date, nearly 900 Maoists have 
surrendered. 
 
NHRC LASHES OUT AT GON 
---------------------- 
 
16.  On April 14, the National Human Rights Commission 
(NHRC) accused the GON of failing to implement any part of 
the 25-point commitment paper released by Prime Minister 
Surya Bahadur Thapa on March 26 (Ref C).  Sushil Pyakurel, 
member of the NHRC, alleged that security forces are still 
detaining people at night, and that the GON has failed to 
address the disappearances of over 1200 people.  Foreign 
Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya countered the charges by 
 
SIPDIS 
saying the GON had "made every effort" to prevent human 
rights abuses despite a lack of resources and an ongoing 
Maoist insurgency. 
 
17.  According to the Human Rights Yearbook 2004, released 
on April 9 by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), a 
local human rights organization, 2003 was one of the most 
violent years in the eight-year Maoist insurgency with over 
2,000 people killed.  In the report, INSEC accuses both the 
Maoists and security forces of committing brutal executions, 
abductions and illegal detentions.  INSEC charges that the 
Maoists killed almost 700 people by "beatings, smashing them 
with boulders, beheading, lacerating, and hammering them to 
death," while security forces violate individuals' freedoms 
"in the name of quelling the insurgency."  INSEC claims that 
the brutality "is being sanctioned by the state," and warned 
of increased tolerance of abuses if there is no commitment 
to protect human rights. 
 
18.  Amnesty International's (AI) website says there is a 
"human rights catastrophe" in Nepal, and urged the USG to 
address the crisis by sponsoring a resolution at the United 
Nations Commission On Human Rights (UNHCR) session in 
Geneva.  The report on the website condemns both the GON and 
the Maoists for human rights violations that have "escalated 
sharply" since the Maoists abandoned the ceasefire in August 
2003. 
ELECTIONS AFTER PEACE 
--------------------- 
19.  In his Nepali New Year's address on April 13, King 
Gyanendra said democracy must be at the top of the national 
agenda.  Although no exact date has been set for elections 
to be held, the King said it was important to create the 
environment necessary to enable the people of Nepal to go 
forward in creating a "constructive and democratic" way of 
life.  A day earlier, Minister of Education Hari Bahadur 
Basnet said that elections are "impossible" if Nepal's 
principal political parties continue with their ongoing 
protests.  Minister Basnet called on the parties to 
cooperate with the government to create a peaceful 
environment for elections. Nepal's five principal parties 
have continued protests for fifteen consecutive days since 
the start of their rally against "regression" on April 1. 
 
MALINOWSKI