US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU1030

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/SA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, KCRM, CJAN, NP, IN, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: NEPALI MAOIST COMMANDER IMPLICATED IN MURDERS OF 
EMBASSY PERSONNEL ARRESTED IN INDIA 
 
REF: A. 2002 KATHMANDU 2171 (NOTAL) 
 
     B. 2002 KATHMANDU 2253 (NOTAL) 
     C. 2003 KATHMANDU 755 (NOTAL) 
 
1.  (SBU)  Summary:  According to Nepali press reports, 
Indian police in Patna, Bihar have arrested 12 Nepali 
Maoists, including several Central Committee members.  Among 
those reportedly arrested is Kumar Dahal (a.k.a. "Bijay"), 
the head of the Maoists' Kathmandu Valley Special Regional 
Bureau.  On November 15, 2002, "Bijay" issued a press release 
acknowledging Maoist responsibility for the killings of two 
U.S. Embassy guards in 2001 and 2002.  Embassy believes Kumar 
Dahal has important information that could lead to the 
arrests of the killers of our personnel.  We therefore 
request Department to instruct Embassy New Delhi to request 
access to Kumar Dahal.  End summary. 
 
2.  (U)  On June 4 the Nepali press reported that on June 2 
Indian police in Patna, Bihar arrested 12 Nepali Maoists, 
including several members of the Central Committee.  The 
Maoists reportedly were arrested while in possession of 
Indian Rupees 150,000 (approximately USD 3,300), purportedly 
intended to purchase weapons.  Nepali police have confirmed 
the story to the Embassy. 
 
3.  (SBU) Among those reportedly arrested is Kumar Dahal 
(a.k.a. "Bijay" or "Vijay"), Central Committee member and 
head of the Maoists' Kathmandu Valley Special Regional 
Bureau.  On November 15, 2002, Dahal issued a press statement 
in Nepali acknowledging Maoist responsibility for the 
December 15, 2001, killing of U.S. Embassy guard Ramesh 
Manandhar and the November 9, 2002, killing of U.S. Embassy 
guard Deepak Prasad Pokhrel (Ref A).  The translation of the 
release stated that the Maoists "would like to make clear 
that any political party, organization, media or diplomatic 
community, wherever and whatever they may be, if they 
continue to work against the Maoist party and want to destroy 
the People's War, will not be spared by our party.  In this 
connection, our party has taken action recently and killed 
the security personnel of the American Embassy Mr. Deepak 
Pokhrel.  . . . Likewise, last year our party also took 
action against and killed Ramesh Manandhar. . . We would like 
to appeal to all diplomatic missions, including the American 
Mission, to stop the work of spying.  We do not have the 
policy of fighting against them unless they come to fight 
with us."  At that time, police and media sources indicated 
that the release, which was signed by "Bijay," appeared 
authentic. 
 
4.  (SBU)  In an April 25, 2003, meeting with Maoist 
Politburo members Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Krishna Mahara, 
Poloff and RSO demanded the Maoists turn over the killers of 
Manandhar and Pokhrel, as well as the commanders who ordered 
the killings.  Bhattarai acknowledged the Maoists were 
responsible for the killings, which he characterized as a 
"mistake" (Ref C).  (Note:  The same Nepali word can be 
translated into English as either "fault" or "mistake." 
Nepalis speaking in English--which Bhattarai was--sometimes 
use these words interchangeably.  End note.) 
 
5.  (SBU)  Action Request:  As head of the Valley Command at 
the time of the slayings, Dahal may well have been the person 
who ordered these executions.  At the very least, he is 
highly likely to have important information related to the 
killings, including the identities of the shooters.  We 
believe it important that the Indian Government be made aware 
soonest of USG interest in this case.  Embassy requests that 
Department instruct Embassy New Delhi to request access to 
Dahal.  It would be very unfortunate if Dahal were to slip 
through our fingers. 
BOGUE