US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU1690

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KATHMANDU 001690 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INR/R, R/MR, I/RW, I/REC; PA, SA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC, KMDR, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INTERNATIONAL MEDIA 
COVERAGE OF MAOIST-IMPOSED BLOCKADE AND NATIONAL MEDIA'S 
REACTION 
 
1. "'Kathmandu under siege.' Really?" 
 
SUMMARY.  One of the title-page stories in the centrist 
daily "The Kathmandu Post" (E/D) lambasted the 
exaggerations by the foreign (particularly Indian) media 
quoting particularly alarmist excerpts from The Times of 
India, The Hindustan Times, Star News, India, CNN, NDTV, 
and Indian Express above a cartoon showing a man sitting 
on a toilet (pants down) in flak jacket and helmet 
bearing the inscription "Foreign Media."  He is sitting 
in what's obviously a hotel bathroom speaking into 
microphones labeled "CNN, BBC, NDTV, Star, HT, TOI, Zee" 
etc. connected to a TV camera.  A darkish cloud above 
the toilet is illuminated by the TV lights.  Caption: 
"It's becoming very difficult to breathe due to the 
thick smoke of bomb blasts... Reporting live from 
Kathmandu!"  In a press meeting on Monday, Deputy Prime 
Minister Adhikari criticized the handling of information 
about the blockade by some foreign media. END SUMMARY 
 
The following excerpts appeared above the cartoon in the 
Kathmandu Post: 
 
BEGIN QUOTE 
 
Rare media spotlight fell on Nepal once again this week. 
Often hyped and sensationalized, the world media, 
specifically Indian media, were nowhere near ground 
reality when they splashed or broadcast reports on the 
Maoist 'blockade.'  Here are some samples. 
 
Maoist rebels cut off routes to Kathmandu 
(The Times of India, August 19) 
Maoist rebels in Nepal blocked routes to capital 
Kathmandu on Wednesday, bringing hardship and shortages 
to the city of 1.5 million people as transporters stayed 
off the highways.  All roads leading to Kathmandu were 
nearly empty as buses, trucks and cars stopped plying on 
Tuesday midnight as the blockade began. 
 
Rebels scare away road traffic to Kathmandu 
(The Hindustan Times, August 19) 
The roads to Kathmandu fell silent on Wednesday.  Maoist 
rebels successfully began an indefinite blockade of the 
Nepalese capital despite a strong army presence.  There 
was almost no vehicular traffic on the main arterial 
roads to the city. It was a sign of their confidence 
that they targeted Kathmandu and demanded, among other 
things, the release of some of their leaders held in 
Nepalese and Indian prisons. 
 
Maoists capture two highways leading to Kathmandu 
(Star News, India,August 20) 
The Maoists have captured the two highways connecting 
Kathmandu with the rest of the country.  The situation 
in Kathmandu is very serious. People are afraid to go 
outside the capital.  Even within the city, the people 
are afraid to come out of their homes.  The food supply 
is scarce, with the prices of essential goods sky- 
rocketing. 
 
On Kathmandu's food stocks 
(CNN, August 20) 
Nepal's capital Kathmandu has only a few days worth of 
fresh produce and cooking fuel, officials say, as a 
rebel blockade enters its third day. 
 
Indian food support to Nepal 
(NDTV With PTI inputs Monday, August 23) 
India has reportedly sent 70 trucks of essential 
commodities to help break the Maoist blockade of 
Kathmandu.  The Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur 
Deuba, has rejected the UN offer of mediating in talks 
with the rebels.  However, Deuba has not ruled out an 
expanded role for India in resolving the conflict in the 
Himalayan kingdom.  When asked, Minister of State for 
Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat denied that Nepal 
has made any such request. "I am not aware of any such 
request," Mahat told the Post.  "I should be knowing but 
there is no such move." 
 
Supplies roll into Kathmandu after Delhi-backed plan 
hits ground 
(Indian Express, August 23) 
`The Siege Next Door', said the catchy sub-head.  On 
Saturday night, under a tight security cover thrown by 
the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), 10 trucks loaded with 
vegetables and essential commodities quietly slipped 
into the Capital Valley.  Believed to be driven by 
Indian drivers all the way from Raxaul. 
 
(To this, RNA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Thapa said, 
"This is ridiculous, we do have close cooperation 
between the two security forces, but there's no such 
thing as a New Delhi-backed plan.") 
 
END QUOTE 
 
2.  "The capital under siege" 
 
Opinion by regular columnist Ameet Dhakal in the 
"Kathmandu Post" (8/24): "Last one week has been both 
bizarre and surreal. We, about two million 
Kathmanduites, have been living under Maoist blockade. 
Bizarre because, blockade of a city, that too, for an 
indefinite period, is in itself an archaic thing. 
Completely anachronous!" 
"And surreal because, 'the capital under siege' is 
living a normal life. Yes, the price of green vegetables 
and our all time favorite aaloo has shot up. But 
everything else is following a mundane routine of a city 
life. Crowded traffic, people rushing to office, cafs 
packed for afternoon snacks and restaurants for evening 
booze. And constant inquiries at DVD parlors about 
Fida's arrival.  Nothing has changed. There are no long 
queues for essential goods, no much hoarding, no panicky 
at all." 
 
"There are no signs of 'city under siege' except in the 
idiot box of the foreign TV channels and in the pages of 
the foreign newspapers.  All the parachute journalists, 
who landed in Kathmandu with a foregone conclusion of 
'city under siege' while they were in London, Bangkok or 
in New Delhi saw nothing but the 'siege.'  One Indian TV 
channel reported, 'People are scared to come out of 
their home and Maoists have taken control of the 
highways leading to Kathmandu.'  Yes, I was 'scared' 
after I watched that report in the idiot box, not 
before.  The old adage, 'when hammer is the only tool in 
your hand, all you'll see is nails' proved so true once 
again." 
 
"Gaurav C Sawant, special correspondent of the STAR 
News, came to my office and talked to me on Friday. He 
had landed the same day to cover the 'siege.'  After I 
explained how normal Kathmandu was, he, at one point, 
told me that the minister, who he was going to talk to 
later on, would defend the normalcy.  So, he wanted me 
to talk the 'abnormal' while there wasn't one.  It is 
not that he didn't know how normal life was in 
Kathmandu.  Actually, Gaurav booked a plane ticket for 
his wife, Aditee, to come to Kathmandu so that they 
could enjoy the evening life in Thamel.  I jokingly told 
him not to forget to mention in his STAR News report 
that his wife was coming to Kathmandu so that people 
will understand the essence of the 'city under siege.' 
Of course, the number of vehicles coming to and going 
out from Kathmandu has gone down.  So what, when life 
hasn't changed much in Kathmandu?" 
 
"I earnestly hope that the foreign media would reflect 
on how they covered Maoist blockade in Kathmandu and the 
Maoists on how Kathmandu has reacted to the blockade." 
 
"It should ring an alarm bell to the Maoists.  They 
imposed a blockade on this capital city out of deep 
resentment.  They must have been wondering how Kathmandu 
could live a normal life, and with much apathy to their 
'People's War' when much of the kingdom is reeling under 
their terror.  They also have other reasons to resent: 
Their over 150 Special Task Force (STF) militias under 
special assignment in the valley have been killed. So 
flop was their STF operation that, insiders say, it was 
finally pulled off.  Moreover, many of their senior 
leaders assigned in the valley have been either captured 
or killed.  Some of them have even 'defected' to the 
security forces and leaked crucial information." 
 
"Thus, the valley blockade had two objectives. First, to 
display Maoists rancor, and, second, to force people to 
revolt against the state out of ensuing crises due to 
the blockade.  However, if the Maoists acted out of deep 
resentment against the people of Kathmandu, the latter, 
too, has responded with defiance.  Even with vengeance." 
 
"The blockade has not only reinforced Kathmandu's apathy 
towards Maoists, but it has also added to people's 
suspicion of them.  Many people are already talking 
about the possibility of Year Zero in Nepal, as it 
happened in Cambodia, should the Maoist capture 
Kathmandu.  The shut down of the ten big industries in 
Kathmandu due to Maoist threat, killing of journalist 
Dekendra Raj Thapa and death threat to other ten 
journalists has made the possibility of the Year Zero in 
Nepal all the more real." 
 
"If this blockade was intended to scare people of 
Kathmandu and to provoke them for a popular revolt 
against the state, it has exactly done the opposite. 
Industrialists, media and common people seem eager than 
ever to express solidarity with the government.  Now, 
the Maoists should do a soul searching: what's the point 
of the blockade that only punishes the common men (and 
women) of Kathmandu?  After all, the price rise in 
Kathmandu is going to hit the poor, not the elite. 
A revolution or a movement aimed at a meaningful social 
change cannot be based on resentment, a divisive force. 
It has to be based on hope and optimism that unifies 
masses and galvanizes them for a positive social change. 
Unfortunately, the whole Maoist philosophy and movement 
sources so much from the hatred and resentment pool. 
Using divisive language for political benefit is, 
however, not only a Maoist thing. Even in the United 
States, 'people' vs 'powerful' has remained an all-time 
rhetoric of the democrats except in the present 
presidential campaign. John Kerry, the Democratic 
presidential candidate, has deliberately avoided using 
this 'two America' slogan.  'I want to unify the nation, 
not divide,' Kerry has been quoted as saying." 
 
"But Maoist tactics has been to polarize and divide the 
nation along the fault lines of class, ethnicity and 
geography.  The last one week has only exposed its risk: 
If we continue to remain divided and muddled, foreigners 
will meddle.  Therefore, let's unite and jointly explore 
our common destiny." 
 
 
3.  "Valley sees rise in to-and-fro vehicle flow" 
 
Report in the pro-India "Himalayan Times" (E/D, 8/24): 
"There is steady increase in the number of vehicles 
plying in and out of the Valley after the security 
forces' claim that the security has been tightened at 
the highways linking Valley from outside.  Despite the 
fear among the Kathmanduites that the essential 
commodities would fall short, the security have been 
claiming there is no need to fear and people should defy 
Maoists blockade.  According to the Royal Nepa-lese 
Army, 399 vehicles passed Nagdhunga checkpoint, 1,593 
Sanga and 169 Mudkhu checkpoint before entering the 
Valley, while 506 vehicles left the Valley from 
Nagdhunga, 1,424 from Sanga and 161 vehicles valley from 
Mudkhu check point.  "It's certain that people cannot 
tolerate such blockades for long and their defiance 
would rise gradually," said Bishnu Rimal, general 
secretary of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade 
 
SIPDIS 
Unions (GEFONT).  A protest programme would be organised 
by GEFONT and Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) tomorrow 
seeking removal of the indefinite blo-ckade and the 
opening of 12 companies been shut by the Maoists." 
 
4.  "World media `over blowing' situation here" 
Report in "The Himalayan Times" (8/24): "Minister for 
Information and Communication Dr Mohammad Mohsin today 
said that international media overblew Nepal's present 
situation as multinational companies shut down their 
industries reacting to the Maoist threats.  Some of the 
major multinational companies and a leading hotel 
stopped operating their businesses since last Wednesday, 
citing threats from the Maoists.  'These companies 
closed their businesses despite the government's 
assurances of providing full security,' Mohsin, who is 
also the government spokesperson, told this daily.  He 
said that the international media "exaggerated the 
present situation". Today's regular cabinet meeting also 
expressed its concern over the media reports that the 
rebels had encircled the Kathmandu Valley from all sides 
to create havoc to its residents.  Minister Raghuji Pant 
said the government is determined to foil the Maoist- 
called blockade. Meanwhile, a seven-member taskforce 
constituted to draft a terms of reference for the High- 
Level Peace Committee Nepal submitted its report to the 
Prime Minister yesterday." 
5.  "Blockade fizzles out due to security: DPM" 
 
Report in the government-owned "Rising Nepal" (E/D, 
8/24): "Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister 
Bharat Mohan Adhikari said Monday that the Maoist 
sponsored so-called blockade of the Kathmandu valley had 
gradually been weakened with the government's move to 
step up security to foil it altogether." 
 
'The valley life is normal. The valley dwellers are not 
panicking over the so-called blockade, as the government 
has been able to keep the price of food items and 
petroleum products under control.  With the passage of 
time, the effect of the so-called blockade has waned 
gradually ever since it was said to have been called 
five days back,' Adhikari told a face-to-face program 
organized by the Reporters' Club.  A large number of 
journalists from the national and international media 
had attended the program.  Adhikari also called on the 
owners of the closed industries and hotels to resume 
business, reaffirming the government's commitment to 
provide security to them." 
"The industrialists overreacted to the Maoist threats 
and blasts by closing down their industries, he said. 
Adhikari said it was high time that business 
entrepreneurs cooperated with the government in this 
difficult hour." 
 
"He also expressed regret over the handling of 
information about the blockade by a section of the 
Indian media. 'I urge the foreign media people to visit 
hotels, restaurants and night clubs and find the truth.' 
On the talks with the rebels, Adhikari said that the 
government was for result-oriented and meaningful 
talks." 
 
"He claimed that the environment was becoming favourable 
to hold talks with the Maoists, but he said the 
government had not yet contacted them.  Asked whether 
the government is planning to remove the terrorist tag 
on the rebels as a prerequisite for the negotiation, 
Adhikari said until they show good faith, it is unlikely 
that the government would remove the terrorist tag and 
red corner notice issued against them." 
 
"But we are ready to sit for peace talks without any 
conditions.  'We will present ourselves with maximum 
flexibility in the talks if it will take place.'  Also 
speaking at the function, human rights activist and ex- 
facilitator of the earlier government-Maoist peace talks 
Padam Ratna Tuladhar stood to disagree with Adhikari and 
said the government had not taken any serious initiative 
to hold talks." 
 
"'I agree that the forthcoming peace talks should be 
held confidentially but to my knowledge the government 
has not yet shown seriousness to the talks,' he claimed. 
Ex-Chief of the Army Staff Satchit Shumsher JBR said 
that the Royal Nepalese Army had destroyed the strength 
of the Maoists and they were not in the position to 
launch offensive against the troops. 
'The Maoists have now resorted to terror tactics. And 
the blockade is one other way of the Maoists to 
terrorise the people,' Rana said.  Rana said that the 
Maoist insurgency had flared up largely due to the poor 
security situation in the past.  Conflict experts Dr. 
Bishnu Raj Upreti and Dr. Indrajeet Rai claimed that the 
Maoists had strategically succeeded to draw the 
attention at national and international levels by 
imposing the blockades in the Kathmandu Valley." 
 
"Both of them said that the government should first 
remove the terrorist tag and red corner notice issued 
against the rebels as part of the confidence building 
measure before starting the negotiation." 
 
6.  "India preparing to air-drop food from air" 
 
Commentary in leftist "Nispakshya" (V/W, 8/24): 
"The nation's capital is under siege after some low- 
level Maoist leader issued a statement. The party 
leadership has not reacted to this blockade called by 
some district leaders.  The blockade has not affected 
the rich but the poor people only. If the Maoists' 
movement runs under the orders of some district level 
leaders, then it sure has moved out of hand from the 
central leaders.  The government seems unaffected by the 
blockade. It's unfortunate that the foreign media 
persons who came to cover the `blockade' have not tried 
to give the real picture and are instead indulging in 
showing the sad situation of Nepalis.  It is according 
to the grand design that the Indian government is 
planning to hurl food from air and mobilize the Indian 
army, citing worsening situation." 
 
7. "Why international outcry saying security situation 
is not right?" 
 
Commentary in pro-palace "Gorkha Express" (V/W, 8/24): 
"A statement by the Maoists asking some multinationals 
to shut down sent tremors around the world.  The 
international media went wild with reports stating that 
situation in Nepal has worsened.  Their energy went into 
giving an impression of anarchy.  Is it not an attempt 
to march in Indian army on the reference of security 
situation?  Nepalese should be careful of the potential 
dangers." 
 
MORIARTY