US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU481

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000481 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DS/OP/NEA 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, CASC, ASEC, PHUM, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: MAOIST STUDENTS SHUT DOWN KATHMANDU SCHOOLS FOR 
TWO DAYS 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 410 
 
1. (SBU) Facing the threat of violence, most educational 
institutions in Kathmandu remained closed March 4 and 5 
after Maoist-affiliated students called a "school strike." 
Exceptions included the Embassy-supported Lincoln School, 
the British school, and a boarding school run by the Royal 
Nepalese Army (RNA), which all remained open.  No Maoist- 
related violence was reported in Kathmandu on the strike 
days. 
 
2. (SBU) Several violent incidents occurred at local 
schools in the run-up to the strike, however.  On March 1, 
a group of about a dozen Maoists entered a private school 
in central Kathmandu at mid-day and used gasoline to set 
fire to a computer lab, causing at least USD 25,000 in 
damage.  While fleeing the scene, the vandals reportedly 
yelled out calls to obey their March 4-5 strike.  Press 
reports quote police officials saying the school may have 
been targeted because of its links to a university in 
Sikkim, India.  On the same day, a business school in an 
adjacent neighborhood was attacked in a similar fashion. 
Three computers and a photocopier were destroyed in that 
incident.  Post was unable to determine whether, as seems 
likely, the attacks were carried out by the same gang. 
 
3. (SBU) Also on March 1, Maoists pamphleting at a local 
college stabbed and critically wounded a student leader 
affiliated with the Nepali Congress Party.  Post also 
received reports of physical assaults on two school 
principals and threatening letters and phone calls to 
schools. 
 
4. (SBU) Mainstream student groups issued public 
denunciations of the school strike.  In the past, the 
Maoist-affiliated students have denounced the government's 
decision to charge fees for primary school education and 
have called for reductions in other school fees. 
 
5. (SBU) Note:  The EAC met and provided input to the 
Lincoln School director.  She then made an independent 
determination that there was no threat and the school 
remained open.  As a precaution, RSO arranged for 
additional police protection at the school.  End Note. 
 
5. (SBU) Comment: The Maoists have once again shown that 
they have no qualms about targeting children.  They have 
conscripted or pressed into service children in remote 
areas, and by targeting educational institutions in 
Kathmandu they are limiting opportunities for young people 
in urban Nepal.  Their behavior in the run-up to the 
strike shows that they will continue to resort to threats, 
vandalism, assault and murder to get their way - even in 
broad daylight.  End Comment. 
 
MALINOWSKI