US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU570

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000570 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2012 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, ASEC, PHUM, PREL, PINR, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: NEPALESE ARMY ROUTS MAOIST TRAINING CAMP; BANDH 
PREPARATIONS 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHAEL E. MALINOWSKI, REASONS 1.5(B),(D) 
 
Army Takes Out Terrorist Training Camp 
-------------------------------------- 
 
1. (C) Sixty-five Maoist insurgents were killed in a joint 
Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and Armed Police Force (APF) 
operation March 17 against a suspected Maoist training camp 
in Gumsa, Rolpa district, about 300 miles northwest of 
Kathmandu, the head of the APF confirmed to Post March 19. 
No prisoners were taken.  A police source told us that after 
the operation musket guns and homemade explosives had been 
confiscated from the training camp. 
 
RNA: Offensive to Continue 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (C) An RNA contact judged the operation a success, and 
pointed out that it resulted in the death of Maoist leaders 
and trainers.  He indicated that follow-up operations will 
continue and similar operations would be conducted in the 
future in order to exert pressure on the Moaists in Rolpa and 
other areas they control.  The operation demonstrated the 
need to conduct joint operations with the police, served to 
improve the police's morale, and showed that the unified 
command concept was working.  Our contact added that the RNA 
did not just want to rely on helicopters, and wanted to 
develop its capacity to conduct operations on foot. 
(Comment:  The RNA recognizes that the summer monsoon will 
hamper heliborne operations, and that offensive operations 
will of necessity involve infantry on foot.) 
 
Preparations for Upcoming Bandh 
------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) At a meeting at the Home Ministry March 19, the head 
of the APF told A/DCM and Poloff that the government had 
instructed public servants to report to work during the April 
2-6 general strike ("bandh") called by the Maoists. 
Government vehicles would be out on the roads.  The Home 
Ministry would issue directives and public notices to 
encourage people to conduct business as usual, and police 
personnel would be "vigilant" in apprehending agitators who 
attempted to shut down shops, offices or schools.  RNA 
officers informed Post separately that they would step up 
vigilance and urge the government to carry on as normal. 
 
Comment: Boxing Days 
-------------------- 
 
4. (C) The RNA's apparently successful operation against the 
training camp - smack in the middle of the Maoists' 
stronghold - gives a boost to the security forces just as 
they had begun to feel the rope against their backs.  The 
Maoists' may have thought that they could go ten rounds and 
win on a split decision.  Having seen the security forces' 
right jab in Rolpa, they may now be revisiting that strategy. 
 Resource contraints and a lack of trained reserves will 
continue to hold back the army.  However - and hopefully - 
our RNA contact's statement about not relying on helicopters 
may mean that the military is finally taking the war to the 
insurgents - on the guerillas terms. 
MALINOWSKI