US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU696

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 000696 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, ASEC, CASC, PINR, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: NEW MAOIST TACTIC: ATTACK INFRASTRUCTURE 
 
REFERENCE: KATHMANDU 632 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  In an apparent change of tactics, 
Nepal's Maoist insurgents have begun a systematic campaign 
of attacks against the kingdom's infrastructure.  In 
recent days the Maoists have hit bridges - including one 
in the capital - telephone repeater towers, hydropower 
stations, electricity sub-stations, government buildings 
and Village Development Committee (VDC) offices.  In two 
areas the Maoists have cut off drinking water pipelines to 
remote communities.  The attacks make clear that the 
Maoists intend to cripple the government's ability to 
operate in the countryside even at the cost of severe 
hardship to the populace.  End Summary. 
 
Maoists Target Infrastructure 
----------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Nepal's Maoists have apparently shifted tactics 
and embarked on a systematic campaign against the 
kingdom's infrastructure.  In recent days they have 
targeted various types of tactical military targets, 
including bridges, hydroelectric and electrical power 
plants, telephone repeater towers, water supplies, 
government offices, and airports.  [Note:  We understand 
that next week EU Heads of Missions plan to release a 
press statement condemning Maoist attacks against Nepal's 
infrastructure, and calling on the Maoists to cease their 
attacks and pursue their objectives peacefully.  End 
Note.] 
 
Bridges Targeted 
---------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Bridges are the most obvious example.  During a 
March 30 attack, a bridge at Kumalgadhi on the Tulsipur- 
Surkhet road was damaged, cutting off the western part of 
Dang district - as well as adjacent areas of Salyan and 
Surkhet districts - from the rest of the country.  During 
the night of April 1, Maoists struck three bridges in 
Bardiya district, including the Mankhola Bridge in the 
Nepalgunj-Guleria segment of the Nepal's main East-West 
artery, which links the airport at Nepalgunj with Royal 
Bardiya National Park.  [Note: Bardiya district borders 
the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.]  In Kathmandu on 
March 29, twenty-six people were injured when a bomb 
exploded in the middle of Kalimati Bridge, according to 
the Defense Ministry (Reftel).  Five of the injured remain 
in critical condition. 
 
Attacks on Telephone Repeater Stations 
-------------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Maoists have damaged more than 37 telephone 
repeater stations in 25 of Nepal's 75 districts. 
According to the Nepal Telecommunications Corporation, 
telephone service has been completely cut off in twelve 
districts:  Achham, Lamjung, Darchula, Bajhang, Dhading, 
Solukhumbu, Rasuwa, Jajarkot, Rukum, Humla, Arghakhanchi 
and Gulmi.  In other districts, communications links have 
been reestablished with the help of MART telephone lines, 
VHF telephone systems and trunk call sets.  The Ministry 
of Information and Communications told us that they have 
not yet repaired the damaged repeater stations, and added 
that Nepal would need foreign technical assistance for 
that purpose. 
 
Hydropower and Electricity Stations Vandalized 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
5. (SBU) Maoist attacks on hydropower and electric 
stations have disrupted power supplies in parts of the 
country.  On March 9, the Maoists detonated a bomb at the 
Chandrauta electricity sub-station in the western Terai 
district of Kapilbastu, leaving most of the district 
without power.  [Note:  Power to some parts of this border 
district is supplied from India; these areas were not 
affected by the blackout.]  The Maoists detonated a bomb 
at a hydropower project in Jhimruk, in mid-western Pyuthan 
district March 30.  The resultant damage left Pyuthan, 
Gulmi and Rolpa districts in darkness.  Similarly, Maoists 
bombed an electric plant in eastern Nepal's Panchthar 
district April 2.  The plant's generator and transmitter 
were completely destroyed, and the district headquarters 
and surrounding areas remain without power.  The Nepal 
Electricity Authority's Managing Director informed us that 
in early March the Maoists damaged three small hydropower 
stations - one each in Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha and Dhankuta 
districts.  Maoists have reportedly threatened to attack 
these stations again if they are repaired. 
 
Maoists Cut Off Water Supply 
---------------------------- 
 
6. (SBU) Taking another chapter from the global 
insurgents' handbook, Maoists have cut off water supplies 
in two districts.  The water supply to the headquarters 
(capital) of Okhaldhunga district was cut off after 
Maoists destroyed the intake mechanism at the source of 
the drinking water supply March 30.  Insurgents cut off 
the water supply to Narayan municipality, Dailekh 
district, on April 2, by damaging the reservoir tank and 
pipeline.  Reports indicate that local residents face a 
severe drinking water crisis. 
 
Government Offices Sacked 
------------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) The Maoists have also stepped up their attacks on 
government facilities around the country.  In Kailali 
district, Maoists March 30 bombed and burned the offices 
of the Agriculture Development Bank, National Commercial 
Bank and several post offices.  In Nawalparasi district 
the rebels set fire to a branch office of the Nepal 
Electricity Authority March 31.  The arsonists forced 
office staff to vacate the building before lighting the 
fire.  In Dolkha district, Maoists raided the Border 
Administration Office and Customs Office in Lamabagar, a 
small town bordering Tibet, on April 2.  In Rukum district 
on the same day, Maoists damaged the offices of a half- 
dozen government agencies as well as Care Nepal.  They 
also damaged the airport tower.  Also on April 2, Maoists 
attacked five area post offices and the veterinary and 
forest offices in Ramechhap district.  In at least two 
districts in recent days the Maoists have torched health 
sub-posts, which in Nepal distribute medicines and basic 
first aid to villagers living in poor, remote areas. 
 
Attack on Airport in Remote Dolpa District 
------------------------------------------ 
 
8. (SBU) A Maoist bomb destroyed the airport tower in 
Dolpa district during the night of April 2.  Army barracks 
nearby were also torched.  Maoists struck the airport 
after the army contingent had returned to the district's 
headquarters.  Dolpa is one of Nepal's most remote 
districts, with no road links with other parts of the 
country. 
 
Fevered Attacks on Village-Level Offices 
---------------------------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) The Defense Ministry reported that more than 50 
Village Development Committee (VDC) offices across the 
country were destroyed in the past week.  Thirty-seven of 
those were attacked in Dang district alone on the night of 
March 29, the Assistant Chief District Officer (CDO) for 
Dang confirmed.  Between March 29 and April 2, Maoists 
attacked VDC offices in Chitwan, Pyuthan, Morang, Ilam, 
Baglung and Kailali districts.  The District Police Office 
in Sindhuli confirmed that on March 30, seven of the 
districts' VDC offices were sacked by Maoists.  The 
Maoists also destroyed four VDCs in Taplejung district and 
five in Myagdi district on April 2. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
10. (SBU) These obviously well-planned and coordinated 
strikes against the nation's infrastructure were in part 
calculated to frighten the populace into observing the 
Maoists' planned general strike of April 2-6 (now 
postponed).  However, they also give a clear indication 
that the insurgents' strategy has evolved.  By attacking 
bridges, electrical power stations, communications towers 
and even the water supply, the Maoists have made it clear 
that they intend to cripple the government's ability to 
operate in the hinterland, even if it means inflicting 
severe hardship and economic deprivation on millions of 
Nepalese. 
 
MALINOWSKI