US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU701

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000701 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, ASEC, PINR, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: AMBUSH KILLS FIVE SOLDIERS; ABORTED GENERAL 
STRIKE DISRUPTS LIFE OUTSIDE KATHMANDU 
 
REFS: A) KATHMANDU 632 AND PREVIOUS, B) KATHMANDU 529; C) 
 
KATHMANDU 498, D) KATHMANDU 496 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  Maoists attacked an army convoy in a 
remote western district April 6, killing five, including 
the Major in command of the local detachment.  Army 
personnel immediately launched a counter-attack that 
reportedly killed thirteen insurgents.  The attack 
occurred less than a mile from the Indian border.  The 
Maoists failed in a similar attack the same day on army 
vehicles traveling east of the capital.  Although Maoist 
leader Prachanda postponed a general strike originally 
called for April 2-5, many Nepalese elected to lie low 
during that period, especially in heavily Maoist-affected 
districts of western Nepal.  Across the country, long- 
distance transport entirely shut down.  So far, final 
exams for graduating Nepalese students have been held 
without serious incident.  The army seems to have 
responded quickly and effectively to recent events, and 
looks to be taking positive steps to improve their image 
in the provinces.  End Summary. 
 
Ambush Kills Five Soldiers, Including Major 
------------------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Maoist insurgents ambushed a Royal Nepalese Army 
(RNA) patrol in western Nepal's Bardiya district April 6, 
killing five.  The Maoists electronically set off an 
explosive device in the road just as the army convoy 
passed.  The casualties included Major Rakesh Shrestha, 
who had arrived in the district only four days before to 
take charge of security at Royal Bardiya National Park. 
Shrestha's predecessor at the post, Major Lava Rayamajhi, 
was critically injured in the attack and was not expected 
to survive.  A "large number" of security personnel were 
mobilized in Bardiya to hunt down the perpetrators, 
according to press reports.  Thirteen insurgents were 
reportedly killed in the counter-attack.  [Note: 
Ambassador and Poloff had met and been briefed by Major 
Rayamajhi on separate trips to Bardiya in February and 
early March (Refs C and D).  End Note.] 
 
Attack Not One Mile from India 
------------------------------ 
 
3. (SBU) The attack occurred less than one mile from the 
Indian border in a remote area known as Kothiyaghat, south 
of the national park.  Contacts who live next to the park 
told Poloff that conditions in the region had deteriorated 
to the point that over the past week they have stayed in 
camp, a radio their only contact with the outside world. 
They added that a new Major had arrived to take charge of 
the park's army detachment. 
 
4. (SBU) According to Defense Ministry reports, in another 
incident April 6 a similar landmine attack on two army 
vehicles plying the Melamchi highway, east of Kathmandu, 
did not succeed.  Army bomb-disposal squads defused bombs 
in three districts, including one at a high school in 
Dhanusa district where final exams were being held (see 
para 7).  Also, food and clothing confiscated from the 
Maoists in Rolpa district were distributed to needy 
villagers in the area. 
 
Strike Called Off, But Intimidation Holds 
----------------------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Although the Maoists issued a press statement 
April 1 calling off their planned April 2-6 general strike 
(Ref A), traffic on Kathmandu's streets was light during 
the first week of April as long-distance transport came to 
a halt and many motorists elected to keep their cars at 
home.  Although government offices stayed open for the 
duration, some businesses remained shuttered April 2 and 
3, though by Friday, April 5, life in the capital had 
mostly returned to normal. 
 
6. (SBU) Similar conditions prevailed in eastern Nepal and 
in Pokhara, a popular tourist destination, according to 
Home Ministry officials in those areas.  Although long- 
distance busses did not run, local transport operated and 
shops remained open.  Conditions in western Nepal were 
worse, however, as traffic reportedly came to a standstill 
in Saptari and Bardiya districts.  During the aborted 
"bandh," or general strike, the Maoists seemed to have 
been considered a threat to vehicular traffic only; across 
the country shops opened and pedestrian traffic was 
normal. 
 
Examinations Unaffected 
----------------------- 
 
7. (U) Aside from the incident mentioned above (para 4), 
examinations for the government School Leaving Certificate 
(SLC), scheduled April 2-10, have so far been held without 
any serious problems, according to the Chief Examination 
Controller. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8. The two April 6 highway attacks on army convoys - one 
in the far west, one in the east - established a pattern 
dating back to a February, 2001 attack on a VIP motorcade. 
Such attacks have increased in frequency since late 
January of this year.  With few opportunities to hit the 
army's assets - mostly protected in well-defended 
garrisons - the Maoists have taken the battle to the 
highways.  Especially in western Nepal, many of Nepal's 
roads pass through remote, uninhabited areas where the 
insurgents can lurk undetected.  The RNA's response to the 
Kothiyaghat attack was rapid and seemingly effective. 
That the army has also begun building civilian-military 
relations - in this case by redistributing the Maoists' 
stores - also bodes well.  It remains to be seen whether 
the attacks during the aborted bandh resulted from a lack 
of communication between the Maoist leadership and cadres, 
reflected a schismatic disobedience of the bandh's 
postponement, or simply indicated that the Maoists' terror 
campaign continues. 
 
MALINOWSKI