US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU751

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000751 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/OP/NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, CASC, BEXP, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: MAOISTS REPORTEDLY LINK ATTACK ON COCA-COLA 
FACILITY TO U.S. AFFILIATION 
 
REF: A. (A) KATHMANDU 747 
 
     B. (B) STATE 69408 
     C. (C) KATHMANDU 439 
     D. (D) KATHMANDU 209 
     E. (E) 01 KATHMANDU 2324 
 
1.  (SBU)  Summary:  The Nepali manager of a Coca-cola 
factory where Maoists set off two bombs the night of April 14 
(Ref A) said the armed attackers told Coke employees at the 
plant their facility was being targeted because of its 
affiliation with the U.S. and because of USG aid to victims 
of the Maoist insurgency (Ref B).  No one was injured in the 
blasts, but damage to the factory will delay continued 
production for at least another 15 days.  The bombers' 
statement marks the first time the insurgents have linked a 
particular action by the USG to one of their attacks.  End 
summary. 
 
2.  (SBU)  N.N. Singh, Managing Director of Coca-Cola in 
Nepal, told RSO and poloff that estimates of the damage 
inflicted by two bomb blasts set by Maoists at the facility 
in Narayangadh April 14 are still incomplete (Ref A).  The 
capping and filling machines were both damaged, Singh said, 
necessitating the shutdown of production for at least 15-20 
days.  No one was injured in the attack, and police have made 
no arrests. 
 
3.  (SBU)  Singh reported that five armed men entered the 
plant about 7:45 p.m. on April 14.  After rounding up the 
three unarmed security guards, the electrician, the boiler 
operator, the night supervisor, and five people who were in 
the cafeteria, one of the intruders began lecturing them. 
According to the employees' account, the man emphasized that 
the Maoists had nothing personally against any of the 
employees and did not intend to harm them.  Since, however, 
Coca-cola is a symbol of American imperialism, the insurgents 
are targeting the facility.  The man took special note of 
recent press items announcing a USG grant of USD 100,000 to 
assist victims of the insurgency (Ref B).  Since the USG is 
giving USD 100,000, we are damaging this factory worth half a 
million dollars, the man reportedly stressed.  Following this 
explanation, the man's companions then set off the two bombs. 
 
4.  (SBU)  Noting that Sunday's incident marks the third time 
a Coca-cola facility has been attacked since November (Refs D 
and E), Singh commented that his own and the Ambassador's 
requests for increased police protection for the two 
facilities (Ref C) were not enough to avert this latest 
incident.  The police chief has posted patrols around both 
facilities, Singh acknowledged, but patrols alone are not 
effective in deterring such attacks.  He said he has 
personally asked the police chief for armed policemen to be 
posted inside both plants, but the Chief has always declined, 
saying he does not have the manpower to grant Singh's 
request.  Coca-cola logos are prominent all over Nepal, Singh 
continued.  If the Maoists have made it plain that they 
consider Coca-cola a legitimate target, every Coca-cola 
delivery truck in the country could be threatened.  He asked 
that the Embassy again raise security at the facilities with 
the police.  RSO and poloff undertook to do so. 
 
5.  (SBU)  Comment:  Press items reporting real and 
apochryphal USG aid to the Government of Nepal have increased 
markedly in the past few months.  This incident, however, 
marks the first time to our knowledge that the Maoists have 
articulated a specific connection between a USG action--in 
this case, the grant--and an attack.  The Embassy has 
received no other communications or information regarding 
possible threats to other U.S.-affiliated entities or 
individuals.  The EAC will discuss next steps at its April 22 
meeting. 
MALINOWSKI