US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU753

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000753 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2012 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, ASEC, PINR, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: MAOIST LEADERS ARRESTED IN KATHMANDU 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 632 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5(b),(d) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  At least two important Maoist leaders have 
been detained by security forces in recent days, police 
sources told us.  Leading female cadre Rekha Sharma and her 
husband were picked up in Kathmandu April 13.  The Inspector 
General of Police (IGP) confirmed the arrests April 16, but 
Army top brass declined to comment.  The arrests are a boost 
to the government's efforts to counter the Maoists.  End 
Summary. 
 
Two Maoists Apprehended in Capital 
---------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) A Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) operation reportedly 
apprehended two Maoist leaders, Rekha Sharma and Krishna Dhoj 
Khadka, from their rented room in Kathmandu's Dallu 
neighborhood April 13.  Rekha is president of the All Nepal 
Women's Association (Revolutionary) and member of the Maoist 
"Central People's Government," while Khadka, her husband, was 
formerly president of the All Nepal National Independent 
Students' Union (Revolutionary).  Reportedly, Khadka had been 
detained briefly in November, 2001, but had escaped. 
 
IGP Confirms; No Comment from Top Army Brass 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Local press reported the arrests April 16, and 
low-level police personnel confirmed these reports to Post. 
Then at an afternoon reception the Inspector General of 
Police (IGP) Rana confirmed the arrests to Ambassador.  One 
ranking army officer refused comment when contacted by DATT, 
adding that the news of the arrest had not yet been 
officially released. 
 
Nepal's Most Wanted 
------------------- 
 
4. (C) A photograph of Rekha Sharma - along with pictures of 
other Maoist leaders - was broadcast on local television last 
week with an appeal to provide authorities with information 
on her whereabouts.  Sources also told Post that Maoist 
Central Committee member Muma Ram Khanal was picked up by 
security forces in early April.  Khanal's arrest has not been 
confirmed.  IGP Rana told the Ambassador that recently 
another Maoist Central Committee member, Ajab Lal Yadav, was 
killed in an encounter with police.  (Note:  According to 
press reports quoting an official announcement, Yadav was 
killed March 22 during a search operation in southeastern 
Nepal's Saptari district.  Yadav had been in police custody 
last year, but was released October 16, 2001 in response to a 
demand put forth by the Maoists in their second round of 
talks with government representatives.  End Note.) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (C) Whether the result of "America's Most Wanted"-style 
public participation or the security forces' own 
resourcefulness, the arrests have given a boost to the 
government's efforts to counter the Maoists.  In recent weeks 
the Maoists have conducted increasingly daring operations in 
the Kathmandu valley - including setting off a bomb on a 
bridge in broad daylight (Reftel).  Bringing in the apparent 
leaders of this campaign should help bottle it up, and at the 
same time improve public perceptions of the government's 
handling of the crisis. 
MALINOWSKI