US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU795

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000795 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/OP/NEA 
LONDON FOR RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, CASC, PGOV, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: FIRST DAY OF MAOIST STRIKE QUIET 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 788 AND PREVIOUS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (SBU) Summary:  The streets of Kathmandu were 
comparatively quiet during the first day of the five-day 
general strike called by Maoist insurgents April 23-27.  Most 
city shops remained closed, and public transportation was 
sparse.  Most vehicles on the road bore either diplomatic 
plates or Government of Nepal plates--with the occupants of 
the latter vehicles generally security personnel.  A core EAC 
convened the late afternoon of April 23 to review the 
situation to date and plans for the following day.  As it did 
today, the Embassy plans to operate as usual April 24.  End 
summary. 
 
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DAY ONE:  RAINY AND SUBDUED 
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2.  (U) Kathmandu city streets were comparatively quiet the 
first day of the five-day general strike, or "bandh," called 
by the Maoists April 23-27.  About 90 percent of the shops in 
town remained closed, and public transporation (apart from a 
few intrepid taxis with paper taped over their license plates 
to avoid identification) was sparse.  Most vehicles on the 
road bore diplomatic license plates or the Government of 
Nepal plates given to official vehicles--and many of the 
latter were carrying police or army troops, rather than civil 
servants.  Pedestrian traffic was somewhat light--due in part 
perhaps to persistent rain throughout the day. 
 
3.  (U)  As of COB April 23, the Embassy had received 
comparatively few reports of security incidents in the 
capital and its environs. The previous night suspected 
insurgents threw a socket bomb at the home of a Royal Nepal 
Army colonel; security forces successfully defused the bomb 
and no injuries were reported.  In a similar incident the 
same night, suspected Maoists threw another socket bomb at a 
police post in the Pulchowk area of the city.  Early the 
morning of April 23, a petrol bomb was thrown at a mini bus 
in Lalitpur in the Kathmandu metropolitan area.  The bomb 
exploded in front of a police station, injuring one policeman 
on duty.  Outside of Kathmandu, in Rautahat District the 
night of April 22, suspected insurgents set fire to two 
different buses.  No injuries were reported. 
 
4.  (SBU) A quick survey of Chief District Officers (CDOs) in 
several outlying districts revealed varying degrees of 
observance of the bandh across the country.  In Jhapa in the 
eastern part of the country, the CDO reported that no 
vehicles were in operation, and only a few shops open.  In 
Kavre, six buses were operating--but only after being given a 
police escort.  The CDO said only a few shops were open in 
his district capital as well.  Three buses reached Tanahu 
District from outlying districts, according to CDO Khumraj 
Panjuli, but no other vehicles were moving.  Nearly all the 
shops in Tanahu's two largest towns were open, he said.  In 
Bardia few vehicles were running, but most shops were open in 
the district headquarters.  Similarly, in the district 
headquarters of Baglung, most shops were open but few 
vehicles running.  The CDO of Nuwakot, Mathabar Kumar 
Adhikari, reported that his office had successfully organized 
a peace rally in the morning.  Most vehicles were running, he 
asserted, and shops open.  None of the CDOs contacted 
reported any violent incidents during the day. 
 
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EMBASSY ACTIONS 
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5.  (SBU) The Embassy remained open with normal working hours 
throughout the day, although FSN shuttles were directed to 
run a few hours later than usual.  The majority of FSNs, 
however, elected to walk to work, rather than ride the 
shuttle.  The international school and the British school 
were closed; we understand the international school has 
decided to remain closed April 24 as well.  A core EAC met at 
COB April 23 to review the security situation and assess 
probable conditions for the following day.  It was decided 
that the Embassy will observe normal working hours April 24, 
and that FSN shuttles will begin operation two hours later 
than usual. 
 
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COMMENT 
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6.  (SBU)  Given the events of the past several weeks, the 
first day of this widely publicized bandh was comparatively 
quieter, with far fewer reports of security incidents, than 
preceding non-bandh days.  The dismal, rainy weather may have 
played some role in this.  That said, the general population 
in Kathmandu largely observed the strike, despite calls by 
the government, the security forces, and political parties to 
ignore it.  Although fear, rather than support for Maoist 
ideology, is obviously the greatest factor influencing 
individual decisions to observe the bandh, the Maoists will 
nonetheless claim victory, at least for this first day. 
Whether the comparative quiet of the first day will embolden 
people to flout the strike the second or following days 
remains to be seen.  The Embassy will continue to monitor its 
security posture. 
 
MALINOWSKI