US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU925

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000925 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, ASEC, CASC, PHUM, KWMN, PINR, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: Child Victims of Maoist Insurgency 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 450 
 
1. Summary.  At least eighty-five children have been 
killed during the six-year-long Maoists insurgency and 
many others wounded or pressed into service, according to 
a recent report by a local child-welfare NGO.  The 
conflict will take a heavy psychological toll on Nepal's 
children, the report concludes.  The International 
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is "quite concerned" 
about the status of children affected by the conflict, and 
would like to engage the Maoists on child rights issues, 
the ICRC representative in Nepal says.  The Maoists have 
shown no qualms about using child soldiers and appear to 
be enlisting them in increasing numbers.  End Summary. 
 
Effect of Insurgency on Children: The Numbers 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
2. At least 85 children have been killed as a result of 
the violent Maoist insurgency launched in February 1996, 
according to a press release accompanying an annual report 
on the state of children's rights in Nepal released May 1 
by a local NGO, Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN).  41 of 
these children were killed by Maoist landmines and 
indiscriminate bombings.  [Note:  The Royal Nepalese Army 
(RNA) does not have landmines.]  70 other children have 
been seriously injured in the conflict.  [Comment:  CWIN 
has confirmed 85 child deaths, but this represents the 
bare minimum and the actual number is certainly much 
higher.  Reliable information about Maoist casualties is 
not available.  The Maoists routinely disfigure or behead 
their own dead in order to hide their identities.  Before 
recent attacks the Maoists dug mass graves so as to 
dispose of their fallen comrades more easily.  End 
Comment.] 
 
3. CWIN has received reports of 30 children abducted by 
the rebels - "Shanghaied" - and two cases of sexual abuse 
of young girls involved in the Maoist movement.  The press 
release states that 83 minors have been arrested and 
detained by the police or army.  [Note:  In February 
Emboffs interviewed several Maoist child recruits held at 
an army base near the southwestern city of Nepalgunj, 
including girls aged 12 and 14 who claimed to have been 
raped repeatedly (Reftel).  End Note.] 
 
Children Traumatized, Marginalized 
---------------------------------- 
 
4. The report notes that although no scientific studies 
have been carried out on the effects of the insurgency on 
children, the consequences of the conflict "are directly 
or indirectly affecting children in their social, 
physical, mental and emotional development."  Thousands of 
children have suffered psychological trauma.  Moreover, 
children are being further marginalized as funds for 
health and education have to be diverted for security 
purposes.  In particular, fatal communicable diseases are 
likely to spread, the report concludes. 
 
5. Maoist attacks on infrastructure - including drinking 
water and hydropower projects, milk distribution centers 
and health posts - have also jeopardized the health of 
Nepal's children.  The loss of the electricity supply 
causes difficulties in delivering many vaccines, for 
example by breaking the cold chain.  These actions will 
likely lead to an increase in infant mortality in Nepal. 
 
ICRC "Quite Concerned" About Nepal's Children 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
6. The ICRC representative in Nepal voiced his concern 
about the situation of Nepal's children in a May 10 
meeting with Ambassador.  ICRC would like to raise 
children's rights issues in talks with the Maoists, but 
has so far been unable to do so.  In a mission to Maoist 
areas in 2001, ICRC personnel did not see many child 
soldiers, but ICRC has not conducted such missions 
recently and has no way of knowing whether or not Maoist 
recruitment of children has increased. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. The Maoists have shown no compunction about using 
children as fighters and cannon fodder.  According to 
recent information - including Reftel interviews with some 
child soldiers themselves - Maoists have of late begun 
impressing more and more young people into their ranks. 
As evidenced by the CWIN report and ICRC's involvement, 
both local and international institutions are engaged with 
this issue.  This problem will need continued attention 
because even if an accommodation is eventually reached 
between the government and the Maoists, many children will 
be permanently traumatized.  According to all concerned, 
the conflict will have a long-lasting and severe effect on 
the current generation of Nepalese youth. 
MALINOWSKI