US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU1174

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001174 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS 
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2012 
TAGS: PTER, MCAP, PGOV, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: ARMY, MAOISTS BATTLE IN SOUTHWESTERN NEPAL 
 
REF: A. (A) KATHMANDU 1053 
 
     B. (B) KATHMANDU 882 
 
Classified By: DCM ROBERT K. BOGGS.  REASON:  1.5 (B,D). 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  Two Royal Nepal Army (RNA) platoons 
battled an estimated 100-200 Maoists the night of June 12 in 
a remote location in Salyan District, about 320 km west of 
Kathmandu.  Preliminary casualty counts indicate from 3-8 RNA 
killed, 3 missing, and more than 20 wounded.  The battle was 
precipitated when the RNA, acting on intelligence, discovered 
a deserted Maoist training camp in the vicinity.  That the 
RNA has for the second time in two months capitalized on 
intelligence to pinpoint the location of a Maoist camp (Ref 
B) is an encouraging sign that the military is developing its 
nascent intelligence capabilities.  At the same time, the 
Maoists have proven once again that they remain able to 
train, gather in large groups, and engage the RNA despite the 
extension of the state of emergency.  End summary. 
 
2.  (U)  On the night of June 12, two Royal Nepal Army (RNA) 
platoons (80 soldiers commanded by a major) engaged an 
estimated 100-200 Maoists at a remote jungle location in 
Damichaur, Salyan, in southwestern Nepal (about 320 km west 
of Kathmandu).  Damichaur is about 20 miles north of (and 
more than a day's walk distant from) the district 
headquarters, where one of the platoons is based.  Fighting 
continued until the early morning hours of June 13. 
 
3.  (C)  According to Director of Military Operations Brig. 
Gen. Pradip Malla, RNA intelligence had received reports of a 
Maoist training camp in the area.  The platoons had come upon 
a location that appeared to be the reported camp, which was 
deserted except for one suspected Maoist, who was shot and 
killed.  The patrol recovered 11 self-loading rifles from the 
site.  Based on the amount of food supplies stored at the 
camp (about 20 kg of meat and jerky), the RNA commander 
estimated it supported a manageable number of insurgents, and 
decided to engage them.  The soldiers reportedly proceeded on 
patrol, came upon the massed Maoists, and a firefight ensued 
for at least four hours.  Malla said 3 RNA were killed, three 
are reported missing, and 20 injured.  A total of 11 corpses, 
presumably of Maoist combatants, were also found at the site. 
 (Note:  The Chief District Officer put the number of RNA 
dead at five, and a Ministry of Defense source said eight. 
We expect the figures to change as more information becomes 
available.)  According to the Chief District Officer and an 
RNA source, cordon and search operations for the scattered 
Maoists are now underway in the vicinity of the battle.  We 
expect that further information on the battle will become 
available in coming days. 
 
4.  (C) Comment:  That the RNA has for the second time in two 
months capitalized on intelligence to pinpoint the location 
of a Maoist camp (Ref B) is an encouraging sign that the 
military is developing its nascent intelligence capabilities. 
 At the same time, the Maoists apparently remain able to 
train and assemble in large numbers, despite the extension of 
the state of emergency.  The two-week lull since the last 
major incident (Ref A) led to some speculation that the 
Maoists might be biding their time to see how the domestic 
political scenario plays out.  The events of June 12 
demonstrate that the insurgents continue to train and remain 
battle-ready. 
MALINOWSKI