US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU1832

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001832 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/OP/NEA 
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL 
SINGAPORE FOR FAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, EAIR, PHUM, CASC, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: MAOISTS DESTROY MEDEVAC HELO; HOLD PILOT, PASSENGER 
 
1.  (U) A commercial helicopter on a mission to medevac a 
sick Nepali in the remote northeastern district of Solukhumbu 
has been destroyed by Maoists.  According to an employee at 
Karnali Air, Ltd., the company's helicopter was surrounded by 
armed Maoists upon landing in the village of Jubu, and its 
four passengers and pilot (all Nepali citizens) ordered out. 
The Maoists then reportedly set the helicopter on fire, 
completely destroying it.  Two passengers either managed to 
escape or were let go, and contacted the helicopter company. 
The pilot and at least one other passenger are apparently 
being held by the Maoists. 
 
2.  (SBU)  The crew of a second Karnali helicopter, 
dispatched to survey the scene, spotted the burned-out hulk 
of the aircraft but saw no other activity on the ground. 
That helicopter returned to Kathmandu without landing at the 
site.  Karnali has contacted the security forces for 
assistance in locating the hostages.  The company is owned by 
Narayan Singh Pun, a former officer in the Royal Nepal Army 
and former Member of Parliament who recently formed his own 
party to contest the November elections. 
 
3.  (SBU)  Comment:  Karnali Air is one of several companies 
used by the Embassy for medevacs, especially from the Mount 
Everest Base Camp area and from popular trekking routes along 
the Annapurna Circuit.  The loss of this helicopter will 
further strain the already limited alternatives available for 
medevac flights.  With this latest act--destroying an 
aircraft on a mission of mercy--Maoist insurgents have sunk 
to a new low.  The Embassy plans to issue a statement 
condemning the destruction and calling for the immediate 
release of the hostages. 
MALINOWSKI