US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2295

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 002295 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS 
LONDON FOR POL/BELL 
NSC FOR GREEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS, PTER, PHUM, PGOV, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: MAOIST ATROCITIES CONTINUE DESPITE CEASEFIRE 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (U) Despite a three-month unilateral ceasefire 
announced on September 3 by Prachanda, Chairman of the 
Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist), the rebels 
continued to commit atrocities daily.  The Maoists 
abducted more than 4,500 civilians, including teachers and 
students, in the month following the ceasefire 
announcement.  The All Nepal National Free Students Union 
(Revolutionary) forced dozens of schools to close, 
affecting over 50,000 students throughout the country. 
The Maoists continued to attack infrastructure and use 
extortion and looting to fund their insurgency.  Maoists 
killed three security personnel and security forces killed 
sixteen militants in the month of September.  End Summary. 
 
NO GOVERNMENT RECIPROCATION ON CEASEFIRE 
---------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) Despite a unilateral three-month ceasefire 
declared September 3 by the Communist Party of Nepal- 
Maoist (CPN-Maoist), the rebels continued to attack and 
abduct civilians.  The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) did not 
reciprocate the Maoists' unilateral ceasefire, and alleged 
that it was a Maoist ploy to consolidate power.  On 
September 5, the Ministry of Defense denounced the 
continuing Maoist atrocities, noting the terrorists 
continued to carry out "inhuman activities of murder, 
abduction and looting of unarmed people across the 
country." 
 
MAOISTS CONTINUE TO ABDUCT CIVILIANS AND TARGET SCHOOLS 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
3.  (U) Within a month of the ceasefire announcement, the 
Maoists abducted more than 4,500 civilians, including 
teachers and students, to participate in political 
programs and for indoctrination.  On the day the Maoists 
declared the ceasefire, the rebels took approximately 400 
students and teachers in Kalikot District, 80 civilians in 
Doti District, and 24 civilians in Dolkha and Lamjung 
Districts.  During the third week of September alone, the 
Maoists abducted 2,200 civilians, including teachers and 
students, in Achham District. 
 
4.  (U) The Maoists and the All Nepal National Free 
Students Union (Revolutionary) (ANNFSU-R), a student wing 
of the Maoists, continued to target private schools, 
demanding the schools be managed by the government of 
Nepal.  Maoists have forced dozens of schools to close 
across the country, affecting more than 50,000 students, 
including 10,000 in Udayapur District and 25,000 in Morang 
District.  The ANNFSU-R locked up dozens of schools in 
Udayapur District after the unilateral ceasefire was 
declared.  The Maoists have ignored repeated appeals, 
including that of the National Human Rights Commission, to 
unlock the schools.  All academic programs in 19 schools 
in Jhapa District have been suspended since August 17 due 
to repeated threats from ANNFSU-R.  Some of the schools in 
Jhapa District have re-opened after transferring 
management over to the government of Nepal. 
 
REBELS ATTACK INFRASTRUCTURE 
---------------------------- 
 
5.  (U) Insurgents continued to attack development 
infrastructure.  On September 20, Maoists bombed office 
buildings of the Village Development Committee (VDC), 
Child Development Center and Agriculture Office in Doti 
District.  On September 22, the Maoist-affiliated Kirant 
Workers' Party bombed the office of a team studying the 
proposed Koshi River high dam.  The blast shattered the 
windowpanes of the ground floor, but no one was injured. 
 
MAOISTS CONTINUE EXTORTION AND LOOTING 
-------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (U) The rebels have increased their looting and 
extortion activities across the country during the 
ceasefire.  On the day the ceasefire was announced, the 
insurgents looted USD 2,788 (rupees 200,000) from the 
Nuwakot District Development Committee (DDC), money slated 
for construction of a suspension bridge.  Days later, the 
terrorists stole cash and valuables worth USD 836 (rupees 
60,000) from passengers on the road from Hetauda, 
Makwanpur District, to Narayanghat, Chitwan District.  On 
September 22, the militants looted 464 grams of gold and 
USD 418 (rupees 30,000) from a shop in Nawalparasi 
District.  Two days later, the rebels extorted USD 7 
(rupees 500) each from the teachers of Beltar School in 
Makwanpur District, approximately 10 percent of their 
salary. 
 
MAOIST ATROCITIES CONTINUE 
-------------------------- 
 
7.  (U) Insurgents continued to attack civilians after the 
unilateral ceasefire began, shooting and injuring one 
civilian in Rautahat District and two civilians in Banke 
District.  Two children were severely injured in Maoist- 
planted bomb explosions.  On September 4, the militants 
shot dead a civilian in Rautaht District.  The mother of 
the deceased also sustained serious injuries after Maoists 
attacked her.  On September 16, the Maoists abducted and 
killed a civilian in Kailali District. 
 
8.  (U) Three security personnel have died since the 
unilateral ceasefire declared by the CPN-Maoist.  On 
September 17, a Maoist-planted bomb explosion killed two 
Armed Police Force (APF) personnel.  On September 26, an 
unarmed RNA soldier was found dead in Dailekh District. 
Sixteen insurgents were killed, including two Maoists in 
Kailali District after a clash with security forces on 
September 3. 
 
MORIARTY