US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU2169

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 002169 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/SA 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA 
MANILA FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA 
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: NEPAL:  MAOISTS LAUNCH SIMULTANEOUS ATTACKS ON 
DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS, POLICE POST 
 
1.  (U) At about midnight November 15, Maoist insurgents 
launched an attack on the headquarters in Jumla District in 
northwestern Nepal.  Communications with the headquarters 
were cut immediately after the attack, and accurate 
information remains difficult to obtain.  Initial reports 
indicate that four soldiers and 33 policemen, including the 
Deputy Superintendent of Police, were killed, and another 13 
soldiers and 9 policemen wounded.  A seven-man detachment 
from the National Intelligence Division (NID), as well as the 
Chief District Officer (CDO), have been reported missing. 
Local government buildings, including the office of the Chief 
District Officer (CDO), were reportedly burned or otherwise 
damaged.  The Maoists succeeded in stealing nearly a third of 
the police's arsenal of weapons, as well as more than USD 
45,000 in cash and gold from a local bank.  There are no 
estimates of Maoist casualties. 
 
2.  (SBU)  According to an RNA source, the Maoists overran 
the 200-man police station, using 81 mm mortars and 2-inch 
mortars.  Initial attempts by the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) to 
dispatch reinforcements to the site were unsuccessful, 
reportedly because of snowy weather conditions in the remote, 
mountainous district.  RNA troops have since been sent to 
reinforce the garrison, and have begun cordon and search 
operations in the area to capture the attackers.  The RNA 
source reported that some of the fleeing insurgents ran into 
an RNA blocking position, but had no figures on potential 
casualties from that encounter. 
 
3.  (U)  Also at midnight November 15, Maoist insurgents 
attacked a remote police post, located approximately 260 km 
by road from Jumla, in Tarkakot in Gorkha District in 
north-central Nepal.  Of the 55 policemen on duty at the time 
of the attack, at least 23 were killed and 10 injured. 
Police Headquarters reported the attackers made off with 
nearly all of the weapons (.303 rifles) from the post. 
 
4.  (SBU)  Comment:  Unlike earlier attacks on district 
headquarters in Achham (February) and Arghakhanchi 
(September), the Maoists this time failed to overrun the RNA 
position.   These latest attacks on government forces belie 
Maoist rhetoric claiming the insurgents are ready for 
dialogue.  Sources close to the Maoists report they feel they 
have the upper hand in the field.  If the Maoists are indeed 
serious about negotiations--and many observers doubt that 
they are--they are hoping to negotiate from a position of 
strength. 
MALINOWSKI