US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU2301

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 002301 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/SA 
LONDON FOR POL - REIDEL 
TREASURY FOR GENERAL COUNSEL/DAUFHASUER AND DAS FOR 
TERRORISM AND VIOLENT CRIMES/JZARATE 
JUSTICE FOR OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL/DLAUFMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: NP, PGOV, PTER, SOCI, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOISTS CALL INDEFINITE SCHOOL STRIKE 
STARTING DECEMBER 9 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. The Maoist student arm, All-Nepal National Free Student 
Union-Revolutionary, called for an indefinite school strike 
(or bandh) in Kathmandu Valley starting on December 9th. The 
Maoists are asking the Government of Nepal meet thirteen 
demands to avert the strike. The Government has neither made 
a plan to counter the strike nor has it opened negotiations. 
Today, the Maoists floated an offer to drop the strike, if 
the Government removed the ban on their organization and 
their designation as terrorists. The Lincoln School, attended 
by most of the mission's dependent children, intends to hold 
class but has established alternate locations as a 
contingency. End Summary. 
 
Threatening Children 
-------------------- 
 
2. The Maoist-controlled, All-Nepal National Free Student 
Union-Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R), an illegal organization, has 
declared an indefinite school strike (or bandh) in Kathmandu 
Valley starting December 9. The Maoist student union put 
forward thirteen demands it says the government must meet to 
avert the strike. The demands made under the theme, "stop the 
commercialization of the education system," include a fifty 
percent reduction in private and boarding school tuition, the 
elimination of Sanskrit education, job security for teachers, 
and increasing government funding for Tribhuvan University. 
The students warn they will enforce school closures 
Valley-wide, threatening the safety of students, teachers, 
administrators, and facilities. The group has also called for 
nationwide school bandhs for December 11 through the 13. 
 
The Government's Silence 
------------------------ 
 
3. Nepal's Ministry of Education and the Association for 
Private and Boarding Schools of Nepal (PABSON) have called 
for the Maoists to lift the bandh threat. They have not 
issued a response to the Maoist demands. Education 
institutions in the Valley, in the abscence of any security 
directives by the Government, have put into action 
contingency plans by running classes on Saturdays (the 
traditional day off), holding end of term examinations early, 
or adjourning early for winter vacation. The local British 
School and French School, attended by a mix of expatriates 
and Nepalese, plan to remain open during the first week of 
the scheduled bandh and cancel some of their after school 
activities. The Lincoln School, attended by most of the 
mission's dependent children and a number of Nepalese, 
intends to hold class but has established alternate locations 
as a contingency. 
 
4. On November 29, the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of 
Education and Sports, Mr. Yuba Raj Pandey, hosted a meeting 
of concerned teacher and education organizations near Singha 
Durbar, the Prime Minister's office. The intent was to 
coordinate actions to address the indefinite education bandh. 
As the event closed, two members of the ANNFSU-R brazenly 
rushed Mr. Pandey with a handgun and threatened to shoot him 
if he did not take seriously their thirteen demands. The 
students painted Mr. Pandey's face black and fled, waiving 
the gun at the stunned crowd. 
 
5. On December 2, Devi Prasad Ojha, Minister of Education and 
Sports, at a press conference called on donors to help 
resolve the indefinite stike. When questioned by the press 
corps on the Ministry's position, Mr. Ojha is quoted as 
saying, "I'm not in a position to comment on the strikes 
within the edcuation sector. . . . We want all educational 
institutions to run smoothly and be free from politics." 
 
Maoists May Relent 
------------------ 
 
6. The Nepalese press and public responded with widespread 
anger to the threat to their children's safety. In recent 
days, the ANNFSU-R appears to have softened its stance. A 
December 3 press article quotes Devendra Parajuli, leader of 
ANNFSU-R, as saying, "We may give second thoughts to forcing 
the closure of educational institutions, if the government 
corrects the mistake of declaring us a terrorist body and 
shows it is ready for talks with us." (Note: The previous 
government banned the ANNFSU-R organization in 2001, labeling 
it terrorist after the collapse of peace talks in November 
2001. End note.) The Government has not commented openly on 
this latest development. The ANNFSU-R stated today that no 
talks are underway with the Government. The softening of the 
student group's demands has further confused school 
administrators and parents, leaving some institutions to 
defer a definitive decision until the weekend. 
 
Comment 
------- 
7. Education, particularly in the Valley, is perceived as the 
gateway to a better life for one's children and a guaranteed 
right under the Constitution. The situation exposes the 
Government's powerlessness and inability to develop a 
coherent plan of action and the Maoists' continued callous 
disregard for the welfare and security of children. 
MALINOWSKI