US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2783

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002783 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, EAID, MOPS, NP 
SUBJECT:  DOMINANT MAOIST PRESENCE IN FAR WEST DISTRICT OF 
ACHHAM 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4(b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C) During a December 5-9 World Food Program 
(WFP)-organized trip including the Norwegian Ambassador, the 
mission head for Britain's Dept. for International 
Development (DFID), a representative of the Technical 
Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany (GTZ), and the 
Embassy's P/E Chief to observe donor-funded development 
activities in Achham, a remote district in the Far West, the 
Maoists' dominating presence was tangible.  The Chief 
District Officer said the district had welcomed the 
cease-fire and the Maoist-Parties' 12-point understanding, 
while the RNA district commander said that both the Maoists 
and the local RNA wanted peace.  The Maoists allow the 
government to continue to work in the health and education 
sectors, but only under certain conditions.  Local donor 
groups were hopeful that the Maoists might allow mass 
education programs on HIV/AIDs, a serious and growing problem 
in the district.  While acknowledging some difficulties in 
working with the Maoists, local NGOs indicated that they had 
found ways to do so.  End Summary. 
 
Hoping for Peace 
---------------- 
 
2. (C) Chief District Officer Homanath Thapaliya told Emboff 
that the people of Achham, a very remote district in the Far 
West with a population of about 231,000, welcomed the 
Maoist-Parties' 12-point understanding.  He explained that 
people were hoping for a peace process.  Since the Maoists 
had declared their unilateral cease-fire on September 2, more 
and more people returned to the district every day.  The 
local commander of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), Lt. Col. 
Sushil B.C., who met with the WFP-led group in plain clothes, 
noted that although political cadre were returning to the 
villages, other people whom the Maoists had forced out were 
not yet doing so.  Thapaliya noted that the Maoists were 
still kidnapping people.  In its travels, the group noted a 
widespread presence of Maoist political cadre throughout the 
district.  The head of one Road Builders Users Group 
acknowledged that his community still feared both sides - the 
security forces and the Maoists.  (Note:  Because of the 
Maoist presence at most of the group's interactions, the WFP 
organizer advised the group not to ask any "uncomfortable" 
questions.  End Note.) 
 
3. (C) Lt. Col. B.C. stressed, "The Maoists are not seeking 
conflict and neither are we.  Everyone wants peace."  He said 
that he had a battalion, approximately 892 people, divided 
over two districts.  Two companies, about 260 soldiers, were 
stationed in Bajura District, north of Achham; about 600 
personnel were in Achham.  He estimated that there were about 
100-plus armed Maoists in Achham, but added that the Maoists 
sometimes used Achham as a corridor to pass through the 
district.  The Lt. Col. stated that the Maoists conducted 
political training far from Mangalsen, the district 
headquarters.  During RNA patrols, the Maoists would 
disperse.  (He added that the RNA had planned not to conduct 
patrols during the visit.)  He noted that the Armed Police 
Force (APF) was not in Achham, only civil police and the RNA. 
 The RNA officer expressed appreciation for the U.S. M-16s 
his troops had and noted that they had enough ammunition to 
date, although he mentioned the cut-off of U.S. assistance. 
 
Maoists Everywhere, Allow Work in Education and Health Sectors 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
4. (C) Dr. Kirin, the sole doctor in the district, indicated 
that the government was able to deliver health services 
throughout Achham.  However, he stated that in 
Maoist-affected areas the Maoists took 20-25 percent of the 
drug supply.  They alleged that the government process was 
not transparent and that they were better positioned to 
distribute drugs to the people.  Dr. Kirin also noted that 
the Maoists demanded donations and the health staff 
occasionally had to ask the Maoists' permission to travel. 
 
Each of Achham's 75 VDCs had a health worker, and there were 
400 health workers spread throughout the district.  (Note: 
Dr. Kirin had arrived in Achham district a few months 
previously under the government's incentive program to get 
doctors to remote and very remote districts.  If a doctor 
served a year in a very remote district, or two in a remote 
district, the government would fund post-graduate studies. 
End Note.)  District officials and NGO workers told the group 
that the Maoists also allowed the operation of incentive 
programs to get children in schools. 
 
HIV/AIDS "Alarming" 
------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Local NGO representatives said the spread of 
HIV/AIDS was "alarming."  It is estimated that as many as 
seventy percent of Achham's male population travels to India 
for employment; they bring the disease with them back to the 
district.  As a result, Achham health workers and NGOs 
reported that HIV/AIDS had become a significant problem in 
the district.  One worker acknowledged that he and his 
colleagues had not been able to reach remote areas of the 
district to educate villagers about HIV/AIDS because of the 
conflict.  A local GTZ worker said that the Maoists were 
becoming more aware of the issue and speculated that they 
might allow mass education programs in the more remote areas. 
 He explained that the district had introduced counseling in 
seven places, and conducted testing at the hospital in 
Mangalsen and a clinic in Safebagar.  Of the 115 people 
tested as of November 30, 2005, 36 had tested positive.  Many 
people who returned from India were still reluctant to get 
tested.  A study conducted by Save the Children, Norway and 
UNICEF in 15 of Achham's 75 districts found 342 HIV/AIDs 
orphans and 125 widows.  NGOs reported that they were 
incorporating HIV/AIDS awareness into their other programs. 
 
Donors Working Well With Government... 
-------------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) International agencies working in Achham have formed a 
loose network, the Forum of International Agencies in Achham 
(FIAA), to avoid duplication of support areas, strengthen 
coordination with the District Development Committee (DDC) 
and government organizations, share information, and promote 
a uniform policy on development issues relevant to 
international agencies.  The FIAA representatives stated that 
they had sat together with the DDC during the drafting of the 
DDC development plan, and for its mid-term review.  However, 
the lack of access to most of the district prevented the 
plan's implementation.  FIAA had also discussed the new NGO 
Code of Conduct with CDO Thapaliya, who had assured them that 
he would not stop local NGOs working directly with a funding 
partner.  Thapaliya had insisted that NGOs provide audit and 
other financial reports when renewing their registration, 
which FIAA had accepted. 
 
... But Problems with the Maoists 
--------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) FIAA representatives stated that the main problem was 
the conflict.  They explained that although most Maoist 
district commanders knew about the donors' Basic Operating 
Guidelines (BOGs), a lot of Maoist cadre do not understand 
the basic principle of non-interference.  The FIAA 
representatives could not communicate with the area 
commanders (in charge of 2-3 VDCs), and the area commanders, 
some of whom were uneducated, were the source of the 
problems.  Thus FIAA welcomed the proposal that the Maoist 
central command sign off on the BOGs.  Nevertheless, FIAA 
thought it had a working arrangement that allowed development 
efforts to continue. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8. (C) In this very remote district, without a single paved 
road, the group encountered only two tractors traversing the 
dirt roads during the three-day visit, but saw a Maoist flag 
flying high atop a flagpole.  The government lacks the 
 
ability to assert a permanent presence, whereas Maoists 
passing through can remind villagers that they can return 
once the government has left, if the government ever happens 
to visit the locale at all.  However, it seems as if the 
Maoists are learning the lesson that they have to alter their 
ways to win the hearts and minds of the people, thus, they 
allow development projects and the government's health and 
education work to continue. 
MORIARTY