| orion |
Posted
on 04-Sep-02 11:09 AM
Absolutley. Perhaps these are signs of desperation. Perhaps not. From what I gather, at this rate it is going to take the Army years to reign in on the Maoists. It appears the Army's strategy is to push out the Maoists from "high visibility" areas and secure these areas to demonstrate a sense of law and order to the general public. The Army seems to be loosing on this specific front, although it seems overall the Amry has much more control over territory today than six months ago.
Below is the latest US Embassy "announcement" about Nepal which seems to corroborate the argument that while the Moaists are on their way to defeat, victory for the Army is still a long way.
-----Original Message-----
From: American Citizen Services (Embassy New Delhi)
[mailto:ACSEMBND@state.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 7:15 AM
Subject: PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT - NEPAL DATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2002
SUBJECT: PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT - NEPAL
This Public Announcement is being issued to alert American citizens that
Maoists appear to be initiating a campaign of violence in anticipation of a
nationwide general strike (bandh) that the Maoists have declared for
September 16. It also reiterates the possibility of heightened risks to
American citizens and American interests in Nepal, especially outside the
Kathmandu Valley, from the Maoist insurgency. This supersedes the Public
Announcement for Nepal issued on May 16, 2002, and supplements the WorldWide
Caution Public Announcement issued on July 1, 2002. It expires on December
19, 2002.
Following a strategy of instilling fear in the populace to force compliance
with their announced bandhs, it appears the Maoists have once again begun
carrying out a series of bombings and other acts of violence throughout the
Kathmandu area prior to the bandh they have called for September 16. While
no tourists have been injured to date in this or previous pre-bandh
escalations of violence, the danger to Americans of being caught in the
wrong place at the wrong time increases in periods leading up to bandhs.
Popular support for bandhs has been waning, and Maoist insurgents have
resorted to increasingly brutal acts of intimidation to enforce compliance.
In the past, bandhs have resulted in the shutdown of businesses, schools,
offices and vehicular traffic. Government vehicles and public conveyances
have been attacked with explosive devices, reinforcing the threat that
civilian vehicles that defy the bandh will be subject to attack as well.
American citizens are urged to evaluate carefully the movement of traffic on
the streets before undertaking travel and to maintain a low profile
throughout a bandh period. It is possible that taxis, buses and other forms
of public transportation may not operate during a bandh. Americans planning
travel in, to or from Nepal should consider changing their travel schedules
to avoid arrival and/or departure dates during scheduled bandhs, as
transportation to and from airports throughout Nepal may be affected. As
always, Americans in Nepal should closely monitor the situation and avoid
any demonstration.
In areas outside the Kathmandu Valley, the situation is tense and uncertain,
with armed conflicts between the Maoists and government security forces
occurring sporadically and unpredictably. Several recent incidents of
violence have occurred on main highways outside the Kathmandu Valley,
including the roads linking Kathmandu with the Tibetan and Indian borders
and the tourist destinations of Pokhara and the Chitwan National Park.
Reports of threats against and robberies of American trekkers, property
destruction suffered by two businesses with an American affiliation, and
anti-American rhetoric by the Maoist leadership indicate continuing risk to
Americans in Nepal, particularly outside the Kathmandu
Valley.
Americans who decide to travel outside the Valley are strongly urged to
contact the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandufor the most recent security
information before undertaking such travel. The security situation in Nepal
may change with little notice. Maoist destruction of telephone service and
Government offices in some trekking areas complicates efforts to locate
Americans and to make arrangements for emergency medical evacuations.
For further information on travel to Nepal, please consult the Department of
State's Consular Information Sheet on Nepal and the Worldwide Caution Public
Announcement dated July 1, 2002, at http://travel.state.gov and the American
Embassy in Nepal's home page at http://www.south-asia.com/USA. Americans
living in or visiting Nepal are strongly urged to register with the Consular
Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nepal by e-mail by accessing the Embassy's
home page or by personal appearance. The U.S. Embassy is located at Pani
Pokhari in Kathmandu, telephone
(977) (1) 411179; fax (977) (1) 419963.
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