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STRATFOR Nepalese Maoists Preparing To Confront U.S. =============================== 26 April 2002 Nepalese Maoists planted two bombs on the main road between the royal palace and the home of King Gyanendra on April 25, according to Nepalese media. The king's convoy, which travels between the palace and his home every evening, was detoured after security guards saw the bombs in the road, according to an official palace statement. The apparent attempt on the king's life comes just days after Maoist rebels destroyed the home of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. It also follows a visit by a U.S. military delegation that Nepal hopes will lead to $20 million in military aid and equipment -- including night-vision goggles and helicopters to aid in the six-year battle against the Maoist insurgency. The Maoists, who stepped up their military campaign after the shooting deaths last year of former King Birendra's entire family, recently have stepped up their activities in the capital, Kathmandu. The Maoists already control a large part of Nepal, but they are strongest in rural areas. By targeting King Gyanendra, who is much less popular than his predecessor, the Maoists hope to build support inside the capital for their anti-government campaign. This tactical shift may presage trouble for Washington's growing military cooperation with the kingdom. If the Maoists can refocus the struggle as pitting the king and his U.S. allies against the people and enlist the sympathy of city-dwellers, a popular undercurrent of support could jeopardize any future U.S. missions. More directly, however, the Maoists could take their fight to U.S. advisers or trainers that might be sent to Nepal. Insurgents already have targeted Coca Cola factories -- a symbol of U.S. business -- and the bombs in King Gyanendra's path were, not coincidentally, located just 100 meters north of the U.S. Embassy. --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
