Military

DATE=08/10/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=NEPAL BLOCKADE THREAT

NUMBER=2-318146

BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Maoists Threaten Blockade in Nepal

INTRO: In Nepal, the army has started a big offensive against Maoist rebels in the west of the country. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New

Delhi, the raids were mounted after the rebels threatened to blockade the capital, Kathmandu.

TEXT: Army officials say hundreds of soldiers launched air and ground operations Tuesday on guerrilla hideouts in the remote Accham district, about 600 kilometers west of the capital Kathmandu.

Officials say the operations target senior rebel leaders who had apparently gathered in the region for a rally. Accham is a Maoist stronghold.

The army offensive came as the guerrillas threatened to blockade Kathmandu unless the government agreed to demands, including the release of detained rebels. The Maoists ordered all vehicles off the roads to the capital starting next Wednesday.

Yuvraj Ghimre, the editor of the newsmagazine "Samay" says the tactic is intended to make an impact in Nepal's biggest city.

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"This is the only way to make Kathmandu . feel the heat of this (rebellion), because in . urban areas they are relatively weaker in terms of presence and in terms of carrying out their guerrilla activities."

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It is the second threat by Maoists to disrupt life in the capital. Last week, the labor wing of the rebels threatened to shut down several large businesses starting August 17th after accusing them of exploiting laborers and backing the government.

The rebels have brought large swathes of the countryside under their control since they began their campaign to turn Nepal into a communist republic in 1996. In the past year, they have enforced blockades in small provincial towns.

The Maoist rebellion has become more deadly in the past year after peace talks with the government collapsed last August.

A new government took office last month, promising that peace with the rebels would be its top priority - but so far there is little sign that the two sides are ready to negotiate. (signed)

NEB/HK/AP/MH/KPD