Cablegate: Naxalites Attack Power Plant in Andhra Pradesh

VZCZCXRO0984
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #0385 1510942
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 310942Z MAY 07
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0971
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEAWJL/DOJ WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2562
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1336
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0558
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 1000
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1077
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5061
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0792

UNCLAS CHENNAI 000385

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV IN
SUBJECT: NAXALITES ATTACK POWER PLANT IN ANDHRA PRADESH

REFS: A) KOLKATA 0144 B) CHENNAI 0083

1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On May 30, Naxalites attacked a hydroelectric
power plant in northeast Andhra Pradesh, causing damage to the
plant's control room and injuring one employee. The attack, along
with the recent killing of a Congress party functionary,
demonstrates the Naxalites' continued ability to operate, at least
in a limited fashion, in Andhra Pradesh despite the state's
aggressive campaign to combat the terrorist threat. END SUMMARY.

2. (U) On May 30, Naxalites (a violent subgroup of India's Maoists)
attacked a hydroelectric power plant in East Godavari district in
Andhra Pradesh, close to the border with Orissa. According to media
reports, 50 armed Naxalites seized the plant's control room, ordered
the employees out, and triggered an explosion. One employee was
injured in the blast. The blast damaged the plant's control panels,
and a team of engineers has been dispatched by the company to
conduct repairs. The attack on the plant occurred a day after a
group of Naxalites marched on a village in Visakhapatnam district
and killed a functionary from the ruling Congress party, shooting
him at point blank range.

3. (SBU) The Superintendent of Police for East Godavari District
told post the power plant attack was "an insignificant incident,"
noting that at 24 megawatts the plant is not a major facility. He
said that only eight to ten Naxalites were involved, not the 50
claimed by the media. The Superintendent said that the attack
caused just $2000 in damage to equipment and the injury sustained by
the plant employee was minor. He added that the Naxalites attacked
the plant to express opposition against a government plan to
excavate bauxite in the area, and also against encounter killings of
Naxalite members. An officer with Andhra Pradesh's elite
anti-Naxalite "Greyhound" unit agreed that the attacks were attempts
to register protest against the bauxite mine. He said the Naxalites
were trying to reassert their presence, but added that it is
significant that they can only do so in remote areas.

4. COMMENT: (SBU) Andhra Pradesh has enjoyed considerable success
in quelling the insurgency with its aggressive campaign against the
Naxalites (reftels). But the attacks reinforce that even one of
India's most successful anti-Naxalite campaigns cannot provide
absolute insurance, especially in far-flung areas. The Naxalites in
Andhra Pradesh effectively exploit the limitations of state-to-state
cooperation by launching attacks from neighboring states and
retreating to safe-havens afterwards: Andhra Pradesh authorities
have commented on their difficulties policing their border with
neighboring Orissa (ref A). By choosing a target located in a
remote area, close to the border with Orissa, the Naxalites were
able to strike at infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh despite the
state's aggressive approach. END COMMENT.

5. This message was coordinated with Embassy New Delhi.

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