Killings continue in Nepal even during ceasefire

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Killings continue in Nepal even during ceasefire Published:

Wednesday, 7 December, 2005, 08:25 AM Doha Time

"The Maoists have abducted over 8,000 civilians, forcibly recruited

children, tormented and displaced army families and extorted money

during the so-called truce," a military statement released yesterday

quoted Thapa telling troops in eastern Nepal on Monday.

 

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KATHMANDU: Blood continues to be spilled in Nepal despite the Maoist

guerrillas extending their ceasefire with at least six people being

killed in four days.

The latest incident late Monday was reported from Dhuwankot village

in northwestern Nepal's Gorkha district, home of Maoist leader and

architect-turned-rebel Baburam Bhattarai, with two guerrillas being

killed in what the army described as an exchange of fire.

Prakash Pokhrel and Shiva Karakheti aka Biraj were killed after a

patrol came under bomb attack, the state media said.

Three Maoists were killed on December 2, the day Maoist supremo

Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda issued a statement saying his banned

Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist had decided to extend their three-

month unilateral ceasefire by another month out of respect for

people's desire for peace and to create an atmosphere conducive to a

political solution.

The army said it had lost a soldier the same day when he was hit by

an improvised explosive device planted by the guerrillas.

Meanwhile, Nepal's army chief has accused Maoist rebels of continued

attacks, abductions and killings despite announcing a unilateral

ceasefire.

General Pyar Jung Thapa said the military was determined to crush the

insurgency, dismissing their four-month-old ceasefire as "crooked

tricks" and a "ploy."

"The Maoists have abducted over 8,000 civilians, forcibly recruited

children, tormented and displaced army families and extorted money

during the so-called truce," a military statement released yesterday

quoted Thapa telling troops in eastern Nepal on Monday.

On Friday, Nepal's insurgent Maoists extended a three-month

unilateral ceasefire by one month, a move welcomed by the Human

rights groups accuse both the Maoists and the Royal Nepalese Army of

abuses that include torture.

The Maoists and seven mainstream opposition parties agreed last month

to form an anti-royal alliance to restore democracy in the troubled

Himalayan kingdom.

The European Union and the Swiss government hailed the truce

extension by the rebels and urged the government to reciprocate. –

Agencies