Pili captives are safe: INSEC


KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Aug 22 - The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers taken hostage by Maoist rebels after fierce clashes between security forces and the rebels at the Pili army base camp in Kalikot on the night of August 7 are safe and being treated humanely, Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC), a rights watchdog, said Sunday.
The online portal of the organiztion, inseconline, quoted a Surkhet-based journalist Ashok Kumar Singh as saying that 27 RNA men abducted by the rebels after the nightlong clashes have been kept in a village located in southeastern region of Pili and are safe.

The soldiers in Maoist captivity have said they were treated as prisoners of wars.

Of the 60 abducted, Singh has brought photos of 27 soldiers.

?Though they had been treated humanely, they were nervous thinking about their captivity,? said Singh.

The abductees have expressed hope that they would be released immediately if journalists and human rights activists pressed for it.

In a recently issued statement, Maoist chairman Prachanda assured of releasing the soldiers saying that all the captives were being treated humanely and would be freed at an appropriate time after necessary procedures.

In the statement that came in response to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, Ian Martin's call for humane treatment to the hostages, Prachanda also said his party was committed to provide cooperation to the envoy.

At least 55 soldiers and 27 Maoists were killed in the clashes.

The hostages who Singh met are: Anil Kunwar, Jit Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Prem Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Shyam Bastola (Gulmi), Ram Bahadur Tamang (Sindhupalchowk), Keshav Phuyal (Dolakha), Umar Kunwar (Kaski), Krishna Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Shiva Karki (Dhading), Jiwan Tamang (Kathmandu), Ram Bahadur Tamang (Sindhupalchowk), Tanka Bahadur Ale Magar (Dolakha), Tej Narayan Shrestha (Kathmandu), Tirtha Bahadur Dhital (Gorkha), Jhilke Tamang (Lalitpur), Netra Ghale (Shyangja), Sarob Ranabhat (Tanahun), Tara Lama (Sindhupalchowk), Min Bahadur Chaudhari (Bardibas), Kailash Dangi (Dang) and Hariram Chaudhari (Address unidentified).

The identity of four other captive soldiers is not known. (snn)

Names of 60 RNA captives made public


KOL Report

KATHMANDU, Aug 24 - Maoists on Tuesday made public the names of 60 soldiers whom they had abducted after the attack on Pili in Kalikot district on August 7 in press release issued by Sudarshan, "spokesman" of western division of Maoists.
The release also said all the captives have been treated "humanely" as prisoners of war. The release also stated that the relatives of the captives could meet them after establishing contact with the party channels.

According the release, the names of the captives are as follows:

Jiwan Lama (Nuwakot), Shyam Rai (Udayapur), Tulraj Aryal, (Bhaktapur), Suman Tamang (Lalitpur), Subu Narayan Shrestha, (Kathmandu), Surendra Jagaure (Bhaktapur), Santa Bahadur Lama (Sindhupalchowk), Gunraj Rimal (Nuwakot), Keshar Thapa Magar (Nuwakot), Laxmi Krishna Desar (Lalitpur), Ram Lama (Kavre), Lal Krishna Nagarkoti (Kathmandu), Jit Bahadur Khatri (Surkhet), Tek Bahadur Tamang (Kavre), Buddi Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Laxman Tamang (Sindhupalchowk), Thakur Sijakoti (Lamjung), Dharma Bahadur Lama (Nuwakot), Jit Bahadur Moktan (Okhaldhunga), Ram Babu Ale Magar (Okhaldhunga), Kami Singh Tamang (Sindhupalchowk), Shivahari Karki (Dolakha), Khadga Tamang (Dolakha), Bir Bahadur Tamang (Bhaktapur), Hem Raj Bhandari (Bardiya), Amar Lama (Ramechhap), Surya Bahadur Shrestha (Kathmandu), Dil Bahadur Khatri( Surkhet), Krishna Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Pradeep Karki (Bhaktapur), Singha Bahadur Karki (Okhaldhunga), Ram Bahadur Shrestha (Makawanpur), Tirtha Dhital (Gorkha), Bagh Singh Lama (Lalitpur), Indra Kumar Shrestha (Khotang), Kumar Thapa (Syangja), Jhilke Lama (Lalitpur), Bishal Lama (Sindhupalchowk), Jeevan Tamang (Kathmandu), Bap Singh Tamang (Nuwakot), Buddha Narayan Singh (Kathmandu), Tanka BahadurAle Magar (Dolakha), Siva Karki (Dhading), Ram Bahadur Tamang (Sindhupalchowk), Kaji Adhikari (Ramechhap), Kailash Dangi (Dang), Saroj Ranabhat (Tanahu), Hariram Chaugathi (Bhaktapur), Jit Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Shayam Tamang (Bhaktapur), Anil Kunwar (Dhading), Amar Bahadur Kunwar (Kaski), Prem Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Gyan Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Ram Bahadur Tamang (Sindhupalchowk), Krishna Bahadur Tamang (Nuwakot), Surya Bahadur Dhamala (Dhading), Keshav Phuyal (Dolakha), Nigma Bahadur Chaudhary (Dang), Netra Bahadur Gharti Magar (Syangja)

I would be interested in seeing the list of dead as well, if anyone has access to it. Looking at the list of captives above, though, a deeper thought quickly brushed through my mind: Where are the Rana(s), Chhettri Thapa(s), Basnyat(s), Shah(s) and other Thakuris, etc., who enjoy much of army benefits? Does this say something about the RNA?

As I said, I cannot conclude my suspicion without checking out the list of the dead as well, but I simply could not help being curious after seeing almost all of the list of captives included jana jaatis and other "underprivileged" castes.

Mr. SHahi,

Good observation. You are doing a good job. Now you understand the situation of Nepal and how complicated the situation is??

I know Nepal needs people like you. But man keep your eyes open and look outside the box. Do not make the fight for democracy a easy way for the commies.

Peace
HF

It's a fact that we have all the underprivileged people fighting on the ground zero. That is why it is not impossible to bring the king under the constitution; or better still bring absolute democracy, where only people have rights to choose on their future, because, it would not be easy for the King and his bhai bhardar's to brainwash the army to shoot on people on the streets of ktm for infinite time.

Sooner or later, the army that is actually fighting and dying for the despot, will give in to the people; BUT, the terrorists are different ball game. For the army, they are absolute enemies - not just for the king - but even for themselves.

Will this not be an opportune moment for the Maoist to put down their guns and join the movement with the people - discarding the selected corrupt leaders? As much as I hate them; I believe for the greater good of the nation; IFF they come to the fore with a peaceful but vigorous movement NOW-- we can perhaps kill two birds with a stone.

Hmmm.... perhaps I need more coffee.

IndisGuise:)