Despite Cease-Fire, Nepal Maoists Kidnap 11 Soldiers
29 April 2006
Maoist rebels in Nepal have abducted 11 unarmed soldiers, just hours after declaring a three-month cease-fire.
Nepalese military officials said Saturday the soldiers were abducted some 500 kilometers east of the capital of Kathmandu as they traveled home on vacations.
Officials said the guerillas, who have limited communications, might have been unaware of the ceasefire.
The rebels declared a cease-fire Thursday after Nepal's prime minister promised to draw up a new constitution and to redefine the role of the monarchy. Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala Friday also promised to call elections for the constitutional assembly.
In their first parliamentary session in four years, lawmakers agreed to discuss the proposal Sunday. They also agreed to discuss whether to hold talks with the Maoist rebels and declare a ceasefire.
The Himalayan country has been without a government since last February, when the king declared a state of emergency and dissolved it due to what he said was a lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency. The king agreed to restore democracy after weeks of anti-monarchy demonstrations by tens of thousands of protesters.
The Maoist rebels have been fighting for 10 years to establish a communist state. At least 11,000 people have been killed in attacks and violent clashes during that time.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
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