Thursday, March 24, 2005

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Nepal army admits rights abuses

The army in Nepal says it has taken action against more than 100 soldiers and officers accused of human rights abuses over the past three years.

The military say that the offences took place during fighting against Maoist rebels fighting to abolish the monarchy.

They say 44 people were jailed, while others were dismissed or demoted.

Human rights groups have in the past criticised what they called repeated abuses by the Nepalese army.

It says that it has been gaining the upper hand in recent months in the fight against the rebels, and that a rift in the Maoist ranks had helped the army operation.

About 11,000 people are estimated to have died in Nepal over the past 10 years, since the Maoists started an insurgency aimed at replacing the monarchy with a Communist republic. Sphere: Related Content

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