Nepal communists execute 10 villagers

2005-04-18 / Associated Press /

Communist rebels dragged 10 people from their homes and executed them in southern Nepal for refusing to join the guerrillas, officials and human rights activists said yesterday.

Maoist fighters stormed the village of Somani, about 250 kilometers southwest of Katmandu, on Friday night and began hauling males out of their houses, the Royal Nepalese Army said.
At least 10 people, including a 14-year-old boy, were shot dead, the army said. Two men survived and were being treated at a nearby hospital.

Akrur Newpane, of the Nepalese rights group INSEC, confirmed that villagers were taken from their homes and executed.

The rebels also set fire to nine homes and bombed four others in the village, the military said.
A village official, Madhav Sharma, told The Associated Press that Nepalese security forces had moved in and taken control of the village. "We have put soldiers to patrol the area to prevent further violence," Sharma said.

He said the government is trying to ensure the situation doesn't escalate into a series of revenge killings like those that occurred in nearby Kapilbastu district a few weeks ago after villagers killed 31 suspected communist rebels. In retaliation, the guerrillas killed 15 villagers, burned down houses, and slaughtered cattle.

The government - which established an army camp in the area to bring the situation under control - came under severe criticism for encouraging the villagers to take up vigilante violence against the rebels.

The guerrillas, who claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, began fighting to overthrow Nepal's monarchy and establish a communist state in 1996. More than 11,500 people have been killed in the insurgency.

The rebels have stepped up attacks in the past few weeks to protest King Gyanendra taking absolute power in February. Human rights groups have expressed alarm over the power grab, saying it would worsen the country's already deteriorating human rights situation.

Both the army and the rebels are accused of human rights atrocities, especially in the countryside. Sphere: Related Content