Sixteen members of the Tharuwan Liberation Front, affiliated with Maoists, have left the party, they said in a statement in Biratnagar Friday. President of the Front Krishnalal Chaudhary and vice president Dhukaraj Majhi quit the party and decided to live normal lives.

Sixty-two Maoists, members of the Muhung VDC people’s village government, have surrendered to a joint security camp at Pasgaon, Mid Pritana Headquarters, Pokhara, said. Government last week announced an amnesty for rebels, friends and relatives if they surrender before Feb.12, 2004.

Security forces have encircled a Maoist training camp at Bame in Salyan to destroy it, military sources in Nepalgunj said. Four rebels have died in the operation so far. Walking with hands in pockets has been banned in Dhading district for security reasons. nepalnews.com br Dec.27