November 09, 2001

KATHMANDU: An anti-Maoist rally was organised in Kathmandu today chanting slogans against “atrocities” and demanding the immediate halt of violence, killing and intimidation being perpetrated in the name of Maoist insurgency.

A group called Victims of Maoist Insurgency Group organised the peace rally.
Victims of Maoist insurgency, intellectuals, professionals, lawyers, teachers, journalists and human rights activists took part in the rally, the organizer said.

The objective of the rally is to create awareness against violence and atrocities of Maoists and create public opinion against violence, said Din Bandhu Yogi, member of Victims of Maoist Insurgency.

Starting from Sundhara, the rally went round the city and dispersed in Bhadrakali. Some people, who fled their villages mostly in the western Nepal, formed the Victims of Maoist Insurgency Group in Kathmandu. “We ask Maoists to stop killing, intimidation and extortion and they need to allow others to live in their own places peacefully”, Yogi said.

He said, “we have the right to live in our house peacefully but Maoist rebels have forced us to leave our village”. Recently, people have started creating groups to counter Maoist activities in different parts of the country.