Following flurry of news reports about the terrible conditions in which Maoist soldiers are living in the UN designated Maoist camps, a non-government organisation has appealed for the immediate release of newborn babies, minors and their mothers from the Maoist cantonments.

Issuing a press statement Monday, the National Coalition for Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP) expressed concern over recent news that new born babies and their mothers were also injured along with others in the Maoist cantonment in Chitwan following heavy storm and rain and appealed for their immediate release without any preconditions.

“This kind of affect on children, newborn babies and their mother is serious concern of shame and humiliation for the entire human community. It is also a gross violation of human rights,” the statement said.

CZOP also requested the state, CPN (M), United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) and UN agencies, national and international humanitarian agencies and all the member of the Coalition to tackle this issue from humanitarian perspective and to provide necessary support for their relief and family reintegration.

Keeping minors in the cantonment with adults is violation of international laws, Child Rights Convention, interim constitution of Nepal and also against the national law of Nepal, the statement said. But observers say that Maoists have been openly flouting this provision by putting up child soldiers in the cantonments.

On Saturday the United Nations Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict had said there was considerable number of Maoist combatants who are below 18 years of age and had urged for their demobilisation.