Four people, including a Swiss released (10:50 p. m. NST)

December 14, 2004
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Maoist rebels have released four persons, including a Swiss national, after keeping them into custody for two nights. All the four staff associated with Helvetas, a Swiss NGO, are safe and have now reached far-western district of Kailali, latest reports said.

A Mahendranagar-based journalist, Umid Baghchand, told Nepalnews over phone late Thursday that he spoke to the one of the staff of the Helvetas after they were released. He said they had come into phone contact from a place called Godavari of Kailali. He said the Helvetas staff did not provide more details.

The Helvetas is yet to confirm the release of its staff.

Sources said the Swiss staff of the Helvetas may have gone to negotiate with the rebels after the Maoists virtually brought their project activities in far-western districts of Doti, Achham and Dadeldhura to a halt alleging them of not registering with their people’s government, among others.

Earlier, the Kathmandu office of the Helvetas had confirmed that the rebels had taken control of its four employees—including a Swiss citizen and three Nepali staff—along with their vehicle Tuesday afternoon while they were on their way to far-western district of Doti in a fieldwork. The abducted Nepali staff included two technicians and a driver of the pick-up van.

The staff were last seen at one of the Maoist check-points, the statement said.

The Helvetas said the office was trying to ensure release of its staff with the help of some human rights activists.

Set up in 1995 with the involvement of late Toni Hagen—the legendary Swiss who did the geological mapping of Nepal in the ‘50s, Helvetas is involved in activities like constructing suspension bridges, drinking water projects, natural resource management, enhancing skills of local people and other community development works in the remote and disadvantaged areas.

Earlier, the rebels had abducted a British officer working with the British Gurkhas and released him later.

Not a single foreigner has been harmed in Nepal during the nine-years of Maoist insurgency.