The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has said that it is providing security in the upcoming municipal elections.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, spokesperson of the RNA Brigadier General Nepal Bhusan Chand said that Maoists are increasing their violent activities to disrupt the municipal elections. To that affect, “The army is ready to be mobilized to maintain law and order in the country as per the direction of the government,” he added.
The RNA is ready to provide full security to the people contesting the municipal elections as it did in the previous polls, Brigadier General Chand added. He further said that the RNA is always ready to provide security to the people and maintain law and order in the country.
He refuted allegations that some candidates of the municipal polls have been kept in army barracks.
According to RNA, Maoists suffered heavy loss in recent actions in Hatuwagadhi of Bhojpur district, Manakamana of Syanjha district and Jhurjhure of Makawanpur district.
According to RNA, 5,086 Maoists were killed after the termination of the second round of peace talks on August 26, 2003, till September 2, 2005. Likewise, 275 Maoists were killed from September 3, 2005. The Army suspects 1,206 more causalities in the Maoists’ side during the period.
581 armymen were killed following the termination of second round of talks with the Maoists, the RNA said.
2,889 Maoists surrendered to the security forces expressing dissatisfaction of Maoist activities till September 2, 2005. Likewise 928 people surrendered to the security forces from September 3, 2005, the RNA said.
The army said that Maoists are continuing their terror, adding, 2,009 general people including children and old people were killed by the Maoists for expressing dissatisfaction over their violent activities.
The RNA also said that it confiscated large amount of explosives from Bahuni area of Morang district on 23rd January.
Brigadier General Chand informed that Maoists are using modern weapons like the AK-47 to spread terror in the country. He made it clear that the RNA does not use such weapons.
He did not comment on the issue about suspension of arms assistance by some donor countries, but said that the RNA has sufficient arms and ammunition to fight the Maoists.
The RNA also expressed its commitment for the protection and promotion of Human Rights. A statement issued by the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) of RNA said it had replied to two allegations of the Asian Human Rights Commission and also investigated 2,441 complaints against the RNA.
The RNA also made it clear that representatives of International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal are visiting the detention centers of the RNA.