Amnesty International wrote an open letter to Maoist leader Prachanda, published on Thursday, urging the Maoists to immediately stop all human rights violations.
In the letter, written by Ingrid Massage, Interim Director of the Asia and Pacific Regional Program of Amnesty International, the international pro-human rights organisation reminded Prachanda and his second-in-command, Baburam Bhattrai, to uphold their previous commitment to respect Geneva Convention on human rights. The group was particularly concerned about the Maoist strategy of kidnapping children from school and forcing them to take part in ‘people’s education.’
Citing incidents of murder and torture, Amnesty International urged the rebels to refrain from such brutal punishments and killings, and to release all civilians they currently hold prisoner.