Treat captured soldiers as per Geneva Conventions: Martin

August 10, 2005
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Chief of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal Ian Martin (File Photo)

Chief of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal Ian Martin (File Photo)
A senior UN official has urged the Maoist insurgents to treat the soldiers said to be in their captivity following fierce fighting in Kalikot as per the Geneva Conventions.

Talking to reporters in mid-western town of Nepalgunj on Tuesday, chief of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, Ian Martin, said if the soldiers are in Maoist captivity, I urge them (the insurgents) to treat the soldiers in a human way.

The rebels said Monday that over 50 security personnel were in their captivity.

The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has said over 70 security personnel are still ‘missing’ after the fierce gun battle overnight Sunday at the temporary security base at Pili in the remote, mid-western district. The RNA said a total of 111 soldiers – including Colonel Raju Devkota—have come into contact after Sunday’s firefight.

The RNA has alleged the insurgents of violating international humanitarian laws by summarily executing at least ten soldiers after capturing the security base. A total of 40 soldiers were killed during the clashes.

The Directorate of Public Relations of the RNA said Tuesday that the Maoists lined up soldiers after capturing them and shot them in the back of the head. ‘They cut off private parts of the soldiers before executing them,” the RNA said.

There has been no word from the Maoists as yet regarding the RNA allegations. Talking to BBC Nepali service on Tuesday, a senior Maoist leader Prabhaker—who is also in charge of the underground outfit’s western division command—refuted allegations that those killed at Pili included civilian construction workers.

“All of them were soldiers carrying weapons. We haven’t targeted civilians,” he claimed.

The RNA had earlier said at least 100 non-combatants –working as construction workers at the under construction Karnali highway– were staying at the base camp durring the time of Maoist offensive. It is not yet clear how many of them were killed during the clashes.

In Nepalgunj, senior UN official Ian Martin said his mission was in touch with the Maoists as per the mandate given to him under the agreement between HMG/Nepal and UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights in April this year. He said his office was in contact with the non-state party (read: Maoists) with a view to help prevent and monitor incidences of human rights abuses carried out by them.

Martin met government officials, chiefs of security agencies in the region and members of civil society in Nepalgunj. He is scheduled to hold similar meetings in the far-western district of Kailali on Wednesday.