UN steps up efforts to release Nepali peacekeepers in DR Congo; Govt. unaware

June 5, 2006
2 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

The hostage crisis experts of the UN and the local community chiefs in eastern Congo have entered into negotiations to try to free seven Nepali UN peacekeepers held by militia for over a week, reports said.

British news agency Reuters reported from Kinshasa that specialist negotiators have been flown in from UN headquarters in New York to Congo in a bid to hold secretive talks with the militia leaders who seized the Nepalis on May 28 during an encounter with the rebel groups.

UN officials have ruled out paying any ransom for the release of kidnapped Nepali soldiers. Initial contacts with the Lendu militiamen led by warlord Peter Karim have proved unsuccessful.

A local leader of Lendu community has been helping to try to resolve the hostage situation. They are said to have collected US$500 locally to offer for the kidnapped Nepalis but their effort was spurned on Friday who said the money was not enough. The insurgents have initially demanded US$20,000.

“Things went a little sour last week and there was little contact over the weekend but talks continue,” Reuters quoted a UN source, who asked not to be named.

Back in the country, officials seemed unaware of the process being initiated for the release of abducted peacekeepers. Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Yadav Khana told Nepalnews on Tuesday that they hoped the peacekeepers were released as national newspapers have reported so on June 03. “We haven’t received any further information regarding the incident. We read in papers they were released,” Khanal said.

On the other hand, Major Shushil Dahal at the Directorate of Public Relation (DPR) of the Nepali Army said the abducted peacekeepers have not been released. “Attempts are being made for their release but so far they have been unsuccessful,” he said.

“UN officials and experts are holding negotiations with the abductors and are hopeful they will be released soon,” he added.

Reuters quoted the Congolese local officials as saying that abducted Nepali soldiers are still alive. The fighters are keeping the hostages in a remote district which saw heavy fighting in recent months between Congolese troops backed by UN peacekeepers and militia gangs.