Kathmandu, Feb 13: Twelve Maoist activists who have been freed by the government have refused to leave jail because they fear they will be re-arrested, the rebels said today. Maoist negotiator Birendra Shrestha Jhapali said the government had ordered the release of the 12 activists including pro-Maoist student leader Shiva Kumar Dangi, but they had refused to go. "These 12 Maoist activists arrested about a year ago refused to leave the jail on the plea that they would be re-arrested soon after coming out," he said, adding, "They demanded to be released for good with an official assurance that they would not be re-arrested." The government and the Maoists entered into a cease-fire last month to facilitate talks to end seven years of violence. One of the Maoist demands before a cease-fire deal was struck was that jailed activists should be released and the government agreed to do so.
Bureau Report