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10,000 landmines laid by Nepalese army: NGO
Kathmandu, June 15: The Nepalese Army has laid 10,000 anti-personnel mines across Nepal, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).
Kathmandu, June 15: The Nepalese Army has laid 10,000 anti-personnel mines across Nepal, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).
"10,000 landmines have been laid around 50 army posts as defensive measures," said Miriam Coronel Ferrer, one of a six-member ICBL team which has been in Nepal for the last week.
She said they had been given the figure by Director of Military Operations (DMO) Brigadier General Kul Bahadur Khadka.
Khadka told them the army would clear the landmines before they left the posts. It was not known when they were laid.
During a week-long visit, the team met with government ND Army officials and Maoist rebel leaders to discuss banning the use of landmines in the Himalayan kingdom.
The government and the rebels declared a ceasefire on January 29 and have since held two rounds of peace talks aimed at ending seven years of insurgency.
"Since the ceasefire, the Nepal campaign to ban landmines received only one report of a civilian injured by landmines," Ferrer told reporters late yesterday.
"But there is a danger that people will fall victim to these mines unless the security forces and the Maoists commit not to use them and clear those areas," she said.
Ferrer said that they had met senior Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara who said he would consult the rebel leadership on a long term commitment to a total ban on the use of landmines.
Bureau Report
She said they had been given the figure by Director of Military Operations (DMO) Brigadier General Kul Bahadur Khadka.
Khadka told them the army would clear the landmines before they left the posts. It was not known when they were laid.
During a week-long visit, the team met with government ND Army officials and Maoist rebel leaders to discuss banning the use of landmines in the Himalayan kingdom.
The government and the rebels declared a ceasefire on January 29 and have since held two rounds of peace talks aimed at ending seven years of insurgency.
"Since the ceasefire, the Nepal campaign to ban landmines received only one report of a civilian injured by landmines," Ferrer told reporters late yesterday.
"But there is a danger that people will fall victim to these mines unless the security forces and the Maoists commit not to use them and clear those areas," she said.
Ferrer said that they had met senior Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara who said he would consult the rebel leadership on a long term commitment to a total ban on the use of landmines.
Bureau Report