FOREIGN DESK | December 9, 2004, Thursday

Youth Ensnared in Nepal's War With Maoists

By DAVID ROHDE (NYT) 1505 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 1 , Column 2

ABSTRACT - Nepal's eight-year war with Maoist guerrillas is ensnaring country's children, with tens of thousands under age 18 estimated killed or abducted and forced into indoctrination camps; execution of 18-year-old Reena Rasaili in one village described; that killing was apparently by government soldiers, but parents elsewhere dread waking to find shoe hanging outside home, sign that guerrillas are demanding young recruit as part of recent 'strategic offensive'; thousands of families are sending children to monasteries in India; photos; map; rights groups says Maoists have abducted at least 8,000 children, often from schools; also note reports that Nepalese army is using children as spies and messengers, which authorities deny; attacks have forced government to withdraw police from about two-thirds of country, leaving Maoists and army patrols free to prey on isolated villages (M)

 

HOME