News update from Nepal, August 14, 2005 examination by independent experts, of the slain troops in the Kalikot clash and promised to get all the security persons released. The RNA spokesperson Brigadier-General Dipak Gurung said that one of the reasons of RNA’s setback was the use of Indian assault rifles INSAS which were of substandard quality. Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, however, refuted this charge. On August 7, Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee made critical remarks against the RNA:“The RNA is trying to contain the Maoists. But its efforts are not effective. We hope it successfully tackles them; otherwise, the situation will go out of hand. We are trying to impress upon the Nepalese government to tackle the Maoists. But, unfortunately, certain recent developments in that country like the suppression of its constitution and multi-party system had set back anti-Maoist initiatives.” Stating that the Nepalese Maoists have close links with many militant left groups in India, he said“many of them have the fancy idea of setting up a liberated corridor starting right from the Tarai region and going through parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Karnataka and Maharastra.” Human Rights Situation People’s Front Nepal(PFN) has decided to launch an“exposure campaign” against Maoists in the field for abducting six persons including its local leader. On July 25, around 2,500 locals of several villages located on the border of Dhading and Makwanpur districts killed seven Maoists. Amnesty International(AI) has held the formation of Village Defense Force(VDF) responsible for further deterioration of the human rights situation in the rural areas. Its other report“ Nepal: Fractured Country, Shattered Lives” states that villagers are terrorized by the groups, who are forcibly recruiting them, beating them, searching their houses and sexually harassing local women.“Torture by the military is both systematic and routine. Military officials who operate in an environment of complete impunity admitted to using ill-treatment to extract confessions.” The RNA refuted the charges of promoting vigilante groups and the use of children for information gathering. On July 28, Ian Martin, Representative of the Office of the UNHCHR in Nepal said that OHCHR has remained in touch with rebels. In Nepal’s context, Martin added, “the human rights situation should be looked at under three categories: a) violation of human rights and international humanitarian laws relating to conflict; b) human rights situation in post-February 1; and c) long standing human rights issues such as discrimination on the ground of caste, social and economic rights. He said that certain things are yet to be fulfilled by the government as per the agreement. There are specific commitments like,“HMG will use all the official media” to publicize the agreement to the population in general. On August 4, the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal(NHRC) revealed that a total of 1545 cases of disappearance have been filed at the commission. Of them, 816 cases are against the state, whereas 275 are against the Maoists and the rest are against unknown groups. On July 26 AI report“Nepal: Children Caught in the Conflict” revealed that 400 children lost their lives since the conflict started. 7