Nepe ji, I do read almost all ICG report but in most occasion they are one sided. This one seems to be little more unbiased but the rport they right from one sided views can not win the support from all sectors. This report is also more directed towards "all-inclusive" approach. If we descard any "force", that will create more chaos then any lasting solution. Good luck to you. As the day is not that bad may be Mridula's water will not be consumed that much. We have to rely on reports from Nepal as well. I will believe the views of Deepak as they are the one who have seen the situation from field: Maoist ceasefire a strategic ploy: RNA BY DEEPESH DAS SHRESTHA KATHMANDU, Sept 16 - Royal Nepal Army Spokesman Brigadier General Deepak Gurung Friday said that Maoist three-month unilateral truce was a strategy to reorganize and restructure their militants to strengthen their power in the future. Speaking during a press meet at the RNA headquarters in the capital today, Gurung said, "The ceasefire is a ploy. There has been a sharp rise in the abduction of civilians to recruit them as Maoist combatants and their training activities have escalated." He, however, did not elaborate. Gurung claimed that the Maoist move was aimed at preserving their energy and regrouping their forces, adding, "They might get strong after three months so we must be prepared for it." Gurung refuted the claim that army's security operations have intensified after Sept.3?the day Maoists announced a three month unilateral truce with immediate effect. "Such allegation is baseless," he said. "Mobilizing our troops is a part of our regular operations and will be continued in the future too." He also rejected the claim that the RNA security personnel were involved in systematic torture of those held in detention. "The RNA strongly objects to such accusations," said Gurung. "We have been taking action against those found guilty after investigations and if there is a proof no one will be spared." Presenting findings of a weeklong visit to Nepal, Manfred Nowak, special rapporteur of the U.N. Commission on Torture, in a separate program today, said that security personnel systematically practiced torture and ill-treatment of detainees in order to extract confessions and to obtain intelligence. On being asked if the RNA would be confined to the army barracks, if the government reciprocated the truce offer, Gurung said it was for the government to decide. "We are fulfilling our duty as directed by the government and will respect its decision accordingly," said Gurung. During the press meet, Colonel Umesh Kumar Bhattarai informed that 4546 Maoist rebels were killed in security operations after the breakdown of the ceasefire on August 27, 2003. He said 1191 more rebels were suspected killed and 443 others injured during the encounters in various parts of the country. ?Five hundred sixty three security personnel were also killed during the same period," said Bhattarai. Since the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire on Sept.3, the security forces killed four Maoists while one soldier got killed during security actions, he said. ?About 2889 insurgents have surrendered to the local administration since August 27, 2003 and 27 more have been added after Sept.3,? said Bhattarai. Bhattarai said that the recent National Human Rights Commission report indicated the Maoists of being responsible for increasing human rights violations in the country. The report had mentioned that while killings and torture decreased by 90 percent after the unilateral ceasefire announcement, the incidents of abductions have increased. Claiming that the Maoists have been involved in unabated violence despite their truce offer, the RNA also appealed the media persons to flash out Maoists' "double standard" to the outsiders. RNA forms 2 battalions The RNA today informed that it has decided to form two battalions in the Terai and the hilly regions to incorporate indigenous groups to uplift their social standards and enhance their ethnic pride. The battalion formed in the Terai region will focus on Madhesi community while the one in the Hilly region will give priority to various nationalities (Janajatis) of Kirant region.