Maoists send royal mayor to 3 yrs labor BY MADHAV ARYAL PALPA, July 4 - Maoists Sunday 'sentenced' Dhatananda Bhattarai, elected mayor in the now scrapped municipal elections conducted by the royal regime last year, to three years of labor in prison and fine Rs 15,000. The sentence was delivered by a 'people's court' of the Maoists at Sittalpati of Tansen bazaar. Hundreds of locals were present during the 'verdict'. Maoists abducted Bhattarai nine days ago and produced him at the people's court Saturday after a week. Fourteen human rights, civil society and media groups here have issued statements stating that the proceedings was against human rights, and the basic principles of humanitarian law. Locals present at the 'court' fumed when Bhattarai appealed for amnesty. The Maoists charged him with corruption and supporting the royal regime. Bhattarai said that becoming mayor was not his mistake, and insisted that the then Chief District Officer and police officials were responsible for it. He even did sit-ups at the court Sunday asking for forgiveness. However, incensed locals tried to blacken his face instead. Even Maoist cadres faced difficulty controlling the mob. Locals demanded that Bhattarai's face be blackened and he be taken around the bazaar. The locals followed Bhattarai while he was taken by Maoists to their office. At the office, Maoists ordered Bhattarai to do 10 sit-ups and ask for forgiveness from the locals. Meanwhile, Siraha chapter of Human Rights Organization Nepal has appealed to Maoists for prompt and unconditional release of Dhruba Prasad Shah, secretary of Pokharbhinda VDC. Shah was abducted from his house a week ago. Meanwhile, Maoists in Udayapur freed Baburam Achhami and Prabhat Rai, whom they had abducted from Beltar 12 days ago. Posted on: 2006-07-03 20:57:33 (Server Time)