Bhutrako Maoists rocks... they actually suck big time. Maoist excesses continue; children forced to undergo military training In yet another violation of their commitment not to use children for warfare and follow the ceasefire code of conduct, Maoist have started giving military training to children in Udaypur district. According to The Kathmandu Post daily, Maoists have been giving military training to 350 children of age group 12-16 years in the Bhorleni area of Basaha village development committee (VDC) for the last three days. Parents complained that their children sustained injuries during the forced training. Children from every family in Chaudani, Siddhipur, Babla, Rampur, Basaha, Beltar, Sundarpur and Hadiya VDCs have been forcibly taken to training programme hampering their studies. A report from Sanklhuwasabha said Lok Bahadur Shrestha from Kimalung VDC of Bhojpur district fractured his both legs during the military training forcefully given by the Maoists at Dingla area of Bhojpur recently. Doctors at the district headquarter referred him to Kathmandu for treatment as the case was serious. These incidents came at a time when voices have been raised to declare schools as zones of peace and children out from the shadow of fear. In Chitwan, Maoists have been demanding huge sums of money, in the name of "tax" from timber contractors. According to District Timber Contractors' Association, the rebels have been demanding Rs 150 tax per square feet of timber that was purchased by the contractors from the District Forest Office, Timber Corporation and Community Forest earlier. In yet another incident of Maoist excesses, Maoists have banned VDCs from organizing village council meetings. The meetings called by VDC secretaries of Kogate, Epapanchakanya and Hadikhola had to be cancelled due to the Maoist pressure, the paper adds. In Jhapa, a group of people identifying themselves as Maoists beat up and later abducted owner of Munal Wood Industry, Shiva Upreti from Chandragadhi-6. The group later called Upreti's family and asked for ransom and warned that they will kill Upreti if the family members do not give the money. The whereabouts of Sila Silwal, who was abducted from Khadbari municipality, remains unknown. The family members have appealed for unconditional and safe release of Sila. Meanwhile, locals at Pataura VDC 6 captured a Maoist cadre Rakesh Shreevastav, for allegedly feeling trees inside a community forest in Maila village of the VDC. A group of Maoist cadres and locals clashed over the feeling of trees before they captured the rebel. These incidents come at a time when the rebel leaders are busy in consultation with the diplomats and others in a bid to join peaceful political mainstream. nepalnews.com pb Nov 04 06