Expressing concern over the Maoists putting pressure on minors formerly associated with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to rejoin the force, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal has urged the Maoists to cooperate with reintegration of minors associated with armed forces and armed groups with their families.

In a statement on Thursday, OHCHR-Nepal said it is concerned about the growing number of reports from various districts that Maoist and associated organisations have coerced or forced persons who were under 18 years old at the time of their recruitment to return to cantonment sites of the PLA after they had voluntarily left the camps.

"Forcing or pressuring young people under 18 to return to cantonment sites violates the rights of children, as well as the commitment made by the CPN-M, and the government of Nepal," OHCHR further said.

Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the government and the Maoists commits to immediate release of minors who had been associated with a fighting force, and to provide necessary cooperation for their rehabilitation and reintegration.

OHCHR cited one of its documents that two minors who left a cantonment site in Chitwan in May and returned to their homes in Makwanpur district were pursued by Maoist cadres in order to force them to return.

As a result of intervention by local NGOs and OHCHR, the girls were not returned to the cantonment. However on November 19, Maoist cadres returned to the girls' home and 'abducted' one of them, while the other escaped, the statement reads.

It further said that police officers were unable or unwilling to prevent her abduction when informed by CPN-M cadres that she would be taken to the cantonment site in Chitwan for the verification process, which is due to start within one week.

The UN body said pressure on minors to return to cantonments has also coincided with verification exercises of the PLA and it expressed concerns that Maoist cadres have threatened human rights defenders and others working to reintegrate into society minors formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups.

"OHCHR-Nepal calls on the CPN-M to abide by its CPA commitments, respect the rights of minors who have voluntarily started the reintegration process and not force them to return to cantonments," the statement quoted OHCHR-Nepal Representative Richard Bennett to have said so adding, "The CPN-M must also speed up the process of formally releasing all minors still inside the cantonments so they can return to their families and civilian life."

"It is also essential that the Nepal Police fulfill its obligation to protect minors who have voluntarily started the process of reintegrating into society, and to ensure security for organizations and persons working to assist the reintegration of these minors," he said.

Sources: nepalnews.com ia Nov 22 07