Maoist PLA men flee camps accusing torture

Kathmandu, Aug 25 (UNI) The CPN (Maoist) is leading the government but its People's Liberation Army (PLA) combatants living in the camps continue to face torture and inhuman treatment in the cantonments, Nepalnews said here today.

Some PLA men fled the fourth division cantonment at Hattikhor of Nawalparasi district, indicating that they have not been treated well by their seniors in the camps, it said.

''PLA member Deepak KC, who came in contact with mediapersons secretly in Damauli Yesterday, said senior members in the cantonment torture combatants excessively mentally and physically'' the report said.

Deepak said they fled the camp while on night duty and reached Damauli on Saturday on foot. He told mediapersons that six other personnel have left for Kathmandu to contact the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which monitors the Maoists camps.

He also claimed 1,000 out of 2,800 PLA members in the cantonment had already left the camp and more are planning to do so.

Fearing action from the PLA officials and the party, Deepak sought security from journalists and rights activists.

Nearly 20,000 Maoists combatants have been living under the monitor of the UNMIN.

UNI XC SLD AS1520