Maoist rebels in Nepal leave U.N. camp seeking jobs

KATHMANDU, Feb. 22 Kyodo

Some 550 former Maoist rebels has left a cantonment they were assigned to under a peace deal, reportedly to seek jobs complaining of a lack of financial support.

The U.N. Mission in Nepal immediately slammed Wednesday's walkout as a ''breach'' of the arms agreement reached between the government, the Maoists and the United Nations last year.

A Maoist commander announced late Tuesday that his troops would leave the Shaktikhor cantonment in Chitwan, southern Nepal, and threatened that their colleagues in other cantonments around the country would follow suit to earn a living.

Several newspapers on Thursday printed photos of Maoists in combat fatigues working at a brick kiln in Chitwan.

Maoist leader and spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Wednesday dismissed concerns over the move, saying the members would return after basic facilities are provided to them.

However, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said Wednesday that the government had provided adequate funds to the Maoists for their upkeep.

The Maoists have been criticized for not disclosing their spending of funds provided by the government. Local news media have reported that part of the funds meant for supporting the camps may have gone to buying fresh arms.

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