Brits Kidnapped By Maoist Rebels

[dArKeR]

Maoist rebels in Nepal have kidnapped two British army officials and three Nepalese from a remote mountainous village where they were camped for the night, an official said Monday.

The British officials were trekking in the area, recruiting young Nepalese men to work as Gurkha soldiers in the British army, said Prem Narayan Sharma, chief of Baglung district.

They had camped at Lekhali village, about 190 miles northwest of the capital, Katmandu, when they were kidnapped Sunday night by a group of armed rebels who surrounded their camp, he said. Three Nepalese helpers were also kidnapped, Sharma said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/20/world/main578982.shtml

Who decided to give these guys the label 'Rebels' when everyone else get the tag 'terrorists'?

[FlemingsGhost]

1. Mao is so 60s. "Bin Laden Muslims" is in fashion these days.

Be afraid. The government says so....

[Stupdworld]

2. moist rebels? huh?

thought it said moist. :P

[Zero Gravitas]

9. same here

LOL :)

[Aidoneus]

3. what are British soldiers doing in Nepal?

oh right, hiring mercenaries.. such a shame to have that disrupted.

[MetaTrope]

4. Or are they looking for...things?

The Nazis were all over Tibet searching for Aryan religious artifacts and Blavatsky's "Secret Masters"...maybe the New Reich of Bush & Blair has moved the quest on to Nepal.

[w4rma]

5. Maoists still exist?

:wow: I guess once some crazy leader-worshiping ideology starts up it never really goes away even after the leader is long gone.

[tlcandie]

6. It just evolves ..

example: conservatives, compassionate conservatives, etc.

[HERVEPA]

7. Yes Maoists still exist

Corrupt monarchy, corrupt government, hugh disparities in income.
Fighting and raids invlolving Maoist and government have claimed at least 5000-10000 lives over the last seven years or so.

Maoists are often supported by people in the mountain villages (most Nepali's).

While there in 2000, I trekked through a village temporarily under Maoist control (now that whole area pretty much is under their control).

Pretty bizarre. Maoists with rifles, camouflage uniforms, and a couple with Dallas Cowboy caps (the latter is enough to make me hate them). My guide transformed me from American to Canadian for their benefit.

Tourists (trekkers) have not been harmed by the Maoists, but they do extort money from them sometimes. However, they do give out receipts so the Maoists up the trail will know you have paid and they will not bother you.

As I said, bizarre, but a wonderful place to visit, with very warm and friendly people.

[goforit]

8. The Brits been caught stirring up trouble?......

Well....what can you say.

If some stranger walked in your home unnoticed you would go
to self defense too.

[Briar]

10. Whoa - propaganda alert

The Nepalese government is describing this as kidnapping, and I am not surprised to find the US news media trotting out that line in support. But BBC radio report that there probably was no kidnapping, and the people involved are now making their way back to safety.

Here's the story on the BBC website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3209924.stm

"UK officer 'safe' in Nepal

A British army officer and a team of Nepalese nationals that went missing after encountering Maoist rebels are safe and well, UK officials say...

[Briar]

11. Oops

that was CBS, not CNN. I was reading too fast. Apologies.