KATHMANDU: Tears filled the eyes of 78—year old Sher Bahadur Karki when his grandson was released from Nakkhu jail in the suburbs of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Karki, whose grandson was locked up 18 months ago, placed a garland of orange flowers around Nawaraj Dhakal’s neck and smeared red vermilion powder on his face to celebrate the release.
“Grandfather, I am free now,” Dhakal said as the pair hugged tightly.
Dhakal, 27, was one of 61 prisoners who walked free from Nakkhu jail after the government on Monday dropped charges against prisoners held under the royally imposed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Ordinance.
Dhakal was arrested by plainclothes security men in January 2005 for involvement with the Maoist rebels.
“I am very happy to see my grandson being released...he must have had a tough time inside the jail,” said the smiling Karki, who stood for nearly two hours in the scorching heat waiting to greet his grandson.
The atmosphere was festive as hundreds of family members and friends eagerly waited for the releases. The mood changed to jubilation as the activists were set free.
The jail premises echoed with shouts of “Long live Nepal government”, “Give amnesty to all prisoners” and “Make peace talks successful,” as Maoist prisoners shouted slogans, cheered and blew whistles and pumped their fists in the air in the communist salute.
“I am happy that our friends are being released but we still have a long way to go to solve the current problems,” said Dhakal, a rebel student leader.
The activists gathered at the open ground in the jail and clapped along with a revolutionary song.
Some 69 Maoists prisoners were freed from Nakkhu and another jail in Kathmandu on Tuesday. A total of 182 Maoist prisoners were released nationwide, said home ministry spokesman Baman Prasad Neupane said.
“The environment for peace looks promising and I hope that we don’t have to go to the jungles with guns again,” said Ganesh Regmi, who spent 15 months behind bars.
“The government has done a good job by releasing the Maoists. It is a good sign towards establishing long-lasting peace in the country,” said Bishnu Poudel, who had come to welcome his brother Himal Sharma, former general secretary of the Maoist student wing.
Since the rebels began their people’s war in 1996, at least 12,500 people have been killed.
The new government and the rebels have been observing a ceasefire for more than a month after King Gyanendra was forced to end 14 months of widely criticized direct rule in April. They plan to start peace talks soon.—AFP
