Nepal to Put Terrorists into Life Imprisonment

An anti-terrorism ordinance issued by the Nepali government will put anyone found involved in acts of terrorism or even helping or harboring terrorists into life imprisonment, according to a notice released by the government Wednesday.

"Whether a life or lives are lost or not due to the acts of terrorism, the people involved or those conspiring these acts should be imprisoned for life," the notice said, quoting the ordinance.

The anti-terrorism ordinance was issued following the government imposed the state of emergency Monday night in order to contain the escalating terrorist violence by the underground ultra-leftist guerrillas, the notice said.

As part of the sweeping power to authorities and security forces, police or authorities will be able to detain anyone they suspect of being involved in acts of terrorism for 90 days without charging them, it said.

Authorities will also be able to freeze a suspect's bank accounts and properties, suspend his passport and raid his house without a notice or court order, it added.

More than 300 people, including policemen, army soldiers, civilians and guerrillas, have been killed since Friday night when the guerrillas broke the four-month-long ceasefire with the government Friday night and launched well-coordinated massive attacks at police across the country.

The six-year-long guerrillas insurgency has claimed more than 2,000 lives since it began in the Himalayan kingdom in 1996.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2001)