Nepalese anti-govt guerrillas put on US Terrorist Exclusion List

The United States has included the anti-government guerrillas in Nepal on its Terrorist Exclusion List in a bid to restrict their entry and movement in the US soil, according to a press release issued Saturday by the American Center here.

The guerrillas were added to the list along with nine other organizations around the world that the United States had labeled as terrorists as a part of the ongoing fight against terrorism, the press statement said.

US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell made these designations, which came into effect on April 29.

"As a result of these designations, the US government excludes members and those providing material support to such entities from the United States. These designations will also facilitate US fulfillment of its United Nations obligation under UN Security Council Resolution 1373 to prevent the movement of terrorists or groups by effective border controls," the press release said.

Earlier, the US government had already enlisted the Nepalese anti-government guerrillas in the watch list, the second tier, of terrorist organizations and imposed asset freeze on the guerrillas' property in the United States.

Nearly 10,000 Nepalese people have lost their lives since the anti-government insurgency broke out in the Himalayan kingdom in early 1996.

Source: Xinhua