Kathmandu, May 1:

US country reports on terrorism which was posted to the US State Department’s official website today stated that despite the ceasefire, Maoists continued abductions, extortion and violence.

“In the Kathmandu Valley, Maoists took advantage of their dramatically increased presence and the government’s reluctance to upset the peace process to expand their use of extortion and efforts to undermine trade unions and student groups affiliated with the political parties,” stated the report.

Reviewing the Maoist-called transportation strikes on September 20 and December 19 last year, the report claimed that the Maoists continued “forced recruitment of schoolchildren, with thousands targeted after the signing of the initial November 8 peace accord.”

The US report concluded this year also saw the beginning of a disturbing new trend with the activation of the separatist Maoist-splinter terrorist group called the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), which aimed to bring about the secession of the southern Tarai plains from the rest of Nepal.

“Imperialist” United States and “expansionist” India were the targets of considerable Maoist venom, especially in the period leading up to the April uprising, the report said.