Kathmandu, December 2:

Sharing their experience during the construction of a 40-kilometre road “at the heartland” of the Maoists, members of the International Road Building Brigade (IRBB) today lashed out at the international press “for distorting facts about Nepal”.

“We found the situation of Maoists heartland exactly opposite of what we have heard from the international press,” Peter Grant, one of the participants at the brigade, said at a press conference organised by the IRBB.

Over 11 foreigners from some 10 countries, locals and the Maoists’ People’s Liberation Army had joined hands to construct the road. IRBB members said locals were very much excited and used to reach to the constriction site even by walking for three to four days. They also refuted the forced use of people for the construction.

“We are here to support the Nepali people, who are in course of re-building Nepal with their bare hands,” Grant, who is from the USA, said.

The IRBB team comprised individuals from 10 countries, namely the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Chile, Iran, Italy, India and Sri Lanka.

Grant also said the people of Rukum and Rolpa had been neglected by the government for the last 240 years. He also appealed to the people of the world to help the Nepali people rebuild Nepal.

Grant, who is also the convener of the World Peoples’ Resistant Movement, Europe, said the international media are portraying Maoists as a small group of terrorists “giving false impression to the people of the world”. “We want to appeal to the people all over the world to come here and study about the truth,” he said.

“The main intention of the US is to come here and get hold of Nepal for bigger business like how it did in Mexico,” he said. Roshan Sharma of Mauritius said he was excited to know about the end of caste-based discrimination, superstitions and empowerment among women members of the society and within the People’s Liberation Army.