Kathmandu, August 24
A former Maoist combatant who was heading to Thailand has been barred from leaving the country.
Lenin Bista, a former child soldier in the Maoist army, was heading to Thailand when immigration officials told him he cannot embark on his journey.
According to a Ministry of Home Affairs sources, the government barred him from going to Thailand as officials learnt that Bista was going to make a presentation on child soldiers at a programme. The source said that Bista was stopped because he was planning to show Nepal in bad light.
However Bista told Onlinkhabar that he was heading to Thailand to participate in a programme on youth in conflict and peace-building.
“I was told that there were orders from higher officials to not let me go.”
He was told that he had to seek permission from the government to take part in the event.
