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'Lesbian' soldiers sacked
07/08/2007 11:11 - (SA)
Kathmandu - The Nepalese army has sacked two female soldiers for indulging in "lesbian activities", local media reports said on Tuesday.
The Kathmandu Post identified the two soldiers as Rohini and Shama and said they were detained for more than a month before being discharged from the service.
Rohini, a physical instructor, and Shama, a second-lieutenant trainee at the Nepali Army's Training Centre in the Kathmandu Valley, have both denied the charges.
"They accused us of maintaining a sexual relationship," the newspaper quoted Rohini as saying. "They just read out the termination letter in front of me which accused me of an immoral act."
General court martial
However, the military has rejected claims that the two were discharged on sexual grounds.
Army spokesperson Brigadier General Ramindra Chettri said the two were fired through a general court martial for a serious offence in terms of discipline. He did not elaborate.
This is the first time that the Nepalese army has taken action against its women soldiers for harbouring different sexual orientation since it began recruiting them as combat troops in April 2004.
Earlier this year the Maoist youth wing Young Communist League and the Maoist fighters targeted Nepal's small but vocal gay community.
New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented at least two cases of detention by the Maoists of people who they say were lesbians.
The HRW also said Maoist cadres targeted suspected homosexuals as part of the Maoists' campaign against so-called "social pollutants" and urged homeowners in the capital Kathmandu not to rent rooms to gays or lesbians. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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