More disappearances, deaths in S Asia

Amnesty International said Nepal and Bangladesh witnessed the sharpest increase in rights violations as a Maoist rebellion raged in the impoverished Himalayan kingdom and a specialized crime-fighting force in the eastern delta nation led to a surge in deaths of suspected criminals.

In Sri Lanka, Amnesty said a split in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebel group led to increased fighting for territory and several deaths that have imperiled a Norwegian-brokered three-year-old ceasefire with the government of the island nation.

As well, Amnesty noted the continued recruitment of child soldiers by the Tamil rebels and numerous reports of torture by Sri Lankan police.

The report said 416 people disappeared after being arrested by the Royal Nepalese Army and police forces in 2004.

Amnesty said the Maoist rebels also abducted and killed civilians at an increased pace in 2004 while thousands of people in the countryside have been rounded up for "political education" classes lasting from a few days to several weeks.

In India, the rights group said authorities have not successfully investigated more that 8,000 disappearances since a separatist conflict erupted in the the Indian-held portion of Kashmir in 1989.

However, the report said peace talks in 2004 between India and Pakistan over Kashmir have led to a series of confidence-building measures aimed at reducing violence.

In neighbouring Pakistan, Amnesty said the military-led government used emergency powers aimed at combating terrorism to arrest journalists and political protestors.

It also noted continued violence against women including a spate of "honour killings" approved by quasi-judicial tribal councils.