Maoists Stage Protest in Nepal
New York, Nov 3 2009 11:10AM
The United Nations today called on Nepal's Government and other parties in the Asian country to ensure that the human rights of all people are protected and respected as protests organized by the former Maoist rebels are held throughout the State.
"I urge
the Government of Nepal, the Maoist leadership and all other
political actors to exercise restraint in response to
nationwide agitation," said Jyoti Sanghera, Deputy
Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights in Nepal (http://nepal.ohchr.org/en/index.html).
"Organizers
of the protests should ensure that protesters act peacefully
and within the law," Ms. Sanghera said, referring to
demonstrations that began yesterday.
The Office called
on the leadership of the United Communist Party of
Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) to make certain that their cadres
refrain from violence and maintain the rule of law
, underscoring that emergency services, humanitarian agencies and human rights monitors must be given free passage at all times.
In a press release, the Office also called on
the Government to uphold its international obligations and
ensure that security forces act with restraint and respect
the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful
assembly.
In a new (http://www.unmin.org.np/downloads/keydocs/SG%20Report%20Oct%2009.pdf)
report, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that the lack of
implementation of key commitments in Nepal's peace process
is cause for serious concern, with persistent mistrust among
the parties undercutting their capacities for flexible
negotiation.
The parties' "absorption in day-to-day
politics and internal party issues" are also impeding talks,
but recently the three major parties have created an
informal task force and started discussing contentious
issues pertaining to the peace process and constitution, Mr.
Ban said.
A decade-long civil war, claiming
some 13,000 lives, ended in 2006 with the signing of a peace accord between the Government and Maoists. After conducting Constituent Assembly elections in May 2008, the nation abolished its 240-year-old monarchy and declared itself a republic.
"While consultations at all levels continue
in an ad hoc manner, it remains my view that a more formal
mechanism in support of such interactions among senior
leaders would benefit the peace process," the
Secretary-General
noted.
ENDS