United Nations: In the wake of
anti-government protests announced by Maoists, the UN Human
Rights office has called on the Nepalese Government and
political parties to ensure that human rights of all people
are protected.
"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.
"Organizers of the protests should ensure that protesters
act peacefully and within the law," she added.
The Office calls on the Maoist leadership to ensure
respect for the rights of others during their protests, not
resort to any form of violence and maintain the highest regard
to the rule of law.
"Emergency services, humanitarian actors and human rights
monitors should be ensured free passage at all times," read a
statement.
The spokesperson of the Secretary-General, Michele Montas
told reporters here that the Office had "called on organizers
of the protest to ensure that protesters should act peacefully
and within the law."
The Human Rights office has also called on the government
to ensure that the security forces act with restraint and
respect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful
assembly in the nation-wide agitation.
The Maoists who are protesting against the new coalition
government have already blocked district administration
offices, and have announced plans to paralyse Kathmandu valley
and shut down the country's lone international airport here.
They have asserted that the peaceful protests do not
violates terms of the 2006 peace agreement.
Meanwhile, in his latest report on Nepal, UN
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep concern that
the Himalayan nation's peace process is not on track, and has
called on parties to resolve contentious issues without being
embroiled in petty politics.
"The stalemate among the political parties that has held
up progress in the peace process remains unresolved, although
renewed efforts are being made to break the deadlock and to
give a new impetus to some aspects of the peace process," Ban
said.
Nepal has endured political instability since it ended
nearly three centuries of monarchical rule- making it the
world's youngest republic. In the last few months, confusion
over the constitutionally mandated roles of the government and
the army has impeded the reconciliation process.
The key challenges remain drafting of a new constitution
and integration of the thousands of Maoist army personnel into
the army. The rehabilitation process has commenced.
"To date, there has been little by way of agreed
strategies for moving forward on these vital issues," Ban has
said.
Bureau Report