Dozens of civil society activists from Asia and the Pacific have called upon the Nepali government to remove all restrictions on civil liberties, reinstate human rights and initiate democratic and constitutional processes to handover executive power to people’s representatives without further delay.

The two-day second Regional Assembly of the Jubilee South –Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (JS APMDD), that concluded in Bangkok on Sunday—expressed its concerns over recent political changes in Nepal and called upon the Nepal government to withdraw immediately what it call all the ‘unconstitutional amendments’ including amendments through ordinance in the Social Welfare Act, Civil Service Act, and others.

“We condemn the recent amendment in the Social Welfare Act by the government through an ordinance that aims effectively curb the independence and neutrality of thousands of civil society organizations including NGOs in the country,” a special resolution adopted by the Assembly said. Over eighty delegates from 16 countries in the region also called upon all the parties in the Nepal conflict not to target, extort, harass, abduct or physically attack civilians including development workers in the country, and respect and abide by international humanitarian laws and human rights principles.

The Assembly also urged the international community and their respective governments in the region to completely halt all forms of military assistance to the present government and extend their support and solidarity to the on-going peaceful democratic movements in the country.

Set up five years ago, Jubilee South is an international network of civil society groups campaigning for unconditional cancellation of debt of developing countries around the world. nepalnews.com by Aug 23 05