Even as security personnel and Maoist rebels exchanged fire on Saturday in the mid-western town of Nepalgunj killing at least one security personnel, over 200 civil society activists, politicians and rights activists called for immediate cessation of hostilities in the country.

Organised by the West Nepal Citizens’ Movement for Peace, the two-day conference concluded in Nepalgunj today by adopting the ‘Nepalgunj Declaration for Peace.’ The declaration has called upon the government and the Maoists to immediately cease hostilities and resume negotiations.

“All should accept the identity of others,” said the Declaration. It also called upon the civil society to come forward to actively lobby for peace.

Four working papers were presented in the conference on which delegates deliberated on at length.

Representatives of the UN agencies, NGOs, women and dalit community also took part in the conference which took place at the Bheri Technical School.

Mid-western region is the most highly affected region from the decade-old armed conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives and resulted into displacement of tens of thousands of others.