Human rights activists have expressed concern over the prospects of termination of the peace process and have warned that Nepal will be gripped by anarchy if this happened.

Speaking at a programme in the capital on Tuesday, they urged the government to ratify the Rome Statute so that those who have committed war crimes and grave human rights violations could be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Human Rights activists Krishna Pahadi warned that the palace is trying to get the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) to work against the Maoists and disrupt the peace process.

“If the King continues to remain in power and the Constituent Assembly elections are called off, cases of impunity will swell and anarchy will prevail in the country,” Pahadi warned.

Emphasising the need to ratify the Rome Statute, human rights activist Pradip Pokharel said the ICC can try individual and institutional cases of gross human rights violations if the government fails to take any action in the country.

Amnesty International Nepal has welcomed the House of Representatives approval of a proposal for the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Once Nepal ratifies the statute, ICC can step in if the Nepali authorities are unwilling to investigate crimes of genocide or war crimes, said AI Nepal.