Amid criticism by the rights groups regarding its neutrality, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday said it has submitted draft of the proposed ceasefire agreement and Human Rights Accord to the Nepal government and also sent a copy to the coordinator of the Maoist negotiation team, Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

Addressing a press meet at the NHRC on Wednesday, member of the Commission, Sudip Pathak, said the draft has been handed over to the coordinator of the government negotiation team, Home Minister Krishna Sitaula and a copy of the same has been sent to the Maoist leader, Mahara. “We hope to meet Mahara and members of the Maoist negotiation team in person pretty soon and explain them about our proposal,” he said.

Pathak, who heads a task force formed at the Commission to facilitate the peace process, said the ceasefire agreement drafted by the NHRC stresses on withdrawal of all forms of armed activities, purchase of new military equipment, halt military recruitment by both the government and Maoists and remove landmines laid down by both the sides within 60 days.

The NHRC has also urged the government to scrap the controversial anti-terrorism law, TADO, within 15 days. Similarly, the Commission has also urged both the government and the Maoists to make public whereabouts of people under their custody within 30 days (of signing of the agreement).

Similarly, the Human Rights Accord, prepared by the NHRC some two years ago, has urged both the parties to respect the right to life, dignity, liberty and security, liberty of movement, right to speech and peaceful assembly and right to work of individual citizen. The Commission has also urged both the parties to guarantee right to food, health, education and right of children and women during the period of ceasefire.

Pathak asked both the parties to remain committed for result-oriented talks and work towards permanent restoration of peace in the country.

However, the NHRC members refused to comment on the call by over 30 rights groups for their resignation. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the rights groups said they had had opposed the appointment process of the NHRC members last year as it was against the “Paris Principles” and alleged that the present NHRC leadership of working against the human rights movement and the people’s movement at the behest of the erstwhile autocratic regime.