Participants at an international seminar have expressed serious concern over human rights situation in Nepal and stressed the need to hold a meaningful dialogue between the seven-party alliance, the government and the Maoists.

Speaking at an international seminar held in Geneva on Wednesday, representatives of the Nepali society called on the international community to consider immediate measures if the democratic movement continues to face repression and violence, according to reports.

While some participants also suggested that the government be urged to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court at the earliest, others suggested that the situation in Nepal be put on the agenda of the UN Security Council.

The government, which was also invited by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, turned down the invitation. “This has been regretted by the Swiss government,” The Himalayan Times daily quoted Marcel von Arx, adviser at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as saying.

He also made it clear that the conclusion of the seminar was not the official Swiss position.

A majority of the participants insisted that a national dialogue should take into account the possibility of the restoration of the House of Representatives (HoR), formation of a constituent assembly as well as the conduct of national elections.

The seminar also emphasised that negotiations on the implementation of human rights commitments could bring the parties to conflict together. nepalnews.com pb Apr 20 06