Code of conduct hailed; OHCHR to be asked to monitor truce

May 28, 2006
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Peoples from various walks of life have welcomed the 25-point code of conduct signed by the Maoists and the government and called for effective implementation of it.

Speaking at an interaction in the capital, Nepali Congress leader Narahari Acharya and CPN-UML leader Bam Dev Gautam urged both sides to immediately make public the list of topics along with a date for the next round of talks.

“Several issues have been addressed by the negotiations but the list of topics for negotiation should be made public so that each and every individual would be able to add to the ongoing peace process,” Acharya said.

Gautam said that both the government and the Maoists should address the problem of arms management, to go for early constituent assembly polls and establish a democratic republic.

The first round of government-Maoist talks on Friday finalized a 25-point code of conduct to be implemented during the ceasefire period.

“Our main concern should be the effective implementation of the Code of Conduct,” The Kathmandu Post daily quoted Prof Krishna Khanal as saying.

He added that the pact should be implemented with a sense of commitment and responsibility.

Similarly, the paper quoted human rights leader Krishna Pahadi as saying that the Code of Conduct is the first step towards peace and put emphasis on its sincere implementation by conflict parties.

President of Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC), Subodh Raj Pyakurel, said the code is a positive development because of its commitment to human rights and democratic norms. He also urged the government to ratify nine different international human rights instruments including the International Criminal Court (ICC) statute and accommodate these in the Code of Conduct, according to the paper.

Meanwhile, member of the government talks team and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Pradip Gyawali, said that the next round of the government-Maoist talks would see a request to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights-Nepal to monitor the ceasefire code of conduct reached between the two sides on Friday.

Addressing a programme in the capital on Saturday, he said the next round of talks would be held within three or four days.

The minister added that the government and the Maoists are also considering signing a Human Rights Accord.

Rights organizations have been asking the government and the Maoists to sign human rights accord for the protection of human rights during the ceasefire.