Leader of the European Parliament Monitoring Mission, Neena Gill, speaking at a press conference at the end of the weeklong visit to Nepal in Kathmandu, Friday, July 21 06. nepalnews.com/rh
The European Parliament has called upon both the Nepal government and Maoist rebels to sign a ceasefire agreement to ensure permanent end to the decade-old conflict.
Addressing a press meet in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, on Friday at the end of six-day long visit to Kathmandu, leader of the European Parliament Monitoring Mission to Nepal, Neena Gill, said the issue of arms decommissioning and demobilisation of combatants, which was crucial for free and fair elections, was a priority.
“No political party can go to elections with a gun on his shoulder,” said Gill. She said the European Parliament fully supports the request made by all parties involved to the United Nations for assistance in monitoring arms management and human rights, reiterates its support for the UN Office of Human Rights in Nepal, and welcomes the arrival of a UN assessment team next week.
“The European Parliament hopes that elections to the constituent assembly will take place at an early stage and is willing to assist in election monitoring if asked to do so by the (Nepal) government,” said a statement issued on the occasion.
“The European Parliament takes good note of the willingness of the Maoists to return to the political mainstream and of their commitment through the 12-point agreement signed in Nov. 2005 with the Seven-Party Alliance to commit themselves to democratic values, multipartism, civil liberties, human rights and the rule of law,” said the statement adding, “The CPN (M) should now add action to its words and fully renounce violence, stop extortion o money and abductions, enrolment of child soldiers and start disarmament.”
The delegation urged the international community and particularly the European Union to financially assist Nepal in its development needs. The leader of the delegation expressed satisfaction with the current peace process while encouraging all sides to quickly implement their agreements and decisions on the ground for the benefit of the Nepali population, the statement said adding, “The European Parliament will monitor the situation very closely. In particular, it will organise regular hearings to see what progress is being made.”
The visiting Mission also expressed its concerns towards the fate of more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees who live in camps since 1991 and the problems faced by the Tibetan refugees. “Members called for immediate action, at both domestic and international levels on those issues and are prepared to take up the concerns of those people to the appropriate level,” the statement said.
During its visit (July 16-21), the Mission called on senior Nepali officials, members of reinstated House of Representatives, political leaders including Maoists, representatives of the refugee community, human rights groups, media, NGOs, diplomatic corps and UN agencies.