The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious worry over the Maoist announcement to call off their four-month long unilateral ceasefire.

Issuing a press statement on Tuesday, the NHRC said, “The commission expresses deep worry over the expression that the unilateral ceasefire declared by the CPN (Maoist) from September 3, 2005 till January 2, 2006 has been called off.”

“The commission urges the CPN (Maoist) to keep the ordinary people away from fear, uncertainty and violence that could be triggered in the new situation and appeals for respect to human rights and international humanitarian laws,” the statement said.

The rights watchdog also expressed alarm over further complication of the crisis particularly in the context that peace process could not start despite its repeated calls to the government to present itself positively on the issue of ceasefire.

Saying that its human rights monitoring in 35 districts around the country during the ceasefire showed that people felt relative peace and relief, the NHRC also called on the concerned sides to declare ceasefire and start the peace process.

It also urged the parties to the conflict to observe restraint and keep educational institutions and the children from the impact of violence and allow the commission and rights activists an unhindered access in conflict-affected areas.

Saying that the government continued its actions against Maoists even during the ceasefire period, Maoist supremo Prachanda on Monday announced to call off the unilateral ceasefire.