The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal has written to the Maoists on Monday expressing major concerns regarding human rights abuses by party cadres since the declaration of ceasefire on April 26.

The concerns include issues relating to the rights to life (killings and deaths of persons abducted), to liberty and security (abductions), and to physical integrity (ill-treatment and torture), as well as the rights of the child and of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

OHCHR said it held discussion on these issues with the Maoist leaders on September 5. In that meeting, “OHCHR-Nepal welcomed aspects of the directives recently issued by CPN-Maoist to its cadres to halt beatings, abductions and killings, as well as forced donations,” a statement by the human rights body reads.

OHCHR stressed that the Maoist leaders must monitor and ensure that their cadres respect the right of all IDPs to safe, dignified and unconditional return.

“It is essential that the CPN-Maoist leadership ensures strict compliance by its cadres to its commitments throughout the districts. Ordinary Nepali people living in the cities and in the countryside have the right to be free of the threat of intimidation, extortion or physical violence in any form,” the statement quoted David Johnson, Officer-in-Charge of OHCHR as saying.

He further said, “Children must not be recruited into or involved in armed groups of any kind, including militias, and they must not be intimidated into joining political activities. The rights of people who have been displaced to return to their homes and land without hindrance must be respected.”

The UN rights body noted that after it raised concern over a series of killings in the central part of the country in June, the pattern of killings in that region ceased. However, despite this, and the general commitments expressed by the Maoist leadership in the past, serious abuses have continued, and the question of accountability has yet to be addressed in most cases, it said. The OHCHR added that it is currently investigating five killings attributed to Maoist cadres in other regions, including that of Santa Bahadur BK of Ishaneshwori in Lamjung, who died on September 7 reportedly following his abduction.

OHCHR has also welcomed the Maoist directive which states that action will be taken against those found guilty of beatings, abductions and killings, providing such action is in accordance with international standards and urged the rebels to set up an internal mechanism at the national level to oversee internal investigations into alleged abuses by its cadres to ensure that investigations are impartial and complete and that they do not result in further violations.

“While these would be positive steps towards accountability, such internal investigations cannot substitute for independent investigations and prosecutions in a civilian state court,” the agency said.

“By fulfilling the commitments of its leadership to respect human rights, cadres of the CPN-Maoist can both make an immediate improvement to the human rights situation in Nepal and make an important contribution to building the climate of trust required to go ahead with the peace process,” Johnson said.