Head of the UN OHCHR in Nepal Ian Martin (File Photo)

Head of the UN OHCHR in Nepal Ian Martin (File Photo)
Personal representative of the UN secretary general in Nepal Ian Martin has said the will of the people should be the basis of the authority of the Nepal government.

Addressing the inaugural session of the national conference on ‘Peace, Reconstruction and Development’ in the capital on Tuesday, Martin said qualitative and comprehensive preparation for the constituent assembly (CA) is more important than holding it.

He further said Nepali people should be given the right to determine the kind of political system they wanted to see in new Nepal.

Martin stressed for free and fair environment for CA polls and expressed his hope that people will vote for permanent peace and stability in Nepal.

Coming from violence, conflict and intimidation to peace, progress and stability is challenging and a difficult task, but determination for it will bring results, he added.

He quoted the Maoist leaders as saying during his meeting with them that they were ready for cantonment of their armed forces once agreement on political issues are reached.

Martin also informed that he has been constantly holding discussions with UN officials in New York to proactively act upon the request from the government after the summit talks scheduled for Thursday.

Nepali Congress leader Bhim Bahadur Tamang stressed for the end of armed politics and urged the political parties to remain determined for transitional adjustment and to get the country out of this difficult situation.

Citing the example of armed revolution by Nepal Congress during the Rana regime, Tamang said though arms become necessary sometimes to defeat despotic rulers, Nepal was no more in need of such armed opposition forces.

Chairman of the Social Science Baha Dr Rajendra Pradhan said the conference would help to build a vision for newer Nepal with economic, social, political and cultural transformation and ending the conflict in Buddha’s land.

The conference brings together nearly 200 participants from academic, politics, civil society and the development sphere.

“The two-day meet will study the various aspects of peace building including the dialogue between the government of Nepal and the Maoists, the management of arms and the restructuring of state through the constituent assembly process,” senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit told Nepalnews, who is also the convener of the conference.

The conference is being jointly organized by the Social Science Baha and Actionaid Nepal.