Leaders of civil society and human rights activists have urged the government to formally seek United Nations (UN) facilitation for holding constituent assembly elections and for arms management to ensure a free and fair election of constituent assembly.
Speaking at a discussion program on organized to mark the 11th anniversary of the Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) prominent civil society leader Dr. Devendra Raj Panday said, “The government should formally request the UN for monitoring of the constituent assembly processes and arms management.”
Pandey further said it was easy to unite and fight against the King during the Jana Andolan (People’s movement), but the situation has changed now. “If we do not remain committed to peace, the elections will be held at gun point,” he added, emphasising on the need for UN mediation in the peace process, particularly, in the Maoists’ disarmament process.
Speaking at the same programme, Krishna Pahadi, founding chairman of HURPES, alleged that the palace is active in creating conflict between the SPA and the Maoists.
Pahadi, warned that the government will not receive any support from the human rights organisations if it fails to terminate the tenure of the ongoing office bearers of the National Human Rights Commission.
Both Panday and Pahadi, along with Rameshwor Nepal, director of Amnesty International Nepal Section, said that it was necessary to implement international criminal law. They said that the government should focus on making laws to end impunity forever.
Nepali Congress leader Baldev Majgainya said, “We should make sure that the Maoists do not go back to the jungle,” said, warning that the political parties will be blamed if the ongoing peace process failed.
Lawmaker of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Hom Nath Dahal said the country’s main challenge is to decide how to go for a constituent assembly. “We should not decide things in haste and repent in leisure,” he said.