KATHMANDU:  United Nations Resident Coordinator, Matthew Kahane, has criticized the State and the Maoists for the blatant disregard for human rights by both sides.

Speaking during a program, organized to mark the fourth anniversary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday, Kahane accused the Maoists and the army personnel of abduction and murder.

During the program, the chairman of the NHRC, Nayan Bahadur Khatri, asked the government to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to allow international monitoring of the human rights situation in the country.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba speaking on the program said that the government is committed to protect the rights of civilians. Deuba added that the government was committed to “punish the security personnel violating the human rights in the country.”