Kathmandu, May 31:

The three-member government talks team, headed by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, today sought suggestions from human rights defenders and legal and constitutional experts on peace talks with the Maoists and the process of election to a constituent assembly.

Human rights defenders are believed to have suggested that the team hold talks with the Maoists with the CA polls as its ultimate goal. They are also learnt to have called on the government to start second round of talks without further ado. A rights activist who took part in the meet held at the office of Peace Secretariat told this daily that the rights defenders suggested that the government seek resignations of the head of the National Human Rights Commission, among other members, amend the commission-related laws and

mobilise both national and international teams to monitor the Ceasefire Code of Conduct.

The participants are said to have emphasised the need of the Maoists’ presence in the NHRC.

Rights defender Padma Ratna Tuladhar, another participant of the meet, suggested both the government and the Maoists to appoint talks facilitators as per their understanding.

They also urged the parliament to sign the Rome Statute that will allow the government to pursue action against the perpetrators of crimes against humanity. They suggested the government take action against the security officials who used excessive force during the peaceful demonstrations and constitute a Truth Commission to investigate the excesses of the royal regime.

Another participant in the meet is learnt to have advised the government to exercise “extra precaution” to avoid any untoward incident during the capital-centred rally of the Maoists on Friday. Yet another human rights defender, Krishna Pahadi, said the rights activists urged the government talks team to “make the talks a success by quickly deciding to go for the CA polls.”

Besides Tuladhar and Pahadi, Devendra Raj Pandey, Laxman Aryal, Shambhu Thapa, Shyam Shrestha, Malla K Sundar, Sindhunath Pyakurel, Purushottam Dahal, Stella Tamang, Shova Gautam, Mandira Sharma, Kiran Shrestha and Rameshwor Upadhyay also attended the meeting.

Earlier, the government talks team had briefed the participants about the Ceasefire Code of Conduct and other preparations for the second round of talks. The ministers are also learnt to have told them that the Maoists had taken the talks seriously and were acting as per the 12-point pact.