Kathmandu, September 8:

Leaders of political parties have urged the government to declare a ceasefire at the earliest, take the Maoists along in the peace process, and use good offices of the United Nations to resolve the decade-long conflict. They were speaking at an interaction organised here today by the Human Rights Organisation of Nepal (HURON). “The declaration of ceasefire by the state will give a positive impetus to the democratic movement,” said a Nepali Congress leader, Krishna Sitaula, adding: “It is the responsibility of the parties to take the Maoists along in the movement launched by seven political parties.” “Lack of communication between the parties and the Maoists led to death of their cadres.”

Emphasising the importance of UN mediation and ceasefire, Subash Nemwang, a leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), said: “The civil society and organisations at the grass-roots level should take initiatives to make sure that the ceasefire holds.” Stating that parties are not in a position to hold talks with an ‘unconstitutional’ government, Ghanashyam Sharma Poudel, a leader of the Janamorcha Nepal, said: “The civil society should put pressure on the government to declare a ceasefire at the earliest.” Stating that “United Nations mediation in the peace process will be crucial in coming days,” Poudel said: “We cannot move ahead without taking the Maoists along.”