Kathmandu, April 3:

The Chief of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ian Martin, today called on the government to allow peaceful assemblies by the political parties and to refrain from arbitrary arrests during the coming general strike of the parties.

He urged warring factions to end hostilities and announce a ceasefire, against the backdrop of escalating human rights violations.

The government should respect the right to peaceful assembly and refrain from making arbitrary arrests during the general strike, said Martin, pointing out that the OHCHR would monitor the activities of all sides during the strike. On the government’s recent comments about labelling the political parties as terrorists, he said, “I am not hearing the kind of message I want to hear.”

He expressed concern over “renewed conflict” following the termination of the Maoists’ unilateral ceasefire, which, in turn has heightened rights violations by both the government and the rebels. “The United Nations and the international community would like to see the cessation of hostilities and also a declaration of ceasefire even if it’s unilateral (by the Maoists),” he said at a press meet organised by the Reporters’ Club here. Martin also voiced worry over the increasing attacks in densely-populated urban areas following the Maoists’ withdrawal of their unilateral ceasefire.

Condemning the security forces’ shootings and aerial attacks that have also claimed civilians’ lives, Martin said, “What I want to hear from the government is that they would use minimum force. The government should make clear the requirements that the forces must follow regarding human rights and international humanitarian laws.”

The OHCHR is probing the aerial attack in Sindhupalchowk. Martin hailed the Royal Nepalese Army’s decision to take action against rights violators in Kanchanpur. He also lauded the Maoists’ decision to investigate a bombing in a school in Dailekh. “However, we are yet to see full accountability of rights violations or receive details about the court martial proceedings and punishment of RNA human rights violators,” he said.

The OHCHR has only received the “summary” of a handful of cases, not details, he said. He added that the OHCHR’s report on Nepal presented by High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour to the UN Human Rights Commission, would be taken up by the new Human Rights Council after its formation. The Council will not consider Nepal’s report before June 19.