Kathmandu, July 27:

Head of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), Ian Martin, today said that Nepal’s peace process which had started with a single focus of ending an armed conflict between Maoists and the state, has become more complex as a result of assertive campaigns by traditionally marginalised groups and asserted that they should be fairly represented in the process.

Martin who is also the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative said so while talking to journalists in the United Nations Headquarters after briefing the UN Security Council today.

“Parties in Nepal had agreed to hold elections for the Constituent Assembly, previously postponed, on November 22,” Ian Martin said.

He said that much of the necessary technical preparation was now under way, and that the necessary legislation had been passed by the interim legislature. He said, however, that considerable challenges remained, in particular the creation of a political and security climate conducive to holding the constituent assembly elections.

“In the Tarai region along the border with India, the campaign had been particularly disruptive, with continuing violence by some armed groups,” Martin said, adding that this week, however, dialogue was continuing to end the violence and that a successful conclusion was crucial to the ability of holding elections in that populous area.