Kathmandu, September 15:

Criticising US ambassador James F Moriarty for “interfering in Nepal’s internal affairs”, members of the civil society today urged the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and Nepali diplomats based in countries like the US and the UK to lobby for the peace process. If the US wants to distance itself from Nepal, let it do so for a while, said a human rights activist, Sundar Mani Dixit. “Our diplomats in countries such as the UK and the US should lobby to make the ongoing peace process a success,” he said.

Certain sections of the society, including businessmen, have been portraying a negative image of the country to the visiting international delegates by talking against the Maoists, he said. “The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister should also lobby for the peace process,” he said at a programme on ‘The Role of Civil Society and Private Sector in Peace Building’, organised by the Citizens’ Peace Commission (CPC) here today.

Pointing at Moriarty’s recent remarks against the Maoists and his visits to army barracks, Padam Lal Bishwakarma, a member of the CPC, said, “Should we keep quiet when diplomats interfere?” Himalaya Shumsher Rana, another CPC member, called for an end to frequent bandhs and chaos. He urged the civil society to ensure that the parties-Maoist agreements are implemented.