OHCHR receives assurance from Maoist leadership

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal Wednesday said it has received assurance from the CPN (Maoist) leadership that it has not instructed its cadres to abduct or kill those participating in the elections even as the party announced to disrupt the polls.

“The OHCHR has received an assurance from the leadership of the CPN (M) that the announcement of their action to disrupt the municipal elections "should by no means imply that our cadres have been instructed to abduct or kill those participating in the elections",” a statement issued by the OHCHR said.

OHCHR Nepal representative, Ian Martin, had written to the CPN (M) leadership saying that threats to the life or physical integrity of individuals taking no active part in hostilities, or the taking of hostages, would be a grave violation of the principles of international humanitarian law and of international human rights standards.

"The OHCHR will of course continue to give the highest priority to monitoring the respect for these principles by both the CPN (M) and state actors,” the statement quoted Martin as saying.

Issuing a joint press statement last week, Maoist chairman Prachanda and senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattrai announced to disrupt the municipal elections slated for February 8 next year, declaring various programs including a shut down strike. nepalnews.com mk Dec 29 05

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