A section of the civil society comprising rights activists, journalists and professionals has raised "grave concern" over the UCPN (Maoist) proposal released on 25 August 2011.

"We condemn the Maoist party's proposal to withdraw and cancel all court cases regarding crimes committed during the conflict, and to provide general amnesty to those who have been found guilty by the courts. This proposal of the Maoist party goes against all national responsibilities under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Interim Constitution and international humanitarian law," a statement signed by 13 members of the group said.

The group said the Maoist proposal would "in fact work to institutionalise impunity" and it would also make irrelevant the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms under the Interim Constitution, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Disappearances Commission.

"A party which seeks to lead the forthcoming government by taking the peace process and constitution-writing to their proper conclusion should have been focussed on bringing those guilty of grave abuse of human rights within the ambit of the law," the statement read, "Instead, abandoning all sense of accountability, the UCPN-Maoist seeks nothing less than the continuation of the state of impunity."

The statement was signed by Kapil Shrestha, Sushil Pyakurel, Baburam Giri, Govinda Sharma Bandi, Subodh Pyakurel, Hari Phuyal, Tikaram Bhattarai, Birendra Thapalia, Mandira Sharma, Dr. Kedar Narsingh KC, Charan Prasai, Amuda Shrestha and Kanak Mani Dixit. nepalnews.com