KATHMANDU, March 22 (Reuters)
Nepal's fledgling peace process could be derailed if the government failed to protect human rights and punish abusers, the UN's rights panel chief said on Sunday.
The Himalayan nation ended a decade-long civil war nearly three years ago - a conflict during which both army and Maoist rebels were blamed for abuses such as arbitrary arrests, torture, disappearances and killings.
The rebels signed a peace deal in 2006 and won a surprise election victory last year. Their leader Prachanda is now heading a coalition government, the first after Nepal abolished the 239-year-old monarchy and became a republic.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, met the families of alleged victims of human rights violations and heard their stories.
"The families...want the truth so they can have a sense of closure; they need reparations so they can start rebuilding their lives; and, most of all, they want justice," Pillay said in a statement.
"And until these demands for justice are fulfilled and accountability for past, and in particular ongoing, violations is ensured...the peace process could be jeopardised."
More than 13,000 people were killed and tens of thousands injured and displaced during the rebellion.Pillay met Prachanda, who promised to end impunity and discrimination, and ensure respect for human rights.
"I told him that the Human Rights Council in Geneva is also following closely the progress his government is making to fulfil that commitment," Pillay told reporters before leaving for a visit to India.
"Nepal has the real possibility to grasp the historic opportunity to prove itself as a leader in implementing its human rights commitments," she said
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