GENEVA, Switzerland, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The top U.N. human rights official says it is "imperative" violence, which has claimed at least 23 lives, halt in Nepal's southeast.
"Our human rights officers who have been monitoring events in the Terai have observed violence by protestors, as well as incidents of excessive use of force by the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police," High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said Wednesday.
Last month she completed a five-day mission to the impoverished Himalayan nation where a landmark peace deal was signed in November seeking to ended a decade of civil war.
"During my recent visit to Nepal I was encouraged by progress that had been made in human rights since April 2006," she said at UNHCHR headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. "The current deterioration in the situation is deeply disturbing.
"It is imperative that all parties do all they can to stop the violence as well as to address the issue of discrimination and representation," she said.
Arbour called on the government to abide by its international human rights obligations and also on organizers of the demonstrations and their followers to employ only peaceful means of protest. She also urged all sides not to hinder the work of medical, human rights staff and others going about their essential business.
"Clear instructions should be given by police officials and by demonstration leaders that the work of human rights defenders and journalists are not to be impeded in any way," she said, adding, "Medical personnel must also be able to function without hindrance."
The High Commissioner called on "leaders and their cadres to allow free access and freedom of movement to all U.N. staff to enable them to carry out their work in all locations and under any circumstances."
