NEPALIS CLAMOUR FOR PEACE

UNIC Kathmandu
Press release 19 April, 2005


A general clamour for peace has been the overriding message Professor Walter Kälin has been hearing since he arrived in Nepal last Wednesday 13th of April. Professor Kälin is the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced People. He is currently travelling on mission to Nepal on the invitation of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.

In the course of the past week, the UN Secretary-General’s Representative has held talks in Kathmandu with, amongst others, all government ministries working on the IDP issue in a meeting organized by the National Planning Commission; the Chief of Army Staff of the Royal Nepali Army; the Chief of the Election Commission; the Peace Secretariat; and international aid agencies.

Professor Kälin has also travelled to Kapilvastu, Nepalgunj and to Dailekh districts. In all places where he travelled, he met with local Chief District Officers (CDOs), members of civil society and representatives of the Royal Nepal Army to gain a better understanding of the situation of internal displacement in the country and to assess the opportunities for enhancing the national and international protection of the human rights of the internally displaced.

He held direct meetings with internally displaced persons in order to hear from them their key concerns. Wherever he went, they overwhelmingly welcomed his presence and stated their deep desire for peace to return to their country so that they can return to their homes. Contrary to what has been published in a major newspaper today, the Representative of the Secretary-General has not had any meetings with representatives of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

The Representative of the Secretary-General is currently in Biratnagar and is scheduled to return tomorrow to Kathmandu to complete his mission.

On Friday 22 April, he will hold a press conference to brief the press on his impression and recommendations for Nepal on the protection of the human rights of internally displaced persons.

Press note:

The press conference will take place at 2:30 p.m. at Hotel Yak and Yeti on Darbar Margh.

For further information, please contact Mr. Christian Clark in the office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kathmandu: 554 8553 or Ram Babu Shah, UNIC Kathmandu, 552 3200 Ex:1600.