It has been three months since the UN human rights monitoring mission arrived in the country and activists are running out of patience waiting for it to act at a time when they say abuses by both the state and Maoists are growing.

"The mission has a huge challenge but I think it's time for it to move a little faster," says Subodh Pyakhurel from the human rights group, Insec.

Other activists believe the mission shouldn't wait for its entire team to arrives to start field visits since the killings of civilians is reportedly growing.

"The monitors will never be stopped by the rebels or security personnel from travelling in any part of the country under any circumstances," explains Pyakhurel, adding this has become important since Nepali activists can no longer travel independently.

The mission argues it is already active although it intends to start its fieldwork extensively only from October, when it will also submit its first report to the UN General Assembly.

The human rights environment, especially abuses at the hands of the rebels, has deteriorated since February First. The bombing of the bus in Chitwan was the worst Maoist atrocity since the rebellion began in 1996.

bductions have also scaled up, to over 3,800 in the last six months of which 2,400 were students. Over 1,000 people have been killed since 1 February, three-fourths of them by the state. And most of those who died at the hands of the Maoists, about 114, were ordinary people, according to Insec.

An Amnesty International report issued on Wednesday said civilians are increasingly vulnerable at the hands of vigilante groups supported by the state. Amnesty surveyed six districts in the far west and western regions and found evidence of new vigilante groups.

Says activist Krishna Gautam: "We need stronger statements and immediate action by the mission."