Peace activists and human rights organisations are pushing the Maoists and the government to give the current
ceasefire more permanence by signing an agreement to uphold human rights. The National Human Rights Commission is said to have already discussed a draft agreement with the Maoist leadership and has received a positive response. The government side is considering the agreement. But both the government and the Maoists have said they agree in principle to have a separate human rights agreement, since the issue is not adequately dealt with in the ceasefire guidelines. This week, the UN representative in Nepal, Henning Karcher, said such an agreement was necessary to lessen tensions during the ceasefire period.