A U.N. official Saturday called for a peaceful solution to the issues that sparked unrest in the Terai in southern Nepal in recent weeks.

Lena Sundh, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, made the remarks Saturday morning while addressing a meeting of representatives of civil society in Birgunj of Parsa district, some 95 kilometers south of Kathmandu

"I note that those who have been protesting have succeeded in gaining the attention of the Government of Nepal and I would insist that only peaceful means should be used to advance their concerns," Lena Sundh said.

She said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) advocates for an end to discrimination and for appropriate representation for all excluded groups in the peace and electoral processes in Nepal.

She also acknowledged that the Nepali government and political parties had opened the way to change, even though changing "such deep seated discrimination" cannot be completed overnight.

"This commitment must be followed up with practical measures during the ongoing transition process to ensure that those peoples who have been traditionally left out of the political process are able to participate equally in shaping the new Nepal." She said.

The violent demonstrations, mainly launched by Madhesi activists on Jan. 19 and suspended since Feb. 8, claimed more than 20 people's lives. Many southern Nepal's Terai plains towns, including Birgunj witnessed curfews, strikes and widespread vandalism of public and private property in the unrest.

Major Madhesi protest organizers have agreed to talk with the Nepali government to seek solution to Terai issues.

Madhesi people are always referred to people mainly living in southern Nepal's Terai plains with Indian origin.

Source: Xinhua