KATHMANDU: The United Nations has expressed grave concern at disappearances in Nepal, saying the number "continues to climb to shocking heights."

On the International Day of the Disappeared observed on Monday, the UN issued a statement in Kathmandu saying the kingdom had the highest number of disappearances reported in 2003.

"The number of reported cases of persons who disappear in Nepal in circumstances connected to the (Maoist) conflict continues to climb to shocking heights," the statement said, citing the report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, a panel established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1980.

"Since 2003 the situation has become even more grave," the UN statement added. Terming disappearances among the "cruelest of crimes" that have a "devastating impact" on the victims as well as families, friends and colleagues, the working group has urged the Nepalese government to "undertake all necessary actions to prevent further disappearances or clarify outstanding cases and to bring the perpetrators to justice."

While the UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance underlines that enforced disappearance shall not be practised, permitted or tolerated, the Rome Statute of 1998 lists enforced disappearances as a "crime against humanity" punishable by the International Criminal Court.

"Victims of disappearances may be subject to torture and extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Regrettably, we believe that these grave offences are happening in Nepal on both sides of the conflict," the statement said.

On the International Day of the Disappeared, the UN has urged both the government and the Maoists to respect international laws and stop all acts of disappearance, bring the guilty to book and compensate the victims as well as their families.

It has also asked the government to allow the National Human Rights Commission access to all places of detention. Over 10,000 people have been killed and thousands have been displaced or have disappeared since the Maoists started their "People's War" in 1996 to establish a Communist republic. Both the security forces and the rebels are held responsible for the killings and disappearances. -By arrangement with Asian Age/New Delhi