Kathmandu, Dec. 19 -- A temporary truce at the National Human Rights Commission has halted the resignation of commissioner Lily Thapa following an agreement to ensure she can carry out her duties without interference.

Thapa, the only woman member of the constitutional human rights watchdog, had sent an email to Commission chair Top Bahadur Magar two weeks ago, stating that she was resigning because she was not being allowed to work freely. She had accused Secretary Murari Kharel, the head of the commission's bureaucracy, of obstructing her initiatives.

"I have been assured of no obstruction in my initiatives in the future," said Thapa, hinting at the truce. Officials privy to the development say Magar had assured there would be no barri...