Chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Ian Martin has said his mission is seeking authority for its involvement in security sector reform in Nepal if the mandate and the term of the UNMIN get extended.
Chief of United Nations
Mission in Nepal (UNMIN)...
Addressing a press conference in Kathmandu on Tuesday after returning from New York, Martin said Nepali civil society activists, academicians, experts, politicians, well wishers of Nepal and the investors of the UNMIN suggested for extension of UNMIN mandate.
The government has indicated to extend the term of the UNMIN, which expires this January, by another year. The government has not said anything regarding extension of mandate while the UN Security Council hoped such extension.
Martin said there are a number of areas where it has been suggested that more active UN support to the peace process would be of value, if desired by the government and the parties.
According to him, three areas where UNMIN can have active role are: support to the implementation of the peace process and agreements signed by the parties, which is a need that is being increasingly stressed by Nepali political leaders and civil society; assisting a discussion on the future of the country's security sector including a managed transition from the current temporary Maoist army cantonments and restriction to barracks of the Nepal Army to long-term solutions without which there is no exit strategy from UNMIN's arms monitoring and; greater advisory support to promoting public security – the greatest concern of so many Nepalis and a critical requirement for a credible Constituent Assembly election.
Martin said he was dismayed to an increased number of reports of unresolved abductions and killings, whether attributed to armed Madhesi groups, Maoist cadres, or local disputes.
"Nepal has lived for too long with violence and intimidation, and I appeal again at this season for a commitment to tolerance and non-violence, but also for an end to impunity. It is the responsibility of all to support efforts to bring murderers to justice, as the CPN(M) has committed to do in the tragic case of Birendra Sah, and as I have repeatedly said should be the case with the killers of Maoist cadres in the Terai," he said.
Stating that current crisis facing the peace process is not just the consequence of new demands regarding the issues of monarchy and the electoral system, but that it also stemmed from growing distrust amongst the parties to the peace agreement, with accusations in both directions that commitments had not been implemented, Martin expressed belief that the parties need to take stock of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and other agreements reached, and their implementation.
"This should include the implementation of commitments made to Janajati, Madhesi and other groups. I was encouraged to be told in my meeting with the Prime Minister just before leaving Kathmandu that he intended that there should indeed be a review of the implementation of agreements, and to find on my return a wide appreciation of this need," he said.
"The Constituent Assembly election is an integral element of the peace process: a credible election cannot take place unless the peace process is on a solid footing, and a credible election is critical to the success of the peace process," he said adding, "This requires not just the setting of a date, but agreement on a road-map which will ensure that there is not yet another failure to hold the election on whatever new date is agreed. Despite the best efforts of the Election Commission, with which UNMIN has worked closely, two dates set for the election have come and gone."
Martin further said, "It is now time for a frank analysis by Nepali politicians and civil society of why this has been the case, and what are the requirements for a successful electoral process to go forward."
Martin also denied allegations that the UNMIN was exceeding its mandate. "I want in particular to put on record that UNMIN has not met or sought to meet with the leadership of armed Madhesi groups. This misunderstanding appears to have arisen because there was one meeting in India between United Nations humanitarian officials and the leadership of one armed group. Their purpose was to try to ensure that emergency food relief and other assistance could be delivered in the wake of flooding in the Terai earlier this year without attacks by armed groups against humanitarian workers." nepalnews.com ia Nov 06 07
