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Ian
Martin on UNMIN's steps for Peace
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Kathmandu
01 May 2007 (UNMIN)
Much
of what I would otherwise want to say today is said in the Report of Secretary-General
Ban Ki-Moon to the Security Council, and in my own article published last
week in the context of the anniversary of the Janaandolan.
UNMIN's
central purpose in Nepal is to contribute to the success of a Constituent
Assembly election which in turn will contribute to lasting peace. We would
have been delighted if it had proved possible to hold such an election
before this year's monsoon. In my opinion, postponement should not be viewed
as a disaster; but neither is it a guarantee of success at a later date.
I hope that a new date will soon be decided upon by the Interim Government,
in consultation with the Election Commission, and that the time available
will then be used to address the several critical issues that pose risks
to the peace process. A peace agenda and timetable, building on the Common
Minimum Programme agreed by the eight parties, and supported by civil society
and all democratic forces, will help to build and maintain confidence in
the peace process. Let me today highlight three of UNMIN's key concerns.
First,
the postponement of the Constituent Assembly election may prolong the period
during which Maoist army personnel remain in cantonment sites. This makes
it urgent to improve conditions which have repeatedly proved to be unsatisfactory
for current weather conditions, and certainly cannot withstand the fast-approaching
monsoon. I and my colleagues in UNMIN and the UN agencies have repeatedly
insisted upon this and offered our assistance, and we continue to do so.
Second, we have been ready for some weeks to begin the second stage of
registration and verification of personnel in the Maoist cantonment sites.
This is essential for two purposes: to identify minors who under the agreement
must be discharged, and to determine whether personnel were recruited after
25 May 2006, in breach of the ceasefire code of conduct. We have agreed
in principle on the form interviews will take. However, the Maoist leadership
has not agreed to the process commencing until other issues have been addressed:
in particular, the improvement of conditions in the cantonments, government
remuneration for those registered there, and the formation of the committee
envisaged by Article 146 of the Interim Constitution to take responsibility
for the future of the Maoist army. Nevertheless, the obligation on the
CPN(M) to allow verification to proceed is unconditional, and I have made
clear to the Maoist leadership that UNMIN cannot accept its linkage to
any pre-conditions.
Third,
I want to refer to UNMIN's mandate to assist in monitoring the ceasefire
arrangements, together with OHCHR-Nepal's continuing human rights monitoring.
The media regularly reports allegations and denials of breaches of agreements.
Such a situation cries out for monitoring which is independent of the political
actors themselves, and I repeat my hope that UNMIN's civil affairs officers
will soon be able to work with an independent national monitoring body,
as well as with the local peace committees to be established as part of
the Common Minimum Programme. Progress towards lasting peace and a successful
election requires the strengthening of public security. Building confidence
in the peace process at the local level through multi-party dialogue with
the support of civil society should provide a context in which the Nepal
police can enforce the law impartially and with full respect for human
rights. All parties must fulfill their commitment to respect the rights
of all citizens to participate in public life and political activity freely
and without fear.
I
leave today for New York today, where I will brief the Security Council
on the peace process in Nepal and on UNMIN's activities in support of the
process. It is three months since the establishment of UNMIN, and the Secretary-General's
first quarterly report will be before the Council. UNMIN personnel currently
stands at 311, or about a third of what will be our full staffing. It is
growing each week, and currently includes 111 arms monitors, from 26 countries.
Before I take your questions, I would like to emphasise the final words
of Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon in his report to the Security Council:
"The process is Nepali-owned. The parties have demonstrated that they are
capable of overcoming difficulties when they reach consensus agreements
and act with unity of purpose. Maintaining unity of purpose will be essential
in the months ahead as the country grapples with the immense challenges
of reshaping itself as a peaceful, democratic and inclusive state."
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Location:
Chitwan, Nepal
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Source:
UNMIN 2007, United Nations News Service
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