International Community : Vital Role In Peace Process
Yuba Nath Lamsal
RECENTLY, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has described Nepal's ongoing peace and democratic process as the remarkable progress. However, the chief of the world body does not appear fully satisfied with the pace with which Nepal is moving ahead for establishing sustainable peace and democratic transformation. The key questions, according to him, like monitoring the management of arms and armies and other complex issues remain to be resolved with more caution and wisdom.ConcernThe concern shown by the UN Secretary General is natural and genuine as the United Nations has been actively involved in Nepal's peace process. The United Nations Mission in Nepal has taken up the responsibility of monitoring the management of arms and armies of the People's Liberation Army and the peace process under a tripartite agreement among the Government of Nepal, CPN-Maoist and the UN.As pointed out by the UN chief, the complex issues, which include the completion of the management of arms and armies and holding the election to a constituent assembly that would write a new constitution charting out a new course of Nepal's political and democratic future, are yet to be addressed. The speed has been slow but steady. The seven party alliance and the CPN-Maoist, right after the 12 point agreements signed prior to launching the Jana Andolan II, have agreed on some common agenda and set a timetable for accomplishing the job. The comprehensive peace agreement and other accords just reinforced these commitments. Specific time table was fixed for specific works like initiating the arms management process, promulgating the interim constitution, formation of interim parliament, formation of the Maoist included interim government and finally holding the constituent assembly election. None of the works was accomplished in time. Thus, it had a chain effect and the entire peace and political process got delayed.Although the UN has been playing an active and positive role in facilitating and helping Nepal's peace and democratic process, its bureaucratic procedure is responsible for the delay in the peace and political process. It had been agreed between the seven-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist that the promulgation of the interim constitution and formation of the interim parliament would be done only after the United Nations initiated the process of registration of arms and armies of the Maoist People's Liberation Army. Due to the bureaucratic procedures of the United Nations, the registration of arms and armies did not start immediately after the tripartite agreement. The process began couple of months after the tripartite agreement on arms management was signed. This ultimately caused delay in the constituent assembly election. Had the United Nations begun its work immediately, all other processes would have been done in accordance with the plan and constituent assembly election would have been held in June this year as it had been agreed among the major political actors of the country. The peace and political process is would be complete and the mandate of the Jana Andolan II fulfilled only after the constituent assembly election. Now the election cannot be held in June as the Election Commission has demanded at least 110 days for making proper preparation for the polls. Moreover, all the issues concerning the elections must be decided in due consultation with the Election Commission, which is the sole agency to conduct the polls. Elections cannot be held in a short period. Thus, sufficient time is needed to hold the constituent assembly election in a peaceful manner which can fully reflect the genuine will of the people. International community is, thus, watching the developments in Nepal very closely and with keen interest. The international community has always want Nepal to be a genuine democratic, peaceful and prosperous nation. There has been active and meaningful support from our foreign friends in the struggle of Nepalese people for democracy, human rights and peace, for which people of Nepal and political parties are grateful to the international community. Even after the success of the April Uprising, which is popularly known as Jana Andolan II, the international community has pledged meaningful support and cooperation for the institutionalization of the achievements of the popular movement, establishment of durable and sustainable peace and reconstruction and rehabilitation. The United Nations is the forefront. The main task of United Nations at present is the arms management. The first phase?registration of the arms and fighters of People's Liberation Army?has been complete. Under the first phase of the arms management, Maoist weapons have been kept in UN supervised containers and Maoist fighters in seven different cantonments. The second phase, which includes verification of the registered arms, would soon begin. Although there had been delay in the beginning of the process, now the process has been moving smoothly. Now the priority should be given for holding the constituent assembly election as early as possible. Since all political parties are committed to hold the constituent assembly election, they should not deviate from their earlier promises. Constituent Assembly election is the common national agenda at present. Political parties must stop blame game against one another and arrive at a common ground to complete the political process and accomplish the mandate of the Jana Andolan II. The first priority is to act in accordance with the promises they made and agreement reached earlier. The international community, which has been supportive to Nepal's peace and democratic process, must also cooperate in holding the constituent assembly election in time. The foreign friends should by no means try to obstruct the ongoing political process in Nepal. The CPN-Maoist has joined the peaceful political process ending ten years of armed insurgency. It is a historic achievement for Nepal's democratic development, stability and peace. The efforts to block the ongoing peace process would only provoke the former insurgents and push them back to jungle, which would not be at the interest of the nation and the people of Nepal. Crucial JunctureNepal at present is in crucial juncture of its history. It is slowly reviving back to normalcy. Even a slight mistake on the part of the political parties would again put the peace and democratic process in jeopardy as some regressive elements that were defeated by the April Uprising are trying to sabotage the political and democratic process. This situation demands greater unity of the democratic forces in Nepal. The role of the international community in Nepal's peace and democratic process has been crucial and stronger and more meaningful international support is needed to expedite this process so that Nepal would march ahead on the path of sustainable peace, democracy and prosperity.
RECENTLY, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has described Nepal's ongoing peace and democratic process as the remarkable progress. However, the chief of the world body does not appear fully satisfied with the pace with which Nepal is moving ahead for establishing sustainable peace and democratic transformation. The key questions, according to him, like monitoring the management of arms and armies and other complex issues remain to be resolved with more caution and wisdom.ConcernThe concern shown by the UN Secretary General is natural and genuine as the United Nations has been actively involved in Nepal's peace process. The United Nations Mission in Nepal has taken up the responsibility of monitoring the management of arms and armies of the People's Liberation Army and the peace process under a tripartite agreement among the Government of Nepal, CPN-Maoist and the UN.As pointed out by the UN chief, the complex issues, which include the completion of the management of arms and armies and holding the election to a constituent assembly that would write a new constitution charting out a new course of Nepal's political and democratic future, are yet to be addressed. The speed has been slow but steady. The seven party alliance and the CPN-Maoist, right after the 12 point agreements signed prior to launching the Jana Andolan II, have agreed on some common agenda and set a timetable for accomplishing the job. The comprehensive peace agreement and other accords just reinforced these commitments. Specific time table was fixed for specific works like initiating the arms management process, promulgating the interim constitution, formation of interim parliament, formation of the Maoist included interim government and finally holding the constituent assembly election. None of the works was accomplished in time. Thus, it had a chain effect and the entire peace and political process got delayed.Although the UN has been playing an active and positive role in facilitating and helping Nepal's peace and democratic process, its bureaucratic procedure is responsible for the delay in the peace and political process. It had been agreed between the seven-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist that the promulgation of the interim constitution and formation of the interim parliament would be done only after the United Nations initiated the process of registration of arms and armies of the Maoist People's Liberation Army. Due to the bureaucratic procedures of the United Nations, the registration of arms and armies did not start immediately after the tripartite agreement. The process began couple of months after the tripartite agreement on arms management was signed. This ultimately caused delay in the constituent assembly election. Had the United Nations begun its work immediately, all other processes would have been done in accordance with the plan and constituent assembly election would have been held in June this year as it had been agreed among the major political actors of the country. The peace and political process is would be complete and the mandate of the Jana Andolan II fulfilled only after the constituent assembly election. Now the election cannot be held in June as the Election Commission has demanded at least 110 days for making proper preparation for the polls. Moreover, all the issues concerning the elections must be decided in due consultation with the Election Commission, which is the sole agency to conduct the polls. Elections cannot be held in a short period. Thus, sufficient time is needed to hold the constituent assembly election in a peaceful manner which can fully reflect the genuine will of the people. International community is, thus, watching the developments in Nepal very closely and with keen interest. The international community has always want Nepal to be a genuine democratic, peaceful and prosperous nation. There has been active and meaningful support from our foreign friends in the struggle of Nepalese people for democracy, human rights and peace, for which people of Nepal and political parties are grateful to the international community. Even after the success of the April Uprising, which is popularly known as Jana Andolan II, the international community has pledged meaningful support and cooperation for the institutionalization of the achievements of the popular movement, establishment of durable and sustainable peace and reconstruction and rehabilitation. The United Nations is the forefront. The main task of United Nations at present is the arms management. The first phase?registration of the arms and fighters of People's Liberation Army?has been complete. Under the first phase of the arms management, Maoist weapons have been kept in UN supervised containers and Maoist fighters in seven different cantonments. The second phase, which includes verification of the registered arms, would soon begin. Although there had been delay in the beginning of the process, now the process has been moving smoothly. Now the priority should be given for holding the constituent assembly election as early as possible. Since all political parties are committed to hold the constituent assembly election, they should not deviate from their earlier promises. Constituent Assembly election is the common national agenda at present. Political parties must stop blame game against one another and arrive at a common ground to complete the political process and accomplish the mandate of the Jana Andolan II. The first priority is to act in accordance with the promises they made and agreement reached earlier. The international community, which has been supportive to Nepal's peace and democratic process, must also cooperate in holding the constituent assembly election in time. The foreign friends should by no means try to obstruct the ongoing political process in Nepal. The CPN-Maoist has joined the peaceful political process ending ten years of armed insurgency. It is a historic achievement for Nepal's democratic development, stability and peace. The efforts to block the ongoing peace process would only provoke the former insurgents and push them back to jungle, which would not be at the interest of the nation and the people of Nepal. Crucial JunctureNepal at present is in crucial juncture of its history. It is slowly reviving back to normalcy. Even a slight mistake on the part of the political parties would again put the peace and democratic process in jeopardy as some regressive elements that were defeated by the April Uprising are trying to sabotage the political and democratic process. This situation demands greater unity of the democratic forces in Nepal. The role of the international community in Nepal's peace and democratic process has been crucial and stronger and more meaningful international support is needed to expedite this process so that Nepal would march ahead on the path of sustainable peace, democracy and prosperity.
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