UN arms monitors and electoral advisors to be deployed

The United Nations (UN) will deploy 35 monitors of arms and armies in the Himalayan nation in 10 days’ time to support the process of managing former Maoist rebel soldiers and weapons, Ian Martin, personal representative to the UN Secretary-General in Nepal, said on Sunday.

The management of Maoist arms and armies was one of the most contentious agendas in the comprehensive peace agreement between the Maoist rebels and the interim government of seven national parties signed in November.

Following the agreement, both the rebels and government requested UN support in the peace process.

In response, the Security Council on 1 December gave immediate mandates to the UN to send a technical assessment mission (TAM) to Nepal – which arrived on 10 December - and then to deploy 35 monitors of arms and armies and 25 electoral advisors, UN officials said.

Martin said that the monitors are expected to commence work immediately upon their arrival. They will start by visiting the Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cantonment sites, Nepalese Army (NA) barracks and government installations. A UN expert is also to arrive on Monday to help in the process and methods of registration of weapons and personnel, he added.

The UN’s technical assessment mission has already completed its work and will submit its report to the UN headquarters. The report includes detailed proposals on levels of UN personnel, logistical support and resources required to support the monitoring of arms and armies, electoral assistance, human rights and other ceasefire agreements, Martin explained.

Ian Martin, personal representative to the UN Secretary-General in Nepal

“The next step is for the Secretary-General to consider this report and then present his own report to the Security Council proposing the new mission,” said Martin, who added that the council had already indicated that it was ready to consider the establishment of a political mission in Nepal.

Martin further explained that his office has also been assisting the country’s Election Commission (EC) through help of his advisors with the drafting of the necessary legal framework for the Constituent Assembly elections, as well as with preparation of a detailed logistics plan for the election.

Martin also explained that the 25 electoral advisors from the UN will also arrive in the Himalayan nation in the coming weeks to assist in the country’s Election Commission to prepare for the Constituent Assembly scheduled in June 2007. They will be deployed both at the national office of the EC in the capital and its regional offices outside Kathmandu, he added.

The Maoists launched their armed rebellion against the Nepalese state in 1996 with demands for a communist republic. Two rounds of ceasefire and peace talks in 2001 and 2003 ended in failures. But the third ceasefire in May concluded successfully following the end of direct rule by Nepalese monarch King Gyanendra after a mass uprising against him.

NN/JL/DS