United Nations is ‘not sure’ about Nepal’s peace process to be completed within the proposed four months. After government and UCPN Maoist struck a 4- point agreement on Monday ending a month long tug-of-war over extension of tenure of United Mission in Nepal, the informed sources have dispatched this writer about UN’s view. ‘ It’s a good thing that both parties to peace process have agreed to send the letters akin to each other,’ the source said, ‘ But on ground of the past experiences, it couldn’t again be deemed that peace process completes within UNMIN’s proposed new tenure also.’
The expert sources in New York perceived the recent 4-point agreement as ‘still an unclear document’ on certain issues. They have also shown their skepticism over its implementation as they fear whether the parties are ostensibly taking this agreement as only the Agreement of Convenience. ‘Maoist combatants are said to be brought under the Special Committee but the procedure of bringing them hasn’t been clear’, the source said,’ The agreement even doesn’t speak about establishing a Secretariat under the Special Committee.’
Even though these suspicions are floated the sources informed that Security Council member countries are in mood to extend UNMIN’s mandate as requested by the Nepali political actors. It is said that, these member countries also want to see UNMIN’s mandate completing this time within the proposed extension of tenure. The sources informed that to create favorable conditions for UNMIN’s ‘fruitful presence’, Council member countries are attempting this time to give a ‘strong message’ to the Nepali side. ‘The major issues of the peace process have not been completed despite of repeated extension of UNMIN’s mandate, consequently questions are raised about UNMIN’s continued presence here,’ the source said,’ So, this time member countries are trying to give some kind of strong message.’ But the source didn’t disclose the what kind of message does it indicate to. As a part of the ‘strong message’, the sources informed that United Nations is planning to send a high level delegation to Nepal, most probably on October.
Before these recent developments, the Security Council members had different views on extension of UNMIN’s tenure. Some of the member countries favored the technical roll over of the mission while some were of the opinion to go ahead with consensual letter from Nepali side. Sources claimed some Security Council members still are of the opinion to give a technical roll over to UNMIN for a month and then hold discussions focused on the fruitful way to move the peace process forward in a right direction and eventually extend the mandate. They said that as the consensual letter comes from the Nepali side, now it is not necessary for the Security Council to seek the concerned country’s consent in the decision making of technical roll over. After learning that, officials from Nepal’s Permanent Representative office to United Nations are said to have put forth government’s expectation that UNMIN’s tenure be extended as requested.
While asked about the preparations going on regarding UNMIN, the officials of the mission of United Kingdom, the lead country concerning UNMIN in Security Council, didn’t give the comments. The Press Secretary of UK mission to UN, Harriet Cross just said that they have been busy with UNMIN related works.
The decision on UNMIN is scheduled to be taken on Wednesday. The last four month tenure of UNMIN expires on that day.