Government, rebels send letter to UN

After long period of uncertainty, the government and the Maoists finally sent a joint letter the United Nations (UN) asking the global body to assist Nepal peace process.

Coordinator of the government and Maoists talks teams Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Krishna Bahadur Mahara handed over the joint letter to the Acting Chief of the UN system in Kathmandu Abraham Abraham from their side at the peace secretariat on Wednesday afternoon.

The government and Maoists today sent a joint letter to the UN inviting the world body to monitor and manage the arms and the armies of the Maoists and the Nepal Army, monitor the ceasefire code of conduct, monitor the human rights situation and observe and monitor the constituent assembly elections.

The letter undersigned by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda was handed over to Abraham Abraham, the chief of the UNHCR in Nepal, at a press conference at the Peace Secretariat at Singhdurbar.

The letter reads - " Further to the Eight-Point Understanding between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) of June 16, 2006 and the commitment expressed by the Government of Nepal (GON) to the Agreement, the GON and the CPN-M hereby request the United Nations to provide its assistance as follows with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of a Constituent Assembly and the entire peace process: continue its human rights monitoring through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR, Nepal) Assist the monitoring of the Code of Conduct during the Ceasefire.

On the basics of the agreement to seek UN assistance in the " the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides", deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of CPN-M combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for all arrangements, including of arms and munitions, will be worked out among the parties and the UN.

Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any side. The modalities will be worked out among the parties and the UN.

Provide election observation for the election of the Constituent Assembly in consultation with the parties.


Content of the joint letter sent to the UN

Further to the Eight-Point Understanding between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) of June 16, 2006 and the commitment expressed by the Government of Nepal (GON) to the Agreement, the GON and the CPN-M heberby request the United Nations to provide its assistance as follows with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of a Constituent Assembly and the entire peace process:

1. Continue its human rights monitoring through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR, Nepal)

2. Assist the monitoring of the Code of Conduct during the ceasefire.

3. On the basis of the agreement to seek UN assistance in the “management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides”, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of CPN-M combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for all agreements, including of arms and munitions, will be worked out among the parties and the UN.

4. Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any side. The modalities will be worked out among the parties and the UN.

5. Provide election observation for the election of the Constituent Assembly in consultation with the parties.