Serving On Mission
Nepal
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Capital: Kathmandu
Population: 29,519,114 (July 2008 est.)
In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, gained traction and threatened to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for “incompetence” after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government.
Citing dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, imprisoned party leaders, and assumed power. The king’s government subsequently released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency in May 2005, but the monarch retained absolute power until April 2006. After nearly three weeks of mass protests organized by the seven-party opposition and the Maoists, the king allowed parliament to reconvene in April 2006. Following a November 2006 peace accord between the government and the Maoists, an interim constitution was promulgated and the Maoists were allowed to enter parliament in January 2007. The interim parliament elections, twice delayed, were held in April 2008, the king vacated the throne in June and Parliament elected the country’s first president on 21 July.
What is UNMIN?
The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) is a special political mission established by the United Nations Security Council, Resolution 1740, to support the peace process in Nepal: in particular, to assist in the conduct of the Constituent Assembly election in a free and fair atmosphere.
UNMIN was established in response to requests by the Seven-Party Alliance Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), in their letters to the Secretary-General of 9 August 2006 in which they asked the UN to assist in creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of the Constituent Assembly and the entire peace process. The parties went on to sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 21 November 2006, and UNMIN officially began its work on 23 January 2007 with the adoption of Resolution 1740.
Before UNMIN was established, from August 2006, the United Nations assisted the parties to the peace process through the Office of the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General. For a number of years the Secretary-General of the United Nations had been closely engaged, through the UN’s Department of Political Affairs, in efforts to encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nepal.
Mr Ian Martin is the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, and is the head of UNMIN.
What is UNMIN doing in Nepal?
To achieve its objective, and based on the requests of the parties to the CPA, UNMIN’s mandate includes the following tasks:
1. Monitor the management of arms and armed personnel of the Nepal Army and the Maoist army
2. Assist the parties through a Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing the agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel of both the Nepal Army and the Maoist army
3. Provide technical assistance to the Election Commission in the planning, preparation and conduct of the election of a Constituent Assembly in a free and fair atmosphere
4. Assist in the monitoring of ceasefire arrangements.
In addition, an independent team of election monitors appointed by the Secretary-General and reporting to him will review all technical aspects of the electoral process and the conduct of the election.
What is UNMIN’s role in the regions and districts?
Arms monitors maintain a 24-hour presence at each of the seven main cantonment sites of the Maoist army in Ilam, Sindhuli, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rolpa, Surkhet and Kailali, and at the Nepal Army’s barracks in Chhauni. They monitor weapons stored at these sites in accordance with the Agreement on Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies. Arms monitors conduct regular visits to the 21 satellite cantonment sites of the Maoist army and to Nepal Army barracks. In addition, ten Joint Monitoring Teams, each comprising one UN arms monitor, one member of the Nepal Army and one member of the Maoist army, conduct regular liaison, monitoring and investigation work in the districts. During 2007, arms monitors completed the registration and verification of Maoist army personnel.
Mine action experts advise the Maoist army on the safe storage and destruction of improvised explosive devices, and provide advice and training to the Nepal Army in the clearance of anti-personnel minefields to International Mine Action standards.
Electoral advisers support the Election Commission at the regional and district level. Prior to the Constituent Assembly election small teams in all the districts will assist in the final preparations and conduct of the election. Police advisory teams will provide the Nepal Police with advice on the planning and execution of election security.
Civil affairs officers monitor and report on the re-establishment of local governance and public security, as part of monitoring the ceasefire arrangments. They also encourage local dialogue to promote peace-building at the district level.
Can the UN enforce its recommendations based on the findings of its monitoring?
Monitoring work means that the UN examines the conduct of parties and organisations to determine whether they are fulfilling their commitments according to the standards set by their agreements, the law and sometimes international norms. However, the UN does not have the power to enforce compliance. It can highlight the actions required to make sure that commitments are fulfilled, but then it is up to the Government and the parties involved to take the necessary action to ensure compliance with commitments.
How does UNMIN relate to other UN agencies?
Most UN agencies present in Nepal have been established for a long time, in order to support and implement a wide range of development programmes and assist in response to emerging humanitarian needs. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was established in May 2005, with the aim of protecting human rights in the context of the armed conflict and threats to democratic rights. The parties to the CPA expressly requested OHCHR to take responsibility for monitoring the human rights situation during the peace process, and UNMIN works closely with OHCHR in this regard.
The SRSG is the overall coordinator of the UN system’s support to the peace process. UNMIN works with the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to ensure that all UN agencies coordinate their efforts and maximize the UN support to Nepal’s peace process.
How long will UNMIN stay in Nepal?
The Security Council established UNMIN with a 12-month mandate, which expired in January 2008. In December 2007, after the second postponement of the Constituent Assembly election, the Government of Nepal wrote to the Security Council requesting a 6-month extension of UNMIN’s mandate. The Security Council agreed to this request, and on 23 January 2008 unanimously adopted Resolution 1796, extending UNMIN’s mandate to 22 July 2008.
Longer term UN assistance to Nepal will continue to be delivered by UN agencies
Contacting UNMIN
UNMIN Headquarters
Birendra International Convention Center (BICC) Complex,
New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
Nepal
Email: info@unmin.org.np
Official Mission Website: http://www.unmin.org.np
Landline: +977 1 501 0036, +977 1 501 0037, +977 1 501 0038
Fax: +977 1 501 0040
UNMIN Pubcic Information Office
Spokesperson (English, Spanish, French):
Macarena Aguilar
Email: aguilarm@un.org;
Phone: +977 98511 02556
Acting Spokesperson :
Joya Rajadhyaksha,
Email: rajadhyakshaj@un.org;
Phone: +977 98511 04718
(23 July – 11 August, 2008)
Media Officer (Nepali Media):
Kosmos Biswokarma,
Email: biswokarma@un.org;
Phone: +977 98511 01959
Contact Email addresses:
1. For general queries and information: info@unmin.org.np
2. For comments on Radio Programme: boli@unmin.org.np
