Nepal

Version en français

1. Presentation

UNMIN’s mandate ended on 15 January 2011, pursuant to resolution 1939 and at the joint request of the parties.

The UN will continue to monitor and report on the situation in Nepal and the Security Council remains seized.

Political background

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on 21 November 2006, by the Nepalese Government and the Communist Party put an end to the civil war that began in 1996 and left some 14,000 dead. The peace process was subsequently given a significant boost with the drafting of a provisional constitution and the April 2008 election of a Constituent Assembly that voted to abolish the Nepalese monarchy and proclaimed a republic. A president was elected in July 2008, and a coalition government headed by the Maoists, who had won the constituent elections, was formed in August 2008.

A new prime minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) was elected by the Nepalese National Assembly at the end of May 2009.Cooperation between all the signatories of the peace agreement, including the Maoists, who hold 40 percent of the seats in the National Assembly, remains essential to resolving problems during the peace process.

28 May 2010 was set as the deadline for the drafting of a new constitution by the Constituent Assembly. Since the discussions did not come to a successful conclusion by this date, the three main Nepalese parties signed an agreement to extend the term of the Constituent Assembly by one year. This agreement reaffirms the determination of the parties to bring the peace process to a successful conclusion and to draft a new constitution, without however addressing the contentious issues, including the question of how to deal with the former Maoist combatants.

Under pressure from the Maoist opposition party, the Prime Minister, Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, announced his resignation on 30 June 2010 in order to help achieve a consensus on the formation of a national unity government with a view towards breaking the political deadlock in which the country finds itself.

On 3 February 2011, Mr Jhalanath Khanal, chairman of the United Marxist-Leninist party (UML), was elected Prime Minister by the parliament of Nepal, after more than seven months of deadlock.

United Nations’ presence

After the parties requested UN assistance in implementing the peace agreement of 21 November 2006, the UN became strongly involved in the peace process.

Under resolution 1740 (2007), the Security Council established a political mission in Nepal, UNMIN, headed by a Representative of the Secretary-General. Its mandate was to:

— facilitate the monitoring of ceasefire arrangements

— provide technical assistance in the planning, preparation and conduct of the election of a Constituent Assembly

— monitor the management of arms and armed personnel of the two parties.

Maoists surrender their arms to the UNMIN controlled cantonment sites
4 April 2008 – Chulachuli, Nepal – UN Photo/Agnieszka Mikulska

While the mandate’s first two objectives were achieved, the third still poses problems. Two parallel armies continue to exist in Nepal: the Nepalese Army (95,000 men) and the People’s Liberation Army (19,000 men living in cantonments since 2006). The peace agreements provide for the at-least partial integration of Maoist soldiers in the national army or security forces. But the process is faltering over the deep divisions between the parties on this aspect, which is key to the peace process. This is why, despite the fact that the mission was intended to be a temporary solution, UNMIN’s mandate has been extended seven times, the latest renewing it until 15 January 2011 by resolution 1939 of 15 September 2010.

UNMIN’s mandate ended on 15 January 2011, pursuant to resolution 1939 and at the joint request of the parties.

The Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement on 14 January to mark the end of the mission:

“As the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) completes its preparations for its departure on 15 January 2011, the Security Council expresses its appreciation and thanks to the Secretary-General’s Representative, Karin Landgren and the UNMIN team for their efforts in assisting the people of Nepal as they work to complete the peace process.

“The Security Council reaffirms its support for the peace process and calls on the caretaker Government of Nepal and all political parties to redouble their efforts, to continue to work together in the spirit of consensus to fulfill the commitments that they made in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and other agreements, and to resolve expeditiously the outstanding issues of the peace process. The Security Council encourages Nepal to complete its new constitution within the foreseen time frame to help it build a better, more equitable and democratic future for its people.

“The Security Council welcomes the ongoing engagement of the Secretary- General and United Nations bodies as they continue to be supportive of the peace process and the people of Nepal.

“The Security Council will continue to be supportive of the peace process in Nepal.”

(February 2011)