The United Nations has expresses concern over the tardy peace process of Nepal and urged the major political parties to arrive at a consensus without making any delay.
As Nepal’s peace process failed to yield any results following the withdrawal of the UN’s political mission in January UN Secretary General, Ban ki- Moon sent a special envoy, Samuel Tamrat, Director of the Asia Pacific of Political Affairs Department of the UN, to Nepal to assess the latest political situation.
Mr Tamrat argues for national consensus on the issues of peace, the constitution and power-sharing during his meeting with UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday 22nd August 2011.
Mr Tamrat arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday 20th August 2011 on a five-day visit to take stock of progress made in the peace process after the three-month extension of the Constituent Assembly term on 28th May 2011. He called on senior politicians to discuss the formation of a new government, the integration of Maoist combatants and statute-drafting.
This is Mr Tamrat’s second trip to Kathmandu since the UN’s political mission, UNMIN, wrapped up its Nepali mission in mid-January.
During the meeting with the PM, Tamrat conveyed the message of UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, in which he said he was worried about the future of Nepal’s ongoing peace process.
“He [Tamrat] mentioned that there is a general observation as outsider that the issue of power-sharing has been given too much importance and he hoped that all concerned parties are giving due attention to the main task of peace and constitution process,” a statement released by the Nepal’s PM office said.
Tamrat expressed his and the UN’s willingness to help in the peace process as required by the concerned parties in Nepal. In response, former PM, Jhala Nath Khanal, reiterated his firm commitment to the formation of a national consensus government for which he had stepped down, the statement further read.
Talking to reporters after an hour long discussion with Maoist Chiarman Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Mr Tamrat said it was the right opportunity for party leaders to learn from the past three-year’s experience and revive the consensual system that was in place ahead of the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections in 2008.
During talks with Dahal, Mr Tamrat also conveyed the UN’s willingness to support the integration and rehabilitation process of People’s Liberation Army combatants, as desired by Nepali political actors.
He also separately met Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, Finance Minister Upendra Yadav, Defence Minister Bishnu Poudel and Peace and Reconstruction Minister Pampha Bhusal on Monday.
During the meetings, the leaders told the UN official that chances of forming a national unity government were thinning out and maintained that the parties will continue efforts for national consensus even if a majority government would be elected in future.
Mr Tamrat is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and hold discussions with leaders of the Samyukata Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and diplomats based in Kathmandu.
