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Statement
by Andrew MacGregor, Regional Head,
Eastern
region, United Nations Mission in Nepal |
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Andrew
MacGregor on activities of UNMIN in the districts of the Eastern region |
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Biratnagar
7 February 2008 (UNMIN)
I
am very pleased to brief you today on the activities of UNMIN in the districts
of the Eastern region. Let me introduce to you Kieran Dwyer, the Spokesperson
of UNMIN, who will also be available to answer your questions.
As
you know, the United Nations Security Council responded positively to the
request of the Government of Nepal on 23 January, and extended UNMIN's
mandate by six months. Member States were once again unanimous in their
support of Nepal's peace process. Both the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
and Member States emphasized the importance to Nepal's peace process of
a credible CA election, conducted in a free and fair atmosphere. The Secretary-General
has repeatedly stressed the need to address the legitimate demands and
grievances of traditionally marginalized groups in order to have an inclusive
CA election and advance Nepal's democratic culture and institutions to
a higher plane.
Here
in the Eastern region, UNMIN teams are implementing the three core areas
of our mandate: first, the continuing monitoring of the arms and armed
personnel of the Maoist army and the Nepal Army; second, our civil affairs
teams travel to the districts to assist in monitoring the ceasefire code
of conduct, which is essential for creating a positive atmosphere for the
election ; and third, our electoral advisers are intensifying their assistance
to Nepal's Election Commission in election preparations.
I
would like to highlight for you some of the recent activities of UNMIN
teams in our region.
UNMIN
electoral advisers are working every day with the Election Commission Regional
Resource Centre and the District Electoral Officers of the eastern region
to assist in CA electoral preparations. We are preparing to redeploy district
electoral advisers to all districts. The first group of advisers will arrive
in districts in the Eastern region next week, with advisers to be based
in Saptari and Sirhaha districts. All advisers will be in place by early
March. As well as with technical assistance to the Election Commission,
the UNMIN electoral presence aims to help build confidence in the establishment
of a free and fair atmosphere for the election.
In
the past two weeks, UNMIN teams have visited ten of the 16 districts in
the Eastern region, including all the Terai districts: Sunsari, Siraha,
Saptari, Morang, Jhapa, Ilam, Dhankuta, Therathum, Udayapur and Panchthar.
More visits are planned. UNMIN teams, in close collaboration with OHCHR-Nepal,
monitored political rallies in Biratnagar, Lahan and Birtamode, as part
of our work to promote peaceful political activity and protect human rights.
As part of this work UNMIN and OHCHR teams hold discussions with rally
organisers, political parties and groups as well as local authorities and
police to help create an environment conducive to peaceful assembly and
freedom of expression.
UNMIN
civil affairs team recently spent time in Madar and Karjana VDCs of Siraha
District, as well as Piple and Sabla VDCs of Therathum district, talking
to villagers about security, the provision of government services and confiscation
of land. The teams also met with the Chief District Officer, police and
other relevant local authorities, so that UNMIN obtains a balanced and
informed picture of conditions in VDCs.
UNMIN
arms monitors hold regular meetings with senior Nepal Army officers at
their barracks and with senior Maoist army cadres in the cantonment site
in Ilam. These close contacts build trust and confidence and allow UNMIN
to be aware of planned activities, needs and complaints so that UNMIN,
acting within its mandate, can help resolve disputes and identify solutions
at a local level. In addition, arms monitors travel regularly to districts
on patrols, including in Joint Monitoring Teams made up of one UNMIN arms
monitor, one Nepal Army and one Maoist army member, in order to liaise
with local authorities and monitor and support the ceasefire.
Earlier
this week, I travelled to Rajbiraj and, today, we have just returned from
Birtamod in Jhapa District. The purpose of these visits was to inform civil
society, political parties and local authorities about UNMIN's mandate
and activities, and to listen to any concerns they have about the electoral
and peace process, particularly in the run-up to the elections scheduled
for 10 April.
In
his recent address to the Security Council, Ian Martin, Special Representative
of the Secretary- General in Nepal, said that public security, especially
in the eastern and central Terai, remains one of the greatest challenges
to holding a credible CA election. The United Nations, UNMIN and OHCHR,
continue to press for effective law and order as an essential part of creating
a free and fair atmosphere for the CA election. Law and order depends not
only on policing, but also on political dialogue with all democratic forces
so that all parties cooperate together in creating an atmosphere conducive
for the CA election.
You
will have seen Ian Martin's statement condemning violence and threats in
relation to political rallies after the bomb attacks in Birgunj on 30 January.
I would like to end this statement by reiterating this position. It is
essential that the people of the Eastern region, as well as in all parts
of Nepal, are able to prepare for the CA election in conditions of security,
law and order and with the enjoyment of their human rights. The United
Nations will do all it can to contribute to creating these conditions.
| Source:
UNMIN , February 2008 |
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