UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a political mission to monitor the recent peace agreement in Nepal between the government and Maoist rebels.
The mission, which is supported by both parties, will be comprised of unarmed military inspectors, electoral experts, and police and civil administration teams to monitor the aftermath of a conflict that claimed over 13,000 lives and displaced tens of thousands more.
"While Nepal has made remarkable progress towards peace, the magnitude of the tasks ahead and the potential threats to the peace process must not be underestimated," Ban said Wednesday in a report to the Security Council on the proposed U.N. Mission in Nepal.
The secretary-general recommended the mission last 12 months and deploy up to 186 unarmed active and former military personnel to monitor Maoist cantonments and Army barracks, required by the November cease-fire. The proposed mission's duration purposefully extends beyond Nepal's constituent assembly elections.
A team of monitors would be sent to review the technical aspects of the electoral process. In addition, a U.N. police advisory team would be formed to ensure security during voter registration, the report said.
The proposal also calls for a civil affairs team to monitor the management of arms, armies and human rights compliance and an outreach unit.
Nepal's political future could be compromised if the country fails to include traditionally marginalized groups, including women, said Ban.
"The significant political process that Nepal has set in motion represents a crucial opportunity for the country to reshape its structures and institutions to reflect the capacities and meet the aspirations of all its peoples," he said. "The greatest challenge in the months ahead may be to ensure that Nepal's remarkable diversity becomes an abiding strength rather than a source of division."
