Mission Nepal

Indian diplomacy can take some credit for stepping up international pressure on Nepals Maoists to implement their commitments to the peace process especially on giving up the instruments of violence that they have held on to. Hiding behind the misguided empathies of international freelancers operating under the ambit of the United Nations Mission in Nepal,the Maoists have sought to coerce the rest of the political parties into altering the terms of the peace accord negotiated after the ouster of the monarchy in 2006. The agreements between the political parties and the Maoists in 2006 aimed at formalising the transition to a democratic republic and bringing the Maoists into the mainstream as a civilian political party. UNMIN,however,became a drag on this process by siding with the Maoists. In refusing to see the changed realities in Nepal and continuing to treat the insurgent armies of the Maoists and the national army of Nepal as equals,it removed all incentives for the Maoists to disarm.

Indian efforts in Kathmandu and in New York in the last few weeks ensured that the UN Security Council extended the mandate of UNMIN only for four more months after it expired last week. It has been plain for a while that the time had come to either redefine the mandate of UNMIN or wind it up. Much of the missions original mandate when it was established in 2006 had been accomplished. It was to assist in the elections of the Constituent Assembly,verify the number of insurgents and monitor the arms and armies of the Maoists and the government. The decision to keep the national army under surveillance was to prevent the Constituent Assembly elections in 2008 being sabotaged by the royalists with their traditional links to the army. UNMIN,however,has consistently sought to carve out a larger role for itself at the expense of Nepals civilian leaders. The royalists have long ceased to be a threat,which now comes mainly from the Maoists who want it both ways of gaining power without civilianising themselves.

In setting January 15,2011 as the final deadline for UNMIN,the international community has pressed and got fresh assurances from the Maoists to give up their instruments of coercion. The Maoist commitments remain vague and their record of keeping promises is not too good. Nevertheless,the altered context in Nepal provides an important opening for India. Delhi must now devote significant and sustained diplomatic energies to bring Nepals peace process to a successful closure.