UN envoy offers support to Nepal peace process
KATHMANDU - A top United Nations official met Nepals new Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Tuesday and offered to help the Himalayan kingdoms efforts to end a decade-old Maoist insurgency in which thousands have died. Tamrat Samuel, a special adviser to the UNs department for political affairs, met Koirala at his official residence in Kathmandu and conveyed Secretary General Kofi Annans message. They (the UN) want to help Nepal establish peace, Suresh Chalise, Koiralas spokesman told reporters after the meeting. They want to know what can the UN do in this process.
"He says he's from the U.N."
"Great. We're toast. Where's my kruggerrands?" | Samuels visit came days after Nepals new multi-party government matched a Maoist ceasefire and called the rebels for peace talks to which the guerrillas agreed. Nepals mainstream parties and the Maoist rebels, who entered into a deal in November to oust the king, are now preparing for elections to an assembly charged with writing a new constitution and deciding the monarchys future.
The Maoists have been fighting since 1996 to set up communist rule in Nepal, but now say they are willing to accept the make-up of the assembly and the decisions it takes.
Today. Tomorrow they take over. Day after that the other parties become enemies of the people. |
Posted by: Steve White 2006-05-10 |