Email
Print
ShareKathmandu: As the Maoists threatened to launch their next phase of an agitation to dislodge the Nepal government, international envoys here were "increasingly concerned" with the slow progress in the country's peace process that ended the decade-long civil war in Nov 2006.
The Maoists, who waged a decade-long insurgency, joined mainstream politics after a November 2006 peace deal with the interim government led by GP Koirala.
The political parties are deadlocked over the Maoists' demand to rectify the decision of president Ram Baran Yadav, who reinstated General Rukmangad Katawal, the then Army Chief dismissed by Maoists prime minister Prachanda in May.
The standoff has put new stresses on Nepal's reconciliation efforts amid fears that the stalled peace process may be derailed if the Maoists agitation is not ended soon.
"We are increasingly concerned that progress on implementing the agreements has stalled," said a joint statement from the envoys from mainly Western nations, including the US and Japan, as well as the European Commission.
They asked the political parties to set aside their differences and work together "to agree on the creation of a more prosperous, equitable and democratic Nepal".
"On this anniversary, we urge Nepal's political parties to translate their public commitments into concrete actions to implement the peace agreements."
The envoys from 13 countries pointed out Nepal's parliamentarians are well behind schedule in framing the country's new constitution, which must be completed by May 28 when the interim charter expires. On the occasion of the third anniversary of the signing of the landmark CPA, the diplomats asked the political parties to abide by the agreement signed between the then seven-party alliance and then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on November 21, 2006.
"A failure to agree on a vision for the future and to draft the constitution on time will be a clear disregard of the expectations and aspirations of Nepal´s citizens and will set back the country´s economic and social development," said the statement.
It was signed by the envoys of Australia, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
They were concerned that the promised mechanism to provide justice to the victims of conflict -- by setting up of disappearance commission and truth and reconciliation commission -- were still not in place.
The statement came as a deadline set by the Maoists for the government to agree to their demands expired today, with no sign of a resolution. The former rebels have warned of fresh protests if the deadlock over their demands was not ended.
The Maoists, who have around 40% of the seats in parliament, argue that the president's move was unconstitutional and has compromised "civilian supremacy" over the military.
Prachanda had blamed Gen Katawal for trying to resist the integration of former rebels into the military as stipulated under the 2006 peace agreement.
