The United Nations in Nepal has welcomed the statement issued earlier on Thursday by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) recognising th Basic Operating Guidelines (BOG) of the United Nations and bilateral donors operating in Nepal.

Madhav Kumar Nepal

Matthew Kahane at the press meet. nepalnews.com/rh
Addressing a press meet at the UN premises at Pulchowk this evening, resident and humanitarian coordinator of the United Nations in Nepal, Matthew Kahane, said the statement by Maoist chairman Prachanda, that he had instructed his cadres to adhere to the BOG was a welcome development.

“The Basic Operating Guidelines are based on international law and established humanitarian principles. They protect the interest of conflcit-affected populations and the safety and security of staff working for the UN, donor agencies and non-government organisations,” said Kahane.

The BOG – drafted some two years ago– were recognised by the Nepal government early this year.

“Adhering to the Basic Operating Guidelines by both the government and CPN (Maoist) will enable the international community to more effectively implement development and humanitarian initiatives in conflict-affected areas,” he added.

The BOG—which outlines broad principles in which donor communities operate in the country– said (the donor community) was committed to help provide humanitarian and development assistance to poor people and that it will not extend any kind of support to any political party, army, security personnel or armed groups except that which was in accordance with the UN objectives.

The BOG further said the donor community will not accept any kind of threats to its staff or staff affilited to its partner organisations.

When asked how optimistic he was that the instruction by the Maoist leadership would be followed by the Maoist cadres, Kahane said he did not want to comment on the internal discipline of an organisation which was not a UN member.

In a statement issued earlier in the day, CPN (Maoist) chairman Prachanda said his party appreciated “in principle” the Basic operating Guidelines of the United Nations and other development agencies & organizations operating in Nepal. He said he had “instructed cadres and local people’s representatives to cooperate with it as per the specific situation of the place.” We also appeal to the international community and development agencies to work in regular consultation and cooperation with our party, he said.

Kahane did not want to comment on whether and how the international community and development agencies would maintain “regular consultation” with the Maoist rebels.

Meanwhile, responding to a query by Nepalnews on the prospect of breakdown of unilateral ceasefire by the Maoists in the run up to the municipal elections, Kahane said, “We do not believe that violence and recourse to violence is solution to any problem.” He said the unilateral ceasefire had brought considerable sense of relief among the people of Nepal. That is something everybody should keep in mind, he added.

In response to a question on whether the UN was going to monitor the upcoming municipal polls slated in Februry, next year, Kahane said UN doesn’t normally moniotr local level elecitons. He said UN system normally needs six months period to prepare itslef for monitoring of eletions which didn’t exist now.