Kathmandu: Kul Chandra Gautam, a very high placed United Nations official has clearly notified Nepal that it would be better for this country to seek the UN support for the resolution of the Maoists crisis at the earliest or else remain prepared for a possible “unsolicited intervention”.
“Wouldn’t it be better for Nepal to voluntarily seek support for making peace before the country becomes a completely lawless wasteland, rather than face the consequences of a possible unsolicited intervention later”, is how Gautam said last week at a Nepal Council of World Affairs gathering in Kathmandu.
In saying so Gautam amply hinted that if Nepal government sought the support and approached the UN system on time might yield good results for the country and failing to do so would keep the doors open for a possible intervention by some external forces. He however, did not explicitly said which country or set of countries would intervene in Nepal if things went out of hand.
During the interaction, Gautam also indicated that it would be better for Nepal to engage UN rather than bringing in the experts from Norway, New York or New Delhi.
He however brushed aside the rumors that if the UN were engaged in the peace talks might provide legitimacy to the insurgency. ” With the UN playing an impartial role of an honest broker, the issue of recognition, legitimacy and equivalency need not arise”, is what said Gautam.
Cutting joke at the Nepal government for her usual habit of begging, Mr. Gautam bluntly said that “we habitually solicit and accept international assistance for all kinds of internal development issues, including the fight against poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and even to control of corruption and promote good governance and also it is okay to accept external military aid for guns, ammunition and combat helicopters in an internal conflict, but it is not okay to accept external assistance for making peace?”
In saying so Mr. Gautam pointed out to the inherent Nepali weaknesses in a splendid manner.
The UN official also suggested the Nepali establishment not to dilly-dally the resumption of the peace process with “external” support if she fails to act on its own, or else the country might be closer to the status of a failed state.
As regards the possible Indian worries if the UN stepped up in the Nepal’s peace process, Gautam very tactfully opined that if Nepal was determined, Indian displeasure would not make any substantial difference.
“Let’s not use possible objection by our neighbors as an excuse for not seeking UN support, if we genuinely believe that such support would be helpful”, added Gautam.
This implies that Gautam, a Nepali citizen in effect, is suggesting Nepal to act on its own and not be afraid of possible Indian irritation.
Talking of the Maoists, the UN official did not possess very good words for the insurgents. That he is not that happy with the recent violent activities of the Maoists becomes clear from his remarks wherein he says, ” the Maoists should not make the mistake of miscalculating the people’s acquiescence out of fear and intimidation as popular support for them”.
A close analysis of Gautam’s statement clearly concludes that it is the terror that has forced the people to go in by the dictates of the Maoists to which they, the insurgents, apparently conclude that the people were in their favor or for that matter support. It is not that, implies Gautam.
Gautam has also some tips for the three protagonists: the King, the Maoists and the parliamentary parties. He advises all to come closer and make Nepal a place to live in peacefully.
In sum, the UN official, a Nepali citizen, wishes Nepal to seek his offices’ support presumably guided by a thought that as a citizen of this country it is his bounden duty to serve his own motherland at a time when he can muster the “good offices” of the institution wherein he is engaged at the moment. A case of sentimental attachment perhaps which is very natural indeed.