Report: United Nations to administer Nepal
By UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Published July 14, 2005
KATMANDU, Nepal -- King Gyanendra and the country's Maoist insurgents have agreed for the United Nations to administer Nepal for one year.
India's NewsInsight reported Wednesday that during the UN mandate internationally monitored elections will be held to determine the political future of the country.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezaa Rice presented the proposal to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; India developed the plan while the United Kingdom and Belgium co-sponsored it. Under terms of the proposal Gyanendra, who dissolved parliament and took direct control of the government after dismissing a coalition government on February 1, will hand over his executive powers to the UN while retaining the office of the constitutional monarchy. Gyanendra agreed to the proposal after the Bush administration threatened to send a multinational force to take over Nepal and return it to democracy, the report said.
The Maoists reluctantly agreed to the plan after coming under extreme pressure from the Royal Nepalese Army. During the year of UN administration 20 developments projects will be undertaken in remote areas of Nepal and law enforcement institutions will be revived to restore public confidence in preparation for national elections. The Maoists have agreed during the interim period of the UN mandate to participate in peace negotiations.
A diplomat involved in the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity said, "The king was given examples of heads of state around the world who were being tried for human rights violations, and he got scared and consented to give up his powers to the UN."
