Understanding on Interim Task Force (documented in identical letters from the dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the Prime Minister of Nepal to the UN Secretary-General)

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Country/entity: Nepal
Region: Asia and Pacific
Agreement name: Understanding on Interim Task Force (documented in identical letters from the dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the Prime Minister of Nepal to the UN Secretary-General)
Date: 22 Nov 2006
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Nepalese Insurgency (1996 - 2006)
Inspired by the Maoist insurgency in Peru in the early 1990s, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) – CPN(M) – declared war on the Nepalese government in February 1996. A key demand was the transformation of Nepal from a monarchy into a ‘People’s Republic’. Following a pronounced Maoist military strategy, the CPN(M) focused their insurgency on the rural areas. They gained significantly in strength and it took heavy international military support to stabilize the Nepalese government in 2002. After public protests escalated in Kathmandu in 2004, the Nepalese King Gyanendra took authoritarian control over the government. In the cities, a strong popular movement for democracy emerged, forcing the government into fast progressing peace negations in 2006 that concluded with the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Accord on 21 November 2006.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Nepal peace process
Parties: (Signed) Girija Prasad Koirala (Prime Minister of Nepal)
(Signed) Prachanda Chairman, Central Committee CPN (Maoist)
(Signed) K. P. Sharma Oli
(Signed) Kofi A. Annan
Third parties: -
Description: This agreement is a series of letters regarding UN assistance for the peace process in Nepal. The first two identical letters dated 09 August 2006 are sent separately from the Prime Minister of Nepal and the leader of the CPN Maoist to the UN Secretary General requesting UN Assistance. The third letter is sent to the UN Secretary General on 16 November 2006 by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal further requesting UN Assistance. The final letter dated 22 November 2006 is from the UN Secretary General to the President of the UN Security Council outlining the UN's plans for assisting the peace process in Nepal.

Agreement document: NP_061122_Interim taskforce.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 6, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 6:...It is also scheduled that the interim constitution would be promulgated and an interim legislature would be in place by 26 November, which would be followed by the formation of an interim cabinet by 1 December 2006.
Elections: Page 1, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 2:...The agreement of 8 November 2006 represents an important milestone outlining the next steps in the political process leading to free and fair elections for a Constituent Assembly in 2007...

Page 1, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 3:...Assistance is being sought in a variety of areas in the peace process with a view to creating an atmosphere conducive to free and fair elections for the Constituent Assembly...

Page 2, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 5: With regard to the request for the United Nations to provide electoral assistance, the plan that Mr. Martin is currently discussing with the electoral authorities of Nepal is twofold: to provide technical assistance to the Election Commission and to undertake the coordination of donor support on behalf of the Commission. Given the limited time available to develop a framework and infrastructure for the electoral process, as well as to enhance the Election Commission’s capacity to administer a credible Constituent Assembly election, the Secretariat is evaluating modalities for an optimal assistance programme to meet those needs as well as additional options to respond to the request for electoral monitoring.

Page 2, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 7 (c): Deployment of an initial team of up to 25 electoral personnel to begin to provide the required technical advice and support to the Nepalese electoral authorities and the parties.

Page 3, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary General, Para 2, 5 and Page 4, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary General, para 2, 5: Provide election observation for the election of the Constituent Assembly in consultation with the parties.

Page 6, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 3, 4: Monitoring of the election of the Constituent Assembly, to be held by mid-June 2007, shall be done by the United Nations.

Page 6, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 4-5: I also have the honour to request you to provide the requested assistance as quickly as possible to meet the sequence of events leading up to the election of the Constituent Assembly.
Details of the scope of the activities of the United Nations support, including for the electoral assistance, are being worked out among the Government of Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations, which will be communicated to you shortly.
Electoral commission: Page 2, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 5: With regard to the request for the United Nations to provide electoral assistance, the plan that Mr. Martin is currently discussing with the electoral authorities of Nepal is twofold: to provide technical assistance to the Election Commission and to undertake the coordination of donor support on behalf of the Commission. Given the limited time available to develop a framework and infrastructure for the electoral process, as well as to enhance the Election Commission’s capacity to administer a credible Constituent Assembly election, the Secretariat is evaluating modalities for an optimal assistance programme to meet those needs as well as additional options to respond to the request for electoral monitoring.

Page 2, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 7 (c): Deployment of an initial team of up to 25 electoral personnel to begin to provide the required technical advice and support to the Nepalese electoral authorities and the parties.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
Page 6, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 6:...It is also scheduled that the interim constitution would be promulgated and an interim legislature would be in place by 26 November, which would be followed by the formation of an interim cabinet by 1 December 2006.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: Rights institutions→Regional or international human rights institutions→Monitoring calls
Page 3, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary General, Para 2, 1 and Page 4, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary General, para 2, 1: Continue its human rights monitoring through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 1: I have the honour to refer to the identical letters of 9 August 2006 addressed to you by the Prime Minister of Nepal and the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) requesting the United Nations to assist in the following areas with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of the Constituent Assembly:
1. Continue its human rights monitoring through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal;

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 2, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 5: With regard to the request for the United Nations to provide electoral assistance, the plan that Mr. Martin is currently discussing with the electoral authorities of Nepal is twofold: to provide technical assistance to the Election Commission and to undertake the coordination of donor support on behalf of the Commission. Given the limited time available to develop a framework and infrastructure for the electoral process, as well as to enhance the Election Commission’s capacity to administer a credible Constituent Assembly election, the Secretariat is evaluating modalities for an optimal assistance programme to meet those needs as well as additional options to respond to the request for electoral monitoring.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 2:...The Comprehensive Peace Agreement declares the commitment of the parties to transform the existing ceasefire into permanent peace.

Page 3, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary General, Para 2, 2 and Page 4, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary General, para 2, 2: Assist the monitoring of the code of conduct during the ceasefire;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 1: I have the honour to refer to the identical letters of 9 August 2006 addressed to you by the Prime Minister of Nepal and the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) requesting the United Nations to assist in the following areas with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of the Constituent Assembly:
...2. Assist the monitoring of the code of conduct during the ceasefire;
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 3, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary General, Para 2, 3 and Page 4, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary General, para 2, 3: On the basis of the agreement to seek United Nations assistance in “the management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides”, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for all arrangements, including of arms and munitions, will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

Page 3, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary General, Para 2, 4 and Page 4, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary General, para 2, 4: Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any side. The modalities will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 1: I have the honour to refer to the identical letters of 9 August 2006 addressed to you by the Prime Minister of Nepal and the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) requesting the United Nations to assist in the following areas with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of the Constituent Assembly:
...3. On the basis of the agreement to seek United Nations assistance in “the management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides”, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for all agreements, including arms and munitions, would be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

Page 6, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 3, 3: The Nepal Army shall be confined to the barracks as per the commitments of the letter sent to the United Nations. It will be guaranteed that its arms shall not be used for or against any side. An equal number of arms of the Nepal Army shall be kept in the store under a single-lock system and the key shall be kept by the side concerned. For the United Nations to monitor it, a device with a siren as well as a recording facility shall be installed. The United Nations shall make necessary inspections of the stored arms in the presence of the side concerned. The details of technology, including cameras for monitoring as per the agreement shall be prepared among the Government of Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
Page 1, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 2:...The agreement of 8 November 2006 represents an important milestone outlining the next steps in the political process leading to free and fair elections for a Constituent Assembly in 2007.In that agreement, the parties have agreed on the basic arrangements for the cantonment of the combatants of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army and the storage of the arms and munitions of both sides...

Page 2, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 7 (b): Deployment of an advance group of up to 35 monitors (civilians with a military background and serving military personnel in civilian clothes) to serve as the vanguard for the proposed United Nations monitoring presence for the management of arms and armed personnel;

Page 3, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary General, Para 2, 3 and Page 4, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary General, para 2, 3: On the basis of the agreement to seek United Nations assistance in “the management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides”, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for all arrangements, including of arms and munitions, will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

Page 3, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary General, Para 2, 4 and Page 4, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary General, para 2, 4: Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any side. The modalities will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 1: I have the honour to refer to the identical letters of 9 August 2006 addressed to you by the Prime Minister of Nepal and the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) requesting the United Nations to assist in the following areas with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of the Constituent Assembly:
...3. On the basis of the agreement to seek United Nations assistance in “the management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides”, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for all agreements, including arms and munitions, would be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 3, 1: A[s] [sic] per the commitments expressed in the letters sent to the United Nations by the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on 9 August 2006, the Maoist combatants shall be sent to cantonments located in the following districts: Kailali, Surkhet, Rolpa, Palpa, Kabhre, Sindhuli and Ilam. There shall be three smaller camps located in the periphery of each of these main cantonments. The United Nations shall do the necessary verification and monitoring of them;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 3, 2: All the arms and ammunition held by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) shall be securely stored in the camps except those needed for providing security to the camps after the Maoist combatants are sent to the cantonments. The arms and ammunition shall be locked with a single padlock and the side concerned shall keep the key to it. For the United Nations to monitor it, a device with a siren as well as recording facility shall be installed. The United Nations shall make necessary inspections of the stored arms in the presence of the side concerned. The details of technology including cameras for monitoring as per the agreement shall be prepared among the Government of Nepal, the Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations;

Page 6, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 3, 3: The Nepal Army shall be confined to the barracks as per the commitments of the letter sent to the United Nations. It will be guaranteed that its arms shall not be used for or against any side. An equal number of arms of the Nepal Army shall be kept in the store under a single-lock system and the key shall be kept by the side concerned. For the United Nations to monitor it, a device with a siren as well as a recording facility shall be installed. The United Nations shall make necessary inspections of the stored arms in the presence of the side concerned. The details of technology, including cameras for monitoring as per the agreement shall be prepared among the Government of Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations.

Page 6, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 6: As per the agreed time schedules, the verification and monitoring of the cantonments and combatants of the Maoists by the United Nations would begin once they are confined to the camps by 21 November 2006. By that time, the Nepal Army will also be confined to the barracks, keeping the specified number of arms in the store for United Nations monitoring. It is also scheduled that the interim constitution would be promulgated and an interim legislature would be in place by 26 November, which would be followed by the formation of an interim cabinet by 1 December 2006.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, Letter dated 22 November 2006 from the Secretary General to the President of the Security Council, para 2:...The agreement of 8 November 2006 represents an important milestone outlining the next steps in the political process leading to free and fair elections for a Constituent Assembly in 2007.In that agreement, the parties have agreed on the basic arrangements for the cantonment of the combatants of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army and the storage of the arms and munitions of both sides...

Page 3, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary General, Para 2, 3 and Page 4, Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary General, para 2, 3: On the basis of the agreement to seek United Nations assistance in “the management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides”, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for all arrangements, including of arms and munitions, will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 1: I have the honour to refer to the identical letters of 9 August 2006 addressed to you by the Prime Minister of Nepal and the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) requesting the United Nations to assist in the following areas with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of the Constituent Assembly:
...3. On the basis of the agreement to seek United Nations assistance in “the management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides”, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas. Later the modalities for all agreements, including arms and munitions, would be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 3, 1: A[s] [sic] per the commitments expressed in the letters sent to the United Nations by the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on 9 August 2006, the Maoist combatants shall be sent to cantonments located in the following districts: Kailali, Surkhet, Rolpa, Palpa, Kabhre, Sindhuli and Ilam. There shall be three smaller camps located in the periphery of each of these main cantonments. The United Nations shall do the necessary verification and monitoring of them;

Page 5, Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary General, para 3, 2: All the arms and ammunition held by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) shall be securely stored in the camps except those needed for providing security to the camps after the Maoist combatants are sent to the cantonments. The arms and ammunition shall be locked with a single padlock and the side concerned shall keep the key to it. For the United Nations to monitor it, a device with a siren as well as recording facility shall be installed. The United Nations shall make necessary inspections of the stored arms in the presence of the side concerned. The details of technology including cameras for monitoring as per the agreement shall be prepared among the Government of Nepal, the Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations;
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: (Signed) Kofi A. Annan
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: The entire agreement provides for the deployment of UN monitoring and technical assistance including provision of a UN Political Mission and recognition of the appointment of a UNSG personal representative.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Doc S/2006/920. Available from: www.securitycouncilreport.org

Full Security Council Report: http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/Nepal%20S2006920.pdf

Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Prime Minister of Nepal to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to refer to my letter dated 2 July 2006 requesting the cooperation of the United Nations in the ongoing peace process in Nepal.

In this context, I am happy to inform you that the United Nations team, which left Kathmandu a week ago, held extensive yet fruitful consultations with all concerned stakeholders of the peace process here in Nepal.

The United Nations team, as I understand, is to submit its report to you on Nepal.

In the meantime, I wish to inform you that further to the Eight-Point Understanding between the Seven Party Alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) of 16 June 2006 and the commitment expressed by the Government of Nepal to the Agreement, the Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) hereby request the United Nations to provide its assistance as follows with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of a Constituent Assembly and the entire peace process:

1. Continue its human rights monitoring through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal;

2. Assist the monitoring of the code of conduct during the ceasefire;

3. On the basis of the agreement to seek United Nations assistance in “the management of arms and armed personnel of both the sides”, deploy qualified civilian personnel to monitor and verify the confinement of Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) combatants and their weapons within designated cantonment areas.

Later the modalities for all arrangements, including of arms and munitions, will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

4. Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any side.

The modalities will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

5. Provide election observation for the election of the Constituent Assembly in consultation with the parties.

(Signed) Girija Prasad Koirala

Letter dated 9 August 2006 from the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to refer to my letter dated 24 July 2006 requesting the cooperation of the United Nations in the ongoing peace process in Nepal.

The United Nations team, as I understand, is to submit its report to you on Nepal.

1. Continue its human rights monitoring through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal;

2. Assist the monitoring of the code of conduct during the ceasefire;

Later the modalities for all arrangements, including of arms and munitions, will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

4. Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any side.

The modalities will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

5. Provide election observation for the election of the Constituent Assembly in consultation with the parties.

(Signed) Prachanda, Chairman, Central Committee CPN (Maoist)

Letter dated 16 November 2006 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to refer to the identical letters of 9 August 2006 addressed to you by the Prime Minister of Nepal and the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) requesting the United Nations to assist in the following areas with a view to creating a free and fair atmosphere for the election of the Constituent Assembly:

1. Continue its human rights monitoring through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal;

2. Assist the monitoring of the code of conduct during the ceasefire;

Later the modalities for all agreements, including arms and munitions, would be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

4. Monitor the Nepal Army to ensure that it remains in its barracks and its weapons are not used for or against any side.

The modalities will be worked out among the parties and the United Nations;

5. Provide election observation for the election of the Constituent Assembly in consultation with the parties.

The Government of Nepal sincerely appreciates the appointment of your Personal Representative in response to these requests.

Since then, the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) have been working with your Personal Representative on these issues.

I have further the honour to inform you that in accordance with the agreement reached between the Seven Party Alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on 8 November 2006, and subsequently endorsed by the Government of Nepal, the assistance of the United Nations is required in the following specific areas in addition to the five points mentioned in the identical letters of 9 August 2006:

1. A per the commitments expressed in the letters sent to the United Nations by the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on 9 August 2006, the Maoist combatants shall be sent to cantonments located in the following districts:

Kailali, Surkhet, Rolpa, Palpa, Kabhre, Sindhuli and Ilam.

There shall be three smaller camps located in the periphery of each of these main cantonments.

The United Nations shall do the necessary verification and monitoring of them;

2. All the arms and ammunition held by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) shall be securely stored in the camps except those needed for providing security to the camps after the Maoist combatants are sent to the cantonments.

The arms and ammunition shall be locked with a single padlock and the side concerned shall keep the key to it.

For the United Nations to monitor it, a device with a siren as well as recording facility shall be installed.

The United Nations shall make necessary inspections of the stored arms in the presence of the side concerned.

The details of technology including cameras for monitoring as per the agreement shall be prepared among the Government of Nepal, the Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations;

3. The Nepal Army shall be confined to the barracks as per the commitments of the letter sent to the United Nations.

It will be guaranteed that its arms shall not be used for or against any side.

An equal number of arms of the Nepal Army shall be kept in the store under a single-lock system and the key shall be kept by the side concerned.

For the United Nations to monitor it, a device with a siren as well as a recording facility shall be installed.

The United Nations shall make necessary inspections of the stored arms in the presence of the side concerned.

The details of technology, including cameras for monitoring as per the agreement shall be prepared among the Government of Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations.

4. Monitoring of the election of the Constituent Assembly, to be held by mid-June 2007, shall be done by the United Nations.

I also have the honour to request you to provide the requested assistance as quickly as possible to meet the sequence of events leading up to the election of the Constituent Assembly.

Details of the scope of the activities of the United Nations support, including for the electoral assistance, are being worked out among the Government of Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the United Nations, which will be communicated to you shortly.

As per the agreed time schedules, the verification and monitoring of the cantonments and combatants of the Maoists by the United Nations would begin once they are confined to the camps by 21 November 2006.

By that time, the Nepal Army will also be confined to the barracks, keeping the specified number of arms in the store for United Nations monitoring.

It is also scheduled that the interim constitution would be promulgated and an interim legislature would be in place by 26 November, which would be followed by the formation of an interim cabinet by 1 December 2006.

On behalf of the Government of Nepal, I take this opportunity to express sincere appreciation for your personal support for the assistance provided by the United Nations through the Secretariat and your Personal Representative to Nepal in this process.

(Signed) K. P. Sharma Oli