5 May 2010

UN / NEPAL

Head of the UN Mission in Nepal Karin Landgren to present the Secretary-General’s latest report which says that no substantive progress has been made on the main tasks of the peace process since the beginning of this year. As the deadline for a new constitution approaches, tensions are heating up with Maoist protesters this week demanding the resignation of the country’s prime minister and initiating a nationwide strike which has paralyzed the country. UNTV

Posted at: May 5, 2010 4:36 pm

Duration: 01:26

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / NEPAL 
TRT: 1:26
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 05 MAY 2010, NEW YORK

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, Security Council 
2. Cutaway, delegates
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Karin Landgren, Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, United Nations:
"As the general strike in Nepal enters its fifth day, negotiations among the major parties are dealing squarely with the major and contentious governance and other peace process issues that have long been sidestepped, including critical constitutional questions around Nepal's proposed federal structure and form of governance, and the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel."
4. Cutaway, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Karin Landgren, Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, United Nations:
"The Maoists brought large numbers of supporters to Kathmandu for May Day, followed by an indefinite general strike from 2 May, calling on the government of Madhav Kumar Nepal to step down and pave the way for a government of national unity. The Prime Minister has rejected calls for his immediate resignation, but has said that he will not be an obstacle if an understanding is reached among the parties."
6. Cutaway delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Karin Landgren, Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, United Nations:
"UNMIN has warned of the grave risks to the peace process should the stand-off persist.  The Government has said that the Nepal Army will intervene if the Maoist protest should turn violent, and has placed the national security forces on high alert.  The Maoists have insisted that their protest will remain peaceful." 
8. Wide shot, end of meeting at Security Council

STORYLINE:

Head of the United Nations (UN) Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), Karin Landgren, presented the UN Secretary-General's latest report which says that no substantive progress has been made on the main tasks of the peace process in the country since the beginning of this year.

She said that "as the general strike in Nepal enters its fifth day, negotiations among the major parties are dealing squarely with the major and contentious governance and other peace process issues that have long been sidestepped."

As the deadline for a new constitution approaches, tensions are heating up with Maoist protesters this week demanding the resignation of the country's prime minister and initiating a nationwide strike which has paralyzed the country.

After conducting Constituent Assembly elections in May 2008, Nepal abolished its 240-year-old monarchy and declared itself a republic. But the peace process has stalled recently, threatened by tensions and mistrust between Maoists, the Government and the army.

Landgren said that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal "has rejected calls for his immediate resignation, but has said that he will not be an obstacle if an understanding is reached among the parties."

She added that "UNMIN has warned of the grave risks to the peace process should the stand-off persist."

In his report, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that despite continuing efforts, no substantive forward movement including resolving the future of the two armies, that of Nepal and the Maoists, and completing the drafting of the constitution by the deadline of 28 May, has been made.