"We have long been stressing," said Nepal's Vice Chairman of theCabinet, Kirti Nidhi Bista, on July 13, 2005, "that there is no need for UN[United Nations] mediation in Nepal. And we still stand firmly with this."The remarks were made immediately after Bista held a meeting with UN SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan's special adviser, former Algerian foreign minister LakhdarBrahimi, who visited Nepal on July 10-15. Two days later, during a pressconference, it was Brahimi's turn to reflect on his meeting with Bista. "Hedid not say that during our meeting," the UN official quipped when askedabout Bista's comments.
Clearly, all is not well when it comes to UN involvement in Nepal's troubles.Despite the recent growing involvement of the world body, the Royal regime andpowerful international actors continue to see the UN as a spoiler in theconflict. They fear that a UN mediating role in Nepal's conflict would not onlyreduce their own functions and influence, but would also give the rebel Maoists,whose insurgency has brought the country to the brink of disaster, an equalityand legitimacy they have long craved. This view is in sharp contrast withNepal's mainstream political parties, civil society, and a majority of thepopulation who seek a strong UN intervention.
Whether or not the UN succeeds in getting a bigger role, particularly inconflict mediation, is an open question. But its involvement has already beenincreasing since February 1, when King Gyanendra's coup turned this HimalayanKingdom's politics upside down.