UN CLARIFYING ITS POSSIBLE ROLE IN OBSERVING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001462 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER KPKO NP SUBJECT: UN CLARIFYING ITS POSSIBLE ROLE IN OBSERVING CEASE-FIRE Classified By: Classified by Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). UN TO ASK DPKO TO BECOME INVOLVED -------------- ¶1. (C) David Johnson, Senior Human Rights Officer at the United Nations Nepal Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),told members of the diplomatic corps on June 6 that OHCHR was examining the role it might play in monitoring the cease-fire between the Government of Nepal (GON) and the Maoists. He stressed that OHCHR would continue to monitor the human rights situation in Nepal but, in order to maintain the clarity of its mandate, it would not be involved in the monitoring of military aspects. He explained that if the United Nations were to agree to such a role, the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) would handle any monitoring involving the military. Johnson indicated that, if DPKO became involved, there would likely be a very small group of ten to twelve people participating in monitoring the cease-fire -- not a "sea of blue helmets marching through the streets." He said that OHCHR was expecting to receive a formal letter of request for assistance from Nepal in the next week. ALSO SEEKING THIRD COUNTRY SECONDMENTS -------------- ¶2. (C) Johnson suggested that members of the international community consider seconding experts to monitor human rights aspects of the cease-fire. He noted that the UN lacked the means to get people on the ground quickly and that OHCHR's current staffing was insufficient to take on this new role. COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) This is the first confirmation we have had that the United Nations will divide monitoring responsibilities and assign military aspects to DPKO. We believe the GON is waiting to see how PM Koirala's consultations go in India before making a formal request to the UN. That said, we expect the GON will soon make a request for monitoring, and we should now be considering ways to support it. MORIARTY