UCPN-Maoist seeks rollover for UNMIN
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU: As parties were expected to find a consensus-based mechanism to replace UNMIN, the UCPN-Maoist today unexpectedly floated a proposal for a technical rollover of the UN mission for a shorter period, an idea flatly rejected by the government.
Maoist representative Barshaman Pun proposed this during a meeting of the Special Committee, sidestepping Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepals earlier proposal of organising a formal handover and takeover ceremony of UNMINs monitoring responsibility to the Special Committee Secretariat before January 15, when UNMIN leaves.
The prime minister floated a proposal of organising a handing over taking over ceremony of UNMIN monitoring related responsibilities to the Special Committee Secretariat and thanking UNMIN for its role in Nepals peace process so far, Maoist leader Pun told The Himalayan Times.
We, however, put forward a proposal to extend UNMINs tenure for the residual tasks of the peace process, he said, adding, If its not possible, at least we should ask the UN for UNMINs technical rollover on the basis of consensus for a shorter time.
The meeting was aimed at preparing an action plan for monitoring the Maoist combatants and their arms after the UN missions departure.
According to Madhesi Janadhikar Forum representative JP Gupta, Prime Minister Nepal flatly rejected the Maoist idea and informed the meeting attendants about impopossibility of extending UNMINs term by the UN Security Council at the eleventh hour citing the global body has been focused on Sudans separation issue at the moment.
Due to conflicting idea of post-UNMIN arrangement, the meeting authorised PM Nepal to find a consensus on the matter talking with UCPN-Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal. PM Nepal is expected to talk with Chairman Dahal on Friday morning on the matter, Gupta told this daily.
Nepali Congress representative at the six-party commi! ttee Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, however, said there was no point for a technical rollover of the UN mission. The meeting concluded indecisively only because of the Maoists demand for a further consultation between PM Nepal and Maoist Chairman Dahal on the matter, he said adding next meeting of the Special Committee, scheduled for Friday noon, would make a headway on it.
On Thursday morning, the cabinet had decided that that the secretariat under the Special Committee for the Integration, Supervision and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants would look after the combatants and their arms and ammunition following UNMINs exit. The cabinet made such a decision endorsing the decision taken by then Maoist-led government in 2009 that had brought the Maoist PLA combatants under the Special Committee.
We have accepted the decision made by the Maoists government. It was decided by the Maoists that the Special Committee will take over the responsibilities after the departure of UNMIN, Minister for Finance Surendra Pandey following the meeting. Meanwhile, the Committee for International Relations and Human Rights of the Legislature-Parliament directed the government to form a reliable mechanism to monitor the Maoist combatants and their arms before UNMINs departure. The directive issued by the committee chairman, Padmalal Bishwakarma, states that UNMIN would hand over the Maoist combatants and arms to the mechanism and the mechanism will oversee the container containing Nepal Armys arms.
Though parties are squabbling over UNMINs continued presence, its chief Karin Landgren has already started fare-well calls with political leaders. She has met some top leaders of Maoist and Nepali Congress top leaders and is due to meet with PM Nepal and others tomorrow, when UNMIN will formally close its office organising a flag-lowering ceremony in ICC New Baneshwor.
A look at UN missions tasks
Monitored arms and armed personnel of Nepal Army and the Maoist army from 2007
Assisted the par! ties thr ough a Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing their agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel
Observed the Constituent Assembly elections held in April 2008
Maoist representative Barshaman Pun proposed this during a meeting of the Special Committee, sidestepping Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepals earlier proposal of organising a formal handover and takeover ceremony of UNMINs monitoring responsibility to the Special Committee Secretariat before January 15, when UNMIN leaves.
The prime minister floated a proposal of organising a handing over taking over ceremony of UNMIN monitoring related responsibilities to the Special Committee Secretariat and thanking UNMIN for its role in Nepals peace process so far, Maoist leader Pun told The Himalayan Times.
We, however, put forward a proposal to extend UNMINs tenure for the residual tasks of the peace process, he said, adding, If its not possible, at least we should ask the UN for UNMINs technical rollover on the basis of consensus for a shorter time.
The meeting was aimed at preparing an action plan for monitoring the Maoist combatants and their arms after the UN missions departure.
According to Madhesi Janadhikar Forum representative JP Gupta, Prime Minister Nepal flatly rejected the Maoist idea and informed the meeting attendants about impopossibility of extending UNMINs term by the UN Security Council at the eleventh hour citing the global body has been focused on Sudans separation issue at the moment.
Due to conflicting idea of post-UNMIN arrangement, the meeting authorised PM Nepal to find a consensus on the matter talking with UCPN-Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal. PM Nepal is expected to talk with Chairman Dahal on Friday morning on the matter, Gupta told this daily.
Nepali Congress representative at the six-party commi! ttee Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, however, said there was no point for a technical rollover of the UN mission. The meeting concluded indecisively only because of the Maoists demand for a further consultation between PM Nepal and Maoist Chairman Dahal on the matter, he said adding next meeting of the Special Committee, scheduled for Friday noon, would make a headway on it.
On Thursday morning, the cabinet had decided that that the secretariat under the Special Committee for the Integration, Supervision and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants would look after the combatants and their arms and ammunition following UNMINs exit. The cabinet made such a decision endorsing the decision taken by then Maoist-led government in 2009 that had brought the Maoist PLA combatants under the Special Committee.
We have accepted the decision made by the Maoists government. It was decided by the Maoists that the Special Committee will take over the responsibilities after the departure of UNMIN, Minister for Finance Surendra Pandey following the meeting. Meanwhile, the Committee for International Relations and Human Rights of the Legislature-Parliament directed the government to form a reliable mechanism to monitor the Maoist combatants and their arms before UNMINs departure. The directive issued by the committee chairman, Padmalal Bishwakarma, states that UNMIN would hand over the Maoist combatants and arms to the mechanism and the mechanism will oversee the container containing Nepal Armys arms.
Though parties are squabbling over UNMINs continued presence, its chief Karin Landgren has already started fare-well calls with political leaders. She has met some top leaders of Maoist and Nepali Congress top leaders and is due to meet with PM Nepal and others tomorrow, when UNMIN will formally close its office organising a flag-lowering ceremony in ICC New Baneshwor.
A look at UN missions tasks
Monitored arms and armed personnel of Nepal Army and the Maoist army from 2007
Assisted the par! ties thr ough a Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing their agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel
Observed the Constituent Assembly elections held in April 2008
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