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UNMIN concerned about ‘unregistered’ arms and combatants

The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has expressed concern about media reports quoting Maoist chairman Prachanda that the Maoists had many weapons and combatants outside the cantonment sites.

“The United Nations Mission in Nepal is concerned about media reports quoting Maoist chairman Prachanda as saying that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) retains weapons and combatants outside the cantonment sites,“ a press statement issued by the UNMIN on Tuesday said.

Addressing a mass meeting in Baglung on Monday, Maoist chairman said these combatants and weapons were not registered as they "couldn't meet United Nations standards" and claimed, according to reports, that the Maoists still had strength to carry out large scale attacks.

Head of the UNMIN, Ian Martin, today inquired about these reports with Maoist leaders, who “maintained that the reports were incorrect”. The UN mission said it would seek further clarification from the Maoist leadership.

“Any reports of unregistered Maoist army weapons outside the cantonment sites will be investigated by UNMIN and the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee,” the UNMIN stated and made clear that any unregistered weapons would be treated as a violation of existing agreements and be illegal. “UNMIN calls on the CPN (Maoist) to fulfill its commitment to report any unregistered weapons to the JMCC.”

The UNMIN also said that all unlicensed firearms still in the community, whether held by those associated with the CPN (Maoist) or by other groups or individuals, should be brought under the control of the police in order to assist in establishing a climate conducive to free and fair elections to the Constituent Assembly. nepalnews.com mk Mar 13 07