UNMIN term extended for six months
The term of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has
been extended for another six months to allow the mission
to complete its monitoring and management of the arms and
personnel of the Nepal Army and the Maoist People's
Liberation Army (PLA) combatants.
The UN Security Council adopting the resolution
unanimously to this effect last night renewed the mandate
of the mission through 23 January next year and called on
Nepal's political parties to support the peace process so
that UNMIN could wrap up its work soon.
The decision was taken after the request from the
government of Nepal for extension of the mission term. The
Security Council endorsed the proposal of the UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon for a phased, gradual, drawdown and
withdrawal of UNMIN staff, including arms monitors.
The mission is responsible for monitoring the management
of arms and armed personnel of both the CPN (Maoist) and
the Nepal Army, as well as in assisting in monitoring
ceasefire arrangements.
Speaking to journalists in UN headquarters after passing
the resolution, the head of UNMIN and the
Secretary-General's Special Representative Ian Martin said
many significant challenges remained before the peace
process can be considered to be completed.
"There are still two armies in Nepal, and the core task
that is requested of a downsized UNMIN is to continue its
monitoring of the management of arms and armies while
durable solutions are sought to the future of the former
combatants," he said.
Continued cooperation between all political parties,
including those representing the Madhesi community, a
group that was traditionally marginalised in Nepal, is
important to complete the peace process, Martin stressed.
He further said, "The biggest challenge of all, perhaps,
is to reach agreement within the prescribed two-year
period on the federal constitution. Virtually all the
political groups are agreed that the new constitution
should be a federal one, but there is as yet no agreement
as to what form federalism should take in the particular
geographic and social conditions of Nepal."
The UNMIN chief also cited numerous challenges, including
the desire of marginalised groups for greater
representation in such State bodies as the security
forces, and the previous commitments made to victims of
the civil war and associated violence about the
investigation of crimes, compensation and an end to
impunity for perpetrators of attacks. nepalnews.com ia July 24 08
Related News
- UNMIN gets another six months
