Arms Discrepancy
In the final report of the JMCC, the NA official has stated there are 781 weapons still unaccounted for
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
Adding to the voices about huge discrepancies in the number of Maoist combatants and their weapons registered by the UNMIN, the Nepali Army (NA) official has formally noted down that 781 of their weapons – that were looted by the Maoists in the past – are still unaccounted for.
In the final report submitted by the Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee (JMCC) including the representatives of the UNMIN, Nepali Army (NA) and Maoist army, the NA representative Brigadier General Shiva Ram Pradhan has said that out of the total 3,430 weapons as per the list provided by the Nepal Army to UNMIN, 781 weapons – including modern weapons, area weapons, and automatic machine guns – have not been registered.
"The total number of battle-tested modern weapons and their calibres/categories procured by the Maoists from abroad and those manufactured locally cannot be precisely verified. But over the ten years of conflict, large numbers of such weapons were seen to be in use. However, the number of such weapons now registered seems to be far less. The great discrepancy in the total number of weapons and combatants registered is also of serious concern to all," he states in the report.
On the other hand, Pasang, deputy commander of Maoist army states that the Maoist Army has been loyal to the Agreement on the Monitoring of the Arms and Armies during the first phase of registration.
"The Maoist Army has registered all 3,475 of the weapons in its inventory. If the Maoist Army detects weapons in the future that are presently out of our memory or control then we will inform the JMCC. We would like to express our commitment that if other weapons are found they will automatically be categorized as illegal in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Agreement on the Monitoring of the Arms and Armies."
The report has been submitted to the government as well as the Maoist leadership. "It is now for the Government of Nepal and the CPN (M) to consider the findings of the JMCC report and conclude whether they are satisfied with the first phase of monitoring arms and armies. It is essential that the Government and the CPN(M) immediately finalize arrangements for security of the Maoist leadership, so that UNMIN can put in place full monitoring procedures for all Maoist arms," said Ian Martin, UNMIN chief.
Martin added that the UNMIN, and the members of the JMCC, will investigate any alleged breaches of the Agreement on Monitoring Arms and Armies, including reports of weapons outside the cantonment sites which are not approved for the security of Maoist leaders.
The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) completed the first phase of registration of Maoist combatants and weapons on 7 March 2007 .
The total number of weapons registered by the UNMIN was 3,475 including 522 weapons for perimeter security and 96 weapons registered outside of cantonments. In addition, ammunition as well as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) – at a safe distance from cantonments have also been deposited.
In any situation of extended internal conflict, it is impossible to provide 100 percent accuracy or clarity regarding the completeness of arms separation, given the fog of war and competing claims and counterclaims, the JMCC report states.
The reports received from the Maoist Army and the interviews personally conducted by the Chairman of the JMCC give a generally plausible explanation of the discrepancy in numbers of weapons registered, it adds. "The Maoist Army has demonstrated the will to register and store what is by any estimation a significant weapons stock, including weapons procured and imported from outside Nepal . This indicates a seriousness of purpose by the Maoist Army that can broadly be described as satisfactory, although it does not preclude the possibility that arms caches may exist outside of the registration. Any such unregistered weapons would be treated as a violation of both existing agreements and the law of Nepal if found from this period forward," the JMCC report adds.
The total figure of registered Maoist Army combatants at the end of the first phase of registration was 31,152. The second phase of registration – to begin in two weeks - will verify the legitimacy of those registered to ensure that they are not minors and that they joined the Maoist Army before the cut-off date established in the arms management agreement -- 25 May 2006 .
"The total of 31,152 appears significantly higher than many previous official and unofficial estimates of the Maoist army troop strength. The Maoist Army commanders maintain that the forces are legitimate and the increased numbers represent large numbers of militia members merged into the force before 25 May 2006 ."
According to UNMIN, the decisions regarding the formation of an interim government, taking into account a judgment regarding the adequacy of the arms separation process, however, are political decisions to be made by Nepal 's political leaders.
