Speaking at Reporters´ Club in the capital, Maoist leader C P Gajurel said, “If UNMIN leaves, then it will be necessary to revise the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”[break]
Stating that the role of UNMIN regarding the conclusion of the peace process has been clearly mentioned in Clause 9 of the CPA, Gajurel argued that exit of UNMIN prior to the conclusion of the peace process will necessitate revision in the CPA.
“CPA is the major basis of the peace process. If revision in the CPA is warranted due to premature exit of UNMIN, the peace process will be derailed,” he said.
Asked whether a reduced mandate of the mission will be acceptable to his party in the event of a term extension, Gajurel said UNMIN must get term extension with existing mandate.
However, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong speaking on the occasion said that the four-month term extension of UNMIN was done for the “last time” in line with the Maoist approval, so the mission´s term cannot be extended any further.
“An alternative to UNMIN is the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of the Maoist Combatants,” the minister said, adding, such a provision is mentioned in the CPA.
He further said UNMIN´s exit will not affect the peace process.
He said that the Maoists could have floated the proposal to extend UNMIN´s term with the intention to not bring the combatants under the Special Committee and added that the peace process and the constitution-writing process will be in jeopardy in that sitaution.
Likewise, Mahendra Prasad Yadav, a member of the Special Committee and Minister for Industry, said Maoists were creating unnecessary fuss over the issue when UNMIN was packing its bags of its own accord.
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