“We gave our go ahead for extending UNMIN`s tenure,” said an NC leader, Ram Chandra Pokharel, who was present at a meeting attended by a UN team led by UNMIN chief Ian Martin and NC leaders. “But, we raised our concerns toward making the UN body`s role more neutral and effective in the peace process.”
The term of UNMIN, which was established in January 2007 initially for one year, was extended for the second time in July for six months, with a limited mandate and size.
However, the NC leaders, who have been increasingly critical of the UN body lately, want UNMIN to make its role “more effective and neutral” in the ongoing peace process.
During a meeting between Martin and NC leaders Friday at the NC head office in Sanepa, the latter told Martin to make UNMIN “more neutral”, said Ram Chandra Pokharel, Principal Secretary of NC.
Acting NC President Sushil Koirala and leaders Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Pokharel were present during the meeting.
NC leaders clearly told Martin that UNMIN`s role in monitoring Maoist arms and combatants needed to improve, according to Pokharel.
The NC leaders told the UN team that Maoist combatants camped in UNMIN-monitored cantonments were involved in criminal activities and human rights violations. They urged UNMIN not to remain silent over such incidents.
According to Pokharel, in reply, Martin said UNMIN was playing its role quite responsibly as per the mandate and it would take the NC`s justified appraisal seriously.
Related story
30-month term extension recommended for Joint Project Office on...
