ID :
13771
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 12:51
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/13771
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U.N. extends Nepal peace mission by six months
United Nations, Jul 24 (PTI) The U.N. has extended the mandate of its peace mission in Nepal by another six months to aid the integration process of former Maoist rebels with the regular army, following a request from Kathmandu.
"There are still two armies in Nepal, and the core task is to continue the monitoring of arms and armies while durable solutions are sought to the future of the former combatants," the head of U.N. Mission in Nepal (U.N.M.I.N.), Ian Martin said.
There are some 19,000 former rebels still in U.N. supervised camps and the peace deal which ended the conflict calls for bringing them into political mainstream.
In a resolution adopted unanimously Wednesday, the Security Council renewed the mandate through January 23 next year and called on Nepal's political parties to support the peace process so that U.N.M.I.N. can wrap up its work soon.
The resolution also endorsed Secretary General Ban ki Moon's conclusion that no further extension should be needed and and his proposal, "for a phased and gradual withdrawal of U.N.M.I.N. staff and arms monitors."There are about 1000 personnel including 186 arms monitors under the U.N. mandate in Nepal. While most of the substantive staff is expected to be withdrawn, support staff would need to stay longer to wrap up the mission in case of no further extension.
U.N.M.I.N. was set up early last year to help Nepal, which endured a decade-long civil war that claimed an estimated 13,000 lives until the Government and Maoists signed a peace deal in 2006.
The U.N. mission is also responsible for monitoring the management of arms and armed personnel of both the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (C.P.N.-M.) and the Nepal Army, as well as in assisting in monitoring ceasefire arrangements.
"There are still two armies in Nepal, and the core task is to continue the monitoring of arms and armies while durable solutions are sought to the future of the former combatants," the head of U.N. Mission in Nepal (U.N.M.I.N.), Ian Martin said.
There are some 19,000 former rebels still in U.N. supervised camps and the peace deal which ended the conflict calls for bringing them into political mainstream.
In a resolution adopted unanimously Wednesday, the Security Council renewed the mandate through January 23 next year and called on Nepal's political parties to support the peace process so that U.N.M.I.N. can wrap up its work soon.
The resolution also endorsed Secretary General Ban ki Moon's conclusion that no further extension should be needed and and his proposal, "for a phased and gradual withdrawal of U.N.M.I.N. staff and arms monitors."There are about 1000 personnel including 186 arms monitors under the U.N. mandate in Nepal. While most of the substantive staff is expected to be withdrawn, support staff would need to stay longer to wrap up the mission in case of no further extension.
U.N.M.I.N. was set up early last year to help Nepal, which endured a decade-long civil war that claimed an estimated 13,000 lives until the Government and Maoists signed a peace deal in 2006.
The U.N. mission is also responsible for monitoring the management of arms and armed personnel of both the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (C.P.N.-M.) and the Nepal Army, as well as in assisting in monitoring ceasefire arrangements.
