UN Mission in Nepal's imminent withdrawal sparks row

Just weeks ahead of the withdrawal of the key UN agency tasked to monitor Nepal's stalled peace process, the issue has sparked a row between the ruling alliance and the main opposition Maoists who want the term of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) to be extended.

The ruling 22-party alliance held a key meeting to decide on the future course of action in the country after the withdrawal of UNMIN next month.

Amid a demand by the UCPN (Maoist) to extend the tenure of (UNMIN), the caretaker government yesterday made it clear that there was no rethink on the January 15 withdrawal of UNMIN.

The role of the UNMIN has become controversial, with senior ministers and political leaders from the non-Maoist parties often criticising the mission for its role in monitoring the peace process.

The ruling alliance has accused UNMIN of favouring the Maoists.

During a meeting earlier this month with UN Under secretary general for political affairs, B Lynn Pascoe, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala had expressed dissatisfaction over the role of UNMIN.

The meeting chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal yesterday agreed to bestow the responsibility of rehabilitating the former Maoist combatants to the special committee after the exit of UNMIN, the Kantipur online reported.

The mandate of UNMIN, which established by the world body as a special political mission in 2007 to manage the arms and armed personnel of the Maoists and the Nepal Army, is set to expire on January 15, 2011. It has started the process to begin the pull out from the country.

Nepali Congress president Koirala, CPN-UML leader KP Oli, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum- Loktantrik chairman and deputy prime minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadhar, Terai-Madhes Loktantrik Party chief Mahanta Thakur, CPN (ML) general secretary CP Mainali, Sadhbhawana Party head Rajendra Mahato were among the leaders present at the meeting.

As the country marked the fourth anniversary of the 2006 pact last month, foreign envoys in Nepal said they were concerned at the lack of progress on the rehabilitation and integration of former Maoist combatants with the security forces.

UN general secretary Ban Ki-moon has also expressed concern over the failure of the political parties to break the deadlock over the formation of a new government.

In his report to the UNSC earlier this year, the secretary general was concerned that the major commitments of the peace pact and the peace process remained unfulfilled.

The country has been in political limbo since the June 30 resignation of Prime Minister Nepal. Despite a series of polls, the parliament has been unable to elect a new leader, prolonging the leadership crisis in the country.