But the task force, formed to advise the government on the future of the UNMIN, has recommended to the government to consult the UCPN (Maoist), which wants UNMIN in Nepal for at least six more months, before taking any decision on UNMIN´s fate. [break]
"We have recommended to the government to extend UNMIN´s term, if the latter wants so, by four more months as the political parties, including the UCPN (Maoist) and the CPN-UML, have publicly said that the peace process could be completed in four months," said a member of the task force on condition of anonymity.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had formed the task force last week. It comprises special advisor to the prime minister on peace and international affairs Kul Chandra Gautam, former lieutenant general Bala Nanda Sharma and bureaucrats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.
The task force, as it could not specifically advise the government on what should be done with UNMIN after the expiry of the current mandate on September 15, has drafted two separate letters meant to be sent to the UN Security Council (UNSC) and handed them over to Prime Minister Nepal on Sunday.
"If the government wants to retain UNMIN with slightly changed mandate, the government will send one letter to the UN Security Council. Similarly, if the government wants UNMIN to continue work in Nepal but by removing Nepal Army from UNMIN´s purview, then the second letter will be sent to the UNSC," said another member of the task force on condition of anonymity.
If the first letter is sent, then the government, according to the members, will ask the UNSC to drop the already completed mandate of assisting in monitoring the ceasefire arrangements, providing technical assistance to the Election Commission in the planning and preparation and conduct of the election of the Constituent Assembly (CA).
The ceasefire ended after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November 2006 and CA elections were held in April 2008.
The normal practice is that the government sends its request to the UNSC for UNMIN´s term extension a week before the UNSC meets and by Wednesday in the present case. The UNSC is meeting on September 7.
But last time in May, the government had sent its request for renewal of the mission´s term hours before the UNSC convened, something that had made UNSC members unhappy. UNMIN is in Nepal since January 2007.
kiran@myrepublica.com
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