Parliamentary committee directs govt to extend UNMIN's term

KATHMANDU, April 8: The International Relations and Human Rights Committee of the parliament has directed the government to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) until the peace process does not come to an end.



As the three-year old peace process is yet to come to a logical conclusion, the mandate of the UN political mission should be reviewed if necessary, the committee said, after holding a discussion with the prime minister and law makers on Thursday. [break]



The committee´s direction comes at a time there is confusion whether the mandate of the UNMIN will be extended after the current term expires on May 15. It has already had four extensions since it was first set up in January 2007 for a year.



Speaking in the committee meeting, Prime Minister Madhav Kuamr Nepal said that the government is holding consultations at the political level on the future of the UNMIN. he added that if there is consensus, the UNMIN´s term could be extended again. If not, we are capable of handling the process, he further said.



Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Maoist Vice Chairman, said that the government should stop criticizing the UNMIN and should be ready to give broader mandate to drive the peace process to a logical end.

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