Six UN arms monitors arrive; Martin concerned over obstruction of RPP activities
The six UN arms monitors have arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday and they are expected to start their jobs from January 7.
Addressing a press conference, Ian Martin, Personal Representative of the UN Secretary General, said, on Friday, that the six monitors – who hail from Canada, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jordan, Uruguay and Yemen – will join the four military advisers from Finland, Norway and Switzerland and will be operational from January 7 after a short period of training. He said more monitors will arrive in a matter of few days to bring the initial group to 15.
"Soon after we expect the arrival of further 20 monitors, bringing the total to the 35 agreed by the Security Council," he said adding that after mid-January, the full group will be operational.
In the first week, the monitors will start registration of weapons followed by that of combatants. "UNDP will be assisting the monitors in the registration process with technical expertise and personnel," Martin said.
He said the recruitment of ex-Gurkhas personnel, which is underway, will enable the 24-hour presence at weapons storage sites earlier than the UN deployment on its own could permit. The UN had taken part in discussions between the government and the Maoists, leading to the formation of Interim Task Force (ITF) of ex-Gurkhas.
"The ITF will be phased out as the deployment of the UN monitors reaches the required strength," Martin said.
He also informed that many of the 25 electoral advisers will arrive in Kathmandu by mid-January.
In New York, the Secretary General is soon expected to submit his report to the Security Council based on which the council is expected to mandate the mission following which further budgetary authority can be requested and additional personnel recruited. The Security Council is expected to discuss the report in the second week of January. At present, it is estimated that monitors numbering 150-200 will be recruited for the full-fledged monitoring mission.
Concern over obstructions
Meanwhile, Martin has expressed concerns about the complaints he received from two political parties about the obstruction in their activities.
"The RPP led by Pashupati SJB Rana has complained that its members are not being allowed to hold positions, that Rana himself had been prevented to speak in Sindhupalchowk. Likewise, RPP-Nepal led by Rabindra Nath Sharma has complained about attacks against its workers in Pokhara and in Baluwatar," Martin said.
"I must stress that the right of all political parties to carry out peaceful activities throughout the country is essential for the credibility of the electoral process, and the credibility of the electoral process is essential for the credibility of the constitution-making process," he said, adding, "Whether it is royalist or not, each political party is entitled to carry out peaceful activities."
Martin informed that complaints involving allegations of violations of international human rights standards are well within the mandate of OHCHR to investigate.
Martin also expressed concern regarding recent events in Nepalgunj and in the eastern terai. nepalnews.com sd Dec 29 06
Related News
- UN monitors arriving within 10 days; assessment report is ready
