E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, NOV 19 - UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren on Thursday urged the UCPN (Maoist) not to let PLA attend the party’s Nov. 21 plenum and warned its participation in political activity would violate peace accords signed by the parties. An informal Maoist response indicates the party is unlikely to oblige.

Landgren wrote to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, saying, “PLA presence in the plenum is contrary to the spirit of Agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”

UNMIN said that in principle the combatants are under jurisdiction of the Special Committee on the Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist Combatants. “UNMIN urges the Maoists and all parties to peace agreements to act in good faith towards their obligation and refrain from activities that could have a negative impact on the peace process,” read the letter. UNMIN Spokesperson Kosmos Bishwokarma said they are yet to get a reply from the Maoists.

Talking to the Post, PLA Chief Nanda Kishore Pun ‘Pasang’ said UNMIN’s stand was invalid and argued that no peace agreement bars combatants from attending the plenum on an ‘individual basis’. “The peace agreements only prohibit combatants from attending political functions with arms and in military dress. It doesn’t bar them from attending such functions on an individual basis,” he said. “The plenum will hold crucial discussions on integration and rehabilitation and the party can’t reach any conclusion by keeping combatants out of the debate,” he added.

Pun added that the PLA can reconsider its plan if there is new agreement among parties to transfer the command of the combatants to the Special Committee by Sunday morning. “We are yet to formally come under the Special Committee, so we will wait till Sunday morning for a new agreement to take place among the parties,” he said. “Otherwise, some PLA members will continue the tradition of attending crucial meetings of the party.”

Earlier, around 1,200 combatants were expected to attend the plenum. Pun declined to divulge the exact number.

Posted on: 2010-11-19 08:08

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