UNMIN chief against re-verification of Maoist fighters

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 7 June: UNMIN Chief Karen Langrin said re-verification of 19,000 plus Maoists combatants won’t help the peace process.
She said this in an interview published in Nepali language in Kantipur Sunday.
“A special committee of [UNMIN Maoists and Nepal Army] should look into this. Its decision can be important. We should understand what will happen in the re-verification process.
“Going into re-verification with the concept of only 8,000 combatants is meaningless. This is a difficult exercise. Re-verification will not help the peace process,” she said in reply to a question “What’s your reaction to Congress demand for re-verification?”
Congress, now in government, made the demand after Prachanda claimed in a videotape interview Maoists had duped UNMIN into verifying 19,000 combatants while the actual strength was only 7,000 to 8,000 fighters.
She also didn’t address concerns generated in the claim that Maoists were set to start a rebellion in the state army through integration and the purchase of arms by misusing funds set aside for combatants.
“I wrote in the report [to the security council]’ ‘this has been mentioned’ only. The situation was different then. Prachanda said he worked on basis of agreement.
“It’s another matter if he took the Congress agreement or not on that subject. But I was told the works was done on basis of agreement.
“I feel sorry this has been interpreted differently.” she said in reply to a question she pushed for the dismissal of Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal when while Congress pushed for his continuation.
She admitted the Prachanda ‘created quite a tension’.
“It doesn’t look combatants will be rehabilitated by 23 July.
“ We will be waiting whether the mandate of the UNMIN will be extended,” she said in reply to a question whether the mandate of UNMIN will be extended after 23 July..
She said that is for Nepal government, political parties, secretary general, and security council to decide.
“There’s a big possibility of a clash here. Its’s true the peace process has been endangered,” she said of latest internal political developments.
nnnn

Maoists, UPN-UML exchange abuses
Kathmandu, 7 June: CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal Saturday asked party workers to counterattack for self-defence.
Khanal issued the directive to activists while addressing workers at a rally in Ramechap where party general secretary Ishwor Pokhrel was attacked by Maoists; he escaped unhurt.
“Don’t’ remain quiet when attacked; you counterattack. This is a party directive,” he said even while adopting a soft approach to Maoists compared to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
“Maoist anarchist cadres are responsible for the fall of their own government,’ he harshly called them Fascists, extremists while protecting criminals.
Maoists also continued their attacks against CPN-UML.
Dr Baburam Bhattarai Saturday called them ‘counterrevolutionaries’ and ‘puppets’.
Nnnn

Two dozen persons in Kavre firing and teargas shelling

Kathmandu, 7 June: More that two dozen people who defied a strike clashed with Maoists in Kavre Sunday were injured.
Maoist office in Banepa attacked by locals.
Police fired in the air and lobbed teargas shells to control mobs during the violence.
Several vehicles were also damaged.
nnnn