UNMIN’S FIRM RESPONSE

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 Oct.: In an immediate and police response, UNMIN Tuesday told the peace ministry Maoists didn’t inform the UN political arm of the travel plans of commanders in 28 cantonments and satellite camps.
The response came 24 hours after the government, through the peace ministry, asked UNMIN for purpose of a Maoist PML delegation’s visit to China during Dasain and whether UNMIN’s permission was sought.
UNMIN monitors 19,000 former Maoist combatants in camps preparing for integration and resettlement.
UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren responded to the government’s ill-conceived and undiplomatic initiative as it prepares to quit Nepal 15 January 2011.
Government should have taken up the issue with Maoists and China in the first place.
Landgren maintained Maoist former combatants didn’t need UNMIN’s permission to travel during authorized leave.
“UNMIN confirms that the Maoist army did not approach the mission regarding the travel plan of its commanders in this specific case,” adding such permission wasn’t required during authorized leave under the terms of the Agreement on Monitoring the Management of Arms and Armies (AMMAA).
“The United Nations Mission in Nepal has clarified that the provision of AMMAA have never required UNMIN’s permission for specific travel of Maoist army personnel on authorised leave,” the UNMIN response said.
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PM NEPAL IVITED TO RUSSIA TO ATTEND TIGER MEET

Kathmandu, 26 Oct.: Outgoing Russiam Andrey Leonidovich Trofimov Tuesday delivered a letter of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inviting Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to attend an international conference in Saint Petersburg to attend a conference to save the endangered tiger.
The conference in being conducted from 21 to 24 November.
Nepal is one of 13 tiger states.
Ambassador Trofimov handed over to Nepal an invitation letter from Putin.
Nepal hasn’t traveled abroad after his resignation as prime minister.
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EC INVITES LUMBUWAN LEADERS FOR TALKS

Kathmandu, 26 Oct.: Election Commission (EC) Tuesday invited through letter Limbuwan leaders for talks to discuss their protests against the commission’s on-going drive to prepare a digital voters’ list.
The autonomy leaders in the East Tuesday closed down the district protesting the drive.
Area leaders said the effort should be conducted by a regional administration.
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TWO PISTOLS, ILLECIT BREW SEIZED FROM BHUTANESE REFUGEE CAMP

Kathmandu, 26 Oct. Armed Police Force (AFP), Beldangi Security Base Camp, Monday seized two pistols and home-made alcohol from a hut of a Bhutanese refugee at Belgandi-2 in Jhapa.
Sixty liters of illegal brew was seized from a hut.
No arrests were made.
The illicit brew was destroyed in the presence of local leaders and camp management committee.
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