UN concerned about reports on "unregistered" arms

NEPAL:UN mission concerned about reports on "unregistered" arms

The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has expressed concern about media reports that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) has weapons and combatants outside the cantonment sites.

"The United Nations Mission in Nepal is concerned about media reports quoting Maoist chairman Prachanda as saying that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) retains weapons and combatants outside the cantonment sites," said a press statement issued by the UNMIN on Tuesday.

According to the reports, Prachanda, addressing a mass meeting on Monday, said these combatants and weapons were not registered as they "couldn't meet United Nations standards" and claimed that the party still had strength to carry out large scale attacks.

Head of the UNMIN Ian Martin on Tuesday inquired about these reports with the party's leaders, who "maintained that the reports were incorrect." The UN mission said it would seek further clarification from the party leadership.

"Any reports of unregistered Maoist army weapons outside the cantonment sites will be investigated by UNMIN and the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC)," the UNMIN stated and made clear that any unregistered weapons would be treated as a violation of existing agreements and be illegal.

"UNMIN calls on the Maoist to fulfill its commitment to report any unregistered weapons to the JMCC," the statement said.

The UNMIN also said that all unlicensed firearms still in the community, whether held by those associated with the CPN-M or by other groups or individuals, should be brought under the control of the police in order to assist in establishing a climate conducive to free and fair elections to the Constituent Assembly.