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Nepalese Maoist chief strongly objects to govt's UN letter

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, July 25, IRNA
Nepal-Maoist Leader-UN
Strongly expressing disagreement over certain points of the government letter sent to the United Nations, Maoist Chairman Prachanda on Monday sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to register their (Maoists) strong protest.

In the letter sent to Annan, Prachanda said, "The letter (sent by the government on July 2) was written and sent unilaterally and secretively without any consultation with us in utter violation of the spirit of ongoing negotiation between the Government of Nepal and the CPN (Maoist)," Kantipur report said.

He added that the Maoists came to know about the letter through the media after nearly three weeks, 'and hence this delay to register our disagreement over it'.

"More importantly, the content of the letter, particularly as stated in points nos. 3 & 4, is in complete violation of the 12-point understanding of November 22, 2005 and 8-point Agreement of June 16, 2006 reached between the two sides," said Prachanda.

He clarified that clause-3 of the 8-point agreement clearly states: "To request the United Nations to assist in the management of the armies and arms of both sides (emphasis added) and to monitor it for a free and fair election to the constituent assembly." The rebel leader said, "Such arbitrary and unilateral application of two different yardsticks to the two armies is highly objectionable and totally unacceptable to us. Particularly any talk of 'decommissioning' of arms of only the PLA before the election to the constituent assembly is just unthinkable."

Claiming that the Nepal Army (NA) is still 'loyal to the autocratic monarchy', the Maoist supremo said democratic restructuring of the NA and keeping it under credible international monitoring is more important for free and fair elections to the constituent assembly.

Prachanda also said his party shall be happy to cooperate in any manner with the UN team planning to visit Nepal soon.

In the letter sent to Annan on July 2, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had asked the world body to assist to monitor the combatants of the Maoist and decommissioning of their arms, and to assure that the Nepal Army is inside barrack and not being used for or against any side, in order to ensure free and fair constituent assembly elections.

The letter had also asked the UN to continue monitoring of human rights through Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, assist to monitor the code of conduct during the ceasefire.

Requesting the UN to observe the election process to the constituent assembly elections, the PM in the letter asked the UN secretary general to start extending the necessary support of the UN to hold the polls by mid-April 2007.

Leaders of various political parties, including the Maoists, had been criticizing the government for not consulting them before sending the letter to the UN.

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