Govt sends 3rd request to UNMIN for logistics

KATHMANDU, Jan 12: With UNMIN demanding a consensus request for possible transfer of its monitoring logistics and equipments to the government, the government has made yet another plea to the UN mission to give it the monitoring-related UN equipment on loan after UNMIN´s departure on January 15.

The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction sent a “consensus” letter to this effect Tuesday evening following a directive from the office of the Special Committee located at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (PMO), according to a source at the PMO.

While asking the ministry to make the request to UNMIN, the Special Committee office said that the Special Committee for Integration and Rehabilitation had “unanimously” decided on December 19 to seek the monitoring-related equipment from UNMIN on loan.

“This letter is based on that consensus decision, something UNMIN has been demanding from us,” said the source on condition of anonymity.

This is the third letter from the government to UNMIN for the equipment and logistics. The ministry had sent a letter to the same effect on December 20, which was followed by a letter from the PMO on December 31.

The government made the latest request to UNMIN after the outgoing UN mission sought a consensus request -- an agreement between the government and the UCPN (Maoist) -- for the UN equipment. While briefing the Security Council last Wednesday, UNMIN chief Karin Landgren had sought a consensus request for possible transfer of the monitoring-related equipment to the government, cautioning that the UN would not be able to hand over the equipment in the absence of such a consensus.

She also reiterated the UN position on transfer of the equipment at a press meet on Monday, saying that UNMIN would start withdrawing the valuable equipment from the cantonments after midnight, January 15 if the parties fail to agree on a future monitoring mechanism.

But the latest letter, according to a source, is silent on another UNMIN condition for transfer of the monitoring equipment, that the government should specify the mechanism that will use it after the handover.

Meanwhile, the Special Committee is meeting on Wednesday to discuss transfer of UNMIN´s supervision role to it.

No technical rollover

Though many, including the UCPN (Maoist), continue to expect a technical rollover of UNMIN in the absence of any replacement mechanism, the UN Security Council is coming up with a resolution on Friday simply thanking UNMIN chief Landgren and UNMIN staff. The UN Security Council has shared the resolution with the government.

A meeting of the prime minister and senior Nepali Congress leaders has discussed the draft. “The government is happy with the resolution,” said a source participating in the meeting.

Only reporting mechanism

Meanwhile, the government has prepared its position on the possible reporting mechanism to be set up in Nepal, for reporting to UN Headquarters on the peace process after UNMIN´s exit.

“The government is going to tell the Department of Political Affairs at the UN that Nepal will not accept any mechanism that will have more than a reporting capacity,” said a source in the know.

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