Martin confirms 30,852 militants, modalities for second stage under discussions

Affirm United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Chief Ian Martin on Friday informed that total number of the Maoists combatants registered at the seven main cantonment sites and satellite cantonment sites is 30852 and the number of the arms registered so far is 3428.

In a press conference organized to inform the latest activities of the UNMIN Martin said that UNMIN completed the first stage of registration of the combatants.

He said UNMIN was in process of registering members of the Maoist army currently engaged in leadership arrangement or undergoing medical treatment outsides the cantonment sites.

"Brief details of each cantonments have been recorded at the first stage of the registration, but have not verified, each combatant have photographed and issued with an identity card with a UN bar code" Martin said "Detailed information will be collected through individual interviews at the second stage of registration."

UNMIN Chief Martin also informed that full modalities of the second stage process were not decided as the discussion in this regard was underway. Without presenting the date, he said second stage was expected to begin by Mid-Mach.

Martin said Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee (JMCC) has agreed to compare the list of Maoists arms to the breakdown by types of 3430 weapons made available by Nepal Army (NA) and report its conclusion to the parties.

Detailing how the weapons were stored, Martin said the weapons and ammunition stored at the seven Maoist army cantonment sites were locked in storage containers furnished with shelves for safe weapons storage and easy control with a complete inventory.

Making clear to the role of UN whether or not Maoists should be allowed for the entry into interim government, he said "The determination as to whether the registration, storage and monitoring are sufficient to allow for the entry for the Maoist into interim government is a decision to be made by Nepal's political leadership"

In reference to the cantoned militants' move of leaving the camps, Martin urged both parties to cooperate over urgent measures.