Maoists refuse verification of combatants citing political deadlock

The CPN-Maoist has refused to allow immediate verification of its combatants confined in cantonments under United Nations monitoring, citing "deadlock" in the political process, and poor living conditions of combatants - an obligation of the government.

In a meeting on Monday of the UN-chaired Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee, that comprises members from the Nepali Army and the Maoists' People's Liberation Army (PLA), Maoist representatives said they would allow verification immediately after the political deadlock is broken and the government fulfills the physical requirements at the cantonments.

The political process hit a roadblock after the Election Commission said it wouldn't be possible to hold constituent assembly elections, which were scheduled for June.

Likewise, Maoists have been saying that the government hasn't released adequate budget to Maoist combatants for food and accommodation.

"Also, the government hasn't yet released the monthly salary of Rs 3000 for each combatant for a period of five months as agreed before the formation of the interim government," Nanda Kishor Pun Pasang, who is the vice-chairman of JMCC, said "Otherwise, the government wouldn't have been formed in the first place."

Pasang also questioned how verification could start when "the combatants don't have food to eat and place to live". "It's not true that we are blocking the verification process… Even the draft of an agreement that should be approved by the JMCC prior to the start of verification hasn't been readied."

The total number of Maoist combatants and weapons registered with the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) is 31,152 and 3,475 respectively.

On April 12, after completing registration of Nepali Army weapons, UNMIN had said it would start verification, the second phase of the arms management process, "shortly". Earlier in February, after completing the registration of Maoist combatants and their weapons, UNMIN had said verification would start mid-March. The deadline was later pushed to May 1.