Nepal parties seek reduced mandate for UN body

The Nepali Army could soon be kept away from purview of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), the UN body monitoring the peace process in Nepal. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Aug 29, 2010, 18:11:19 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The Nepali Army could soon be kept away from purview of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), the UN body monitoring the peace process in Nepal.

Leaders of most political parties in Constituent Assembly on Sunday told caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal that UNMIN should be given another extension with a revised mandate.

Leaders from UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum were absent from the meeting called by Nepal.

The term of UNMIN, which is monitoring both Nepali Army and Peoples' Liberation Army, the military wing of Maoists, is to expire on September 15.

There have been differences among political parties on whether to give another extension to UNMIN. Maoists want it to stay for another six months to ensure completion of the peace process.

"UNMIN has been ineffective in carrying out its mandate. An extension should be given and it should be asked only to monitor the PLA cadres," said Nepali Congress leader Ram Saran Mahat.

Constituted in January 2007, UNMIN had a two-year-tenure to monitor the peace process. But delay in completion of the process has led to it getting several extensions.

Unhappy with its role, Nepali Army wants it to leave the country after the September 15 deadline. Defence Minister Vidya Bhandari has also accused it of being a spokesperson of the Maoists.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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