Kathmandu, April 12:

United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) today completed the registration of Nepalese Army’s weapons by storing 2,855 weapons including rifles, machine guns, sub-machine guns, pistols and mortars at the Chauni Barracks.

The arms are stored in locked containers, the key being retained by a Nepalese Army commander, under 24-hour monitoring by UNMIN arms monitors together with electronic surveillance.

The number of weapons registered and stored is the same as those stored under UNMIN monitoring by the Maoist army, and they are of similar types. The arrangements for registration, storage and monitoring of weapons are identical for those in place for the Maoist army.

“The storage of the Nepalese Army weapons has been complete. I have seen the containers being locked. The weapons registered are equal in number to that of Maoists, and is equivalent in type,” said Ian Martin, the Personal Representative of the UN Secretary General. He told this to reporters at the Chauni Barracks after he inspected the final registration and storage process.

Rating the cooperation of Nepalese Army as “excellent”, he added that the Nepalese Army has “absolutely fulfilled its commitment” as per the agreements made in the past. As the Nepalese Army did not have some weapons, which Maoists have, according to Martin, the Army has stored some “superior weapons” like factory made mortars.

Asked about the storage of 96 weapons, which the Maoists have retained for personal security of their leaders, Martin said that the UNMIN has no direct involvement in that regard.

“It has not been fianlised and we will keep asking both the sides to complete it as early as possible because with (their) agreement we can be able to store those weapons into the containers in cantonments,” said Martin.

Fourteen UN registration teams, supported by the UNDP, registered each weapon individually, attaching a barcode to each weapon before it was stored in containers.

Following the inspection, Martin and General Jan Erik Wilhelmsen also met the Chief of the Army Staff, General Rookmangud Katwal, and expressed appreciation for the “excellent cooperation” of the Nepalese Army.

On second phase of verification of the Maoist combatants would begin, Martin said that the issue was being discussed.