Kathmandu, November 30:

The presence of the chief arms monitor of the United Nations Mission in Nepal, General John Williams Wilhelmsen, at a recent function in Chitwan, which saw Maoist fighters flaunting their guns, has raised questions.

Wilhelmsen had attended the seventh People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Day at the Shaktikhor cantonment in Chitwan last Saturday.

General Wilhelmsen had attended the programme as UNMIN’s chief arms monitor and chairperson of the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC). The question is whether the function, attended by many civilians, was a citizens’ gathering, a political, public or a military assembly.

Article 5.1.5 of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) states: “Armies of both the parties (the government and the Maoists) shall not appear in combat dress or in possession of arms when holding citizens’ gatherings, political assemblies or public programmes.”

Many have questioned the presence of Wilhelmsen at this function. They are asking why

the UNMIN representative took part in a function where arms were displayed.

The Informal Sector Service Centre, in a statement, has termed the display of arms a “serious violation of the agreement.” The presence of civilians turns any programme a public programme. “We conclude that the November 24 incident has violated the provision,” it said.

The UNMIN, however, clarified that the event occurred inside the cantonment site and not outside it. “The rally took place entirely within the cantonment grounds. There is nothing in the agreement to suggest that either the PLA or NA cannot engage in parade activities within their own cantonments or barracks, including with wea-pons, for perimeter or leadership security,” UNMIN spokesperson Kieran Dwyer said in an email reaction to a query.

He said wearing uniforms inside the cantonment sites is a standard. “No weapons were taken outside the containers — the Maoist army is authorised under the terms of the agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies to have a small number of weapons outside the containers,” he added.

General Wilhelmsen, Dwyer said, attended the function in his capacity as UNMIN Chief Arms Monitor and the chairperson of the JMCC and that he has attended Nepal Army events as well.

UNMIN version

• The event occurred inside the cantonment

• wearing uniforms inside the cantonment sites is a standard

• No weapons were taken outside the containers

• Wilhelmsen, as UNMIN’s Chief Arms Monitor and chairperson of JMCC, has attended similar Nepal Army events too.

• Maoist army is authorised under the terms of the agreement on arms management to have a small number of weapons outside the containers