KATHMANDU: The government and United Missions in Nepal are at loggerheads, as the latter has refused to provide certain data and information regarding the UCPN-Maoist combatants.

The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, some days ago had sought confidential data on the Maoist army personnel — their strength, photos and other details — from UNMIN, which has turned down their request.

In a meeting with Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong, UNMIN Chief Karen Landgren said the United Nations would treat such information from the parties with appropriate confidentiality. The government claims that approximately 40 per cent Maoist combatants have left the cantonments and there is need to recount their actual strength in cantonments. The government asked UNMIN to provide the actual number of combatants after it was revealed that 40 per cent disqualified combatants had left the cantonments before the discharge process. There are 19,600 UNMIN-verified Maoist combatants in the cantonments. The cabinet has also formed a committee to assess the number of combatants and assess the status of cantonments.

Even the Nepali Army has urged the government to initiate the process to recount Maoist combatants before the integration and rehabilitation process begins. The government that has been is providing a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 to each of the the PLA combatant, suspects that many fighters have left cantonments supervised by UNMIN. It also suspects that the Maoist leadership is pocketing part of the sum the finance ministry awards to Maoist combatants. UCPN-Maoist has been allegedly collecting Rs 1,000 from each combatant for party funds.

“We have been told by several sources that there are less than 19,600 PLA combatants in the cantonments and we need to ascertain how many are actually left to facilitate the payment issue and make it transparent,” said a source at the Ministry of Peace.

The Peace Ministry has been saying fresh data is a must to stop the misuse of the allowances meant for the Maoist combatants. Ten ruling parties had decided some days back to seek the actual strength of the combatants from UNMIN.

It has stated that the number of Maoist army personnel present in cantonments is the concern of the PLA just as the number of army personnel is the responsibility of the Nepali Army, who should also provide accurate and updated data on its strength. UNMIN added that neither the Nepali Army nor the Maoist army had done so. UN Secretary General had requested the Nepali Army and the Maoists to provide their actual strength. UNMIN reiterated to the ministry its readiness to assist in a manner that would not require the mission to compromise United Nations obligations or impartiality.