Kathmandu, 29 November 2006 (IRIN) Maoist rebels and Nepal's interim government signed a formal agreement on the management of both sides' arms and weapons on Tuesday night.
United Nations monitoring team members will have unlimited access throughout the process to monitor both Maoist cantonment camps and army barracks to ensure the agreement is being implemented. The agreement also holds both sides accountable for identifying and assisting child soldiers and support staff. The rebels have thousands of children working for them, according to NGOs working for children's rights. Important for civilians caught up in the conflict, both armies will also cooperate in identifying landmines and booby traps - still a major threat to the lives of many people in rural areas. All landmines and booby traps have to be dealt with in two months, although experts suggest making the country mine-free could take many years and significant resources. Rebel officers and soldiers are due to be integrated into a new national security force at some point in the future. Their eligibility will be decided by a special committee formed from a new interim council of ministers to be created in December. The
Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC) composed of the UN, the
government and Maoists will be the main coordinating body for monitoring
arms and armies, Sitaula said.
Copyright © UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2006 [ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations] Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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