Speaking at a press conference organized by Revolutionary Journalists´ Association in Dang, Mahara, who is the UCPN (Maoist) Foreign Relations Department chief, argued that the Maoists had not agreed in September to make the four-month extension the last.[break]
Mahara alleged that the government was preparing to send off UNMIN without Maoist consent. He argued that though they had discussed other issues in detail, they never agreed that the term extension would be the last.
UNMIN´s term is expiring January 15.
"There is Indian hand behind the government decision to not extend UNMIN´s term," he said. "The government decided not to extend the term of UNMIN following pressure from India."
Mahara argued that since the Agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies, reached between the government and the Maoists after the peace process began, has been made part of the Interim Constitution, UNMIN´s term should be extended till the constitution promulgation deadline. He added that failure to extend UNMIN´s term would mean inviting constitutional crisis.
Mahara said that the departure of UNMIN has almost been confirmed now. "We have requested for keeping some form of its unit even after its departure. Monitoring [of arms and armies] will be done by that unit," he added.
He also said that a new government would be formed only after settling the issue of UNMIN´s term.
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