The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M) on Tuesday came in for sharp criticism from the United Nations Mission to Nepal (UNMIN) and most political parties for breach of the peace pact, a day after 19 of its combatants temporarily left the designated cantonment with arms, ostensibly to provide protection to Maoist chief Prachanda.

The combatants who deserted the UNMIN-monitored camp in west Nepal’s Kapilvastu district were detained by police for four hours, and then handed over to the UNMIN. Nine weapons found in their possession with UN registration mark were also handed over.

The UNMIN and most parties criticised the Maoists, calling this ‘unauthorised absence’ a breach of the peace agreement. But Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma said the parties were trying to magnify the case. “Where is it written that they cannot give security to their leaders,” he asked, adding that the fighters had come out of the camp to give security to Prachanda during his presence in their area.

Expressing concern, UNMIN said it violated the Agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies of December 2006 signed by the CPN-M and the interim government. The UNMIN said it would take up the issue with the joint monitoring panel, which has representatives from the army and the Maoists.

The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML that heads the government also criticised the move, saying such an act should be treated as a serious breach of the peace pact.