JUTPANI (CHITWAN), JAN 17 - The third division cantonment of the UCPN (Maoist) here at Shaktikhor, Chitwan district, bid adieu to 222 out of 258 disqualified combatants at a function on Sunday. The remaining 36 fighters will be released on Jan. 27 once their pre-SLC exams are over.

UN officials and representatives bid farewell to former Maoist fighters by smearing vermilion powder and garlanding them. 

United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) had disqulified 587 Maoist fighters cantoned in the third division camp. Among them, 367 were under 18 years of age and 220 others were recruited after the cut-off date. However, only 258 disqualified fighters were present in Sunday's farewell function.

Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal Richard Bennett, PLA Deputy Commander Chandra Prakash Khanal, joint secretary of Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction Bishnu Nepal, the German Ambassador to Nepal and the third division commander, among others, were present at the function.

Speaking at the function, Bennett said the discharged combatants could contribute to the country by acquiring vocational training.

PLA deputy commander Khanal criticised the three major parties-- the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML--as they could not provide a discharge package for the disqualified fighters. He claimed that the discharge process of disqualified combatants had started as per the wish of the party leadership and PLA headquarters respecting the spirit of the peace process. He said the discharged fighters were free to join the party's youth wing Young Communist League, the party or elsewhere as per their wish.

According to assistant commander of the camp Dipak Chilaune, 329 disqualified combatants were absent as some of them had already left the camp voluntarily and others were on home leave.

Two hundred and one disqualified combatants were discharged from the second division cantonment at Dudhauli, Sindhuli district, on Jan. 8.

 

Posted on: 2010-01-17 09:27

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