KAILALI, JAN 31 - Three hundred thirty-four disqualified combatants of the UCPN (Maoist) People's Liberation Army (PLA) left the Seventh Division Cantonment of Talabandh in the district of Kailali, amid a function on Saturday.

Maoist deputy commander Chandra Prakash Khanal, United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) representatives, and government officials were present at the function, which was organised to bid farewell to the fifth batch of Maoist combatants.

Of a total of 468 UNMIN disqualified combatants, however, only 334 were present at Saturday's farewell function. A source from the cantonment said that the rest of the fighters had already left the camps voluntarily. Another 134 discharged fighters boycotted the farewell function and also rejected the offer to receive an identity card and a travel allowance of Rs. 22,000, stating that they had decided to boycott the discharge as the government had devalued their contributions to the establishment of the republic. The boycotting combatants left the cantonment, vowing to face any kinds of challenges presented by the government.

Speaking at the programme, deputy commander Khanal said that the fighters had been discharged from the cantonments in a bid to support the peace process and complete the drafting of the constitution within the stipulated time. Khanal also expressed his dissatisfaction with the disqualification of the PLA fighters just measuring their stature and chest.

Narendra Singh Dhami of Baitadi said that the group was leaving the camp asdirected by policy makers of the party as part of the peace-building process. “I will help the party even though I am leaving with a heavy heart,” Dhami said. Discharged fighters vented ire at the government and party for their decision to release them from the camp.

“How can we be disqualified, we, who have contributed so much to the People's War?” questioned Jagat Pariyar of Bajhang, while coming out of the camp.

Posted on: 2010-01-31 09:25

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