ROLPA, FEB 11 - Twenty-one-year old Sarad Oli is one among hundreds of youth discharged from the UCPN (Maoist) People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fifth division camp based at Dahaban of Rolpa district recently. A one-time Maoist fighter, Oli was disqualified by the UN for joining the PLA as a minor.

Oli, who hails from Chailahi VDC-9 of Dang district, had joined the Maoists six years ago when he was just 15 years old. He was assigned to PLA’s Gandak Block with a SLR rifle to fight the state army.

Being stamped ineligible by the UN was a hard pill to swallow for Oli, he says. “For years I worked with guns, but now, returning home and seeking another profession will be quite a challenge.” 

He is not pleased with the government introduced rehabilitation package for disqualified combatants. “I didn’t join the battle so that one day I could learn how to rear animals, learn other vocational training programmes or go back to school,” he says.

Oli, who comes from a poor family, left school years before opting for an insurgent’s life.  He left school at an early age due to the family’s financial problem and went to India for job. While he was at home on holiday, he decided to join the Maoist with some of his friends in the village.

“If the government is providing skill-based jobs, then the security sector is the only place I can enter,” he says. “I don’t wish to work for the party. I wish to join the Army or police force. And if both options don’t work out, I will try to find work as a security guard.”

Ramesh Karki, another discharged PLA fighter from Kadagithi of Salyan district, seconds Oli’s view. “We have more battle skill than political. I will wait for security agencies to announce recruitment.” Another disqualified combatant, Usha Adhikari from Jhenam village of Rolpa, was disappointed with the UN’s ruling.

Posted on: 2010-02-11 09:02

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