KATHMANDU, MAR 09 -

Leaders of major political parties underscored that the integration and management of the Maoist combatants should be taken ahead by forging agreement among the parties.

The leaders stressed on the need to forge a new agreement, saying that the agreement on the resettlement, management, and integration of the Maoist combatants as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the interim constitution has been breached repeatedly.

During an interaction on ‘easy management and integration of Maoist combatants’ organised by Nepal Tarun Dal, the sister organisation of Nepali Congress,  in the capital today, UCPN (Maoist) leader Janardan Sharma said his party is likely to become flexible on the number of combatants to be integrated if there is a guarantee of peace and statute drafting.

He opined that the issue of army integration should be finalised at political level as it is a part of the peace process.

"No integration of politically indoctrinated fighters"

Arguing that the Maoist combatants are politically indoctrinated, UML leader Pradeep Gyawali opposed the integration of the Maoist combatants in the national army.

He said the UNMIN-verified combatants are eligible for possible integration. But the ones who are on the par with the standard of security agencies should be taken up, he opined.

Gyawali said the new constitution cannot be drafted ‘under the shadow of gun barrel’ and the Maoists should not stake claim for the government leadership.

Be responsible to state first: Khand

Likewise, Irrigation Minister Bal Krishna Khand said the Maoist combatants, who are living at the taxpayers’ expenses, cannot be integrated unless they become committed to the state.

While claiming that the CPA does not talk about bulk integration of Maoist combatants, he said there is no alternative to take ahead the integration process by forging consensus.

 



Posted on: 2010-03-09 05:33

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