E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, AUG 06 -

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday said his party will come up with a “rational proposal” to forge consensus on integration and rehabilitation of PLA combatants. He, however, said the prime minister should resign, whether the peace process gains momentum or not.

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal has already announced that he will step down if no concrete progress is had in the process process by Aug 13.

In three-party talks on Friday, Dahal said his party is prepared to move ahead and committed to demonstrate flexibility on the integration modality, norms, number of combatants to be integrated, rank determination policy and rehabilitation package. Opposition leaders present in the meeting said they could see ‘a sense of urgency’ this time around in the Maoist leadership to set the stalled peace process rolling again.

“There was no progress in the peace process all these years because of the impractical proposals floated by the Maoists. This time, they have expressed commitment to come up with flexible proposals,” said Nepali Congress leader and Special Committee member Ram Sharan Mahat.

The major parties agreed in principle to form a Directorate General of National Development and Security in the Nepal Army to integrate the former combatants and are closer to consensus in accepting 7,000 Maoist fighters in the proposed structure.

Officially, the Maoists have demanded that the combatants should be integrated in bulk and a PLA commander should be given the leadership role in the new structure.

However, insiders in the Maoist party say Dahal is mulling a revision to what has been agreed in principle with the parties, mainly to take the hardline leaders into confidence.

Sources said Dahal is all set to propose to the opposition parties that a PLA commander be given a position of deputy director general (a brigadier general) or a leadership position in one of the three directorates proposed by the Army in its new wing.

They are demanding that at least two positions of colonel should be given to the PLA, while the rehabilitation package should be in the range of Rs 800,000 to 1,000,000.

 “We can accept NA’s leadership for the time being, but parties should ensure that it will be transferred to us after the completion of the bridging courses,” said Maoist Politburo member Haribol Gajurel.

According to him, a technical team can be formed to fix the policy for determining the rest of the ranks and that regrouping can start once there is consensus among  parties on the mandate, leadership and numbers in the directorate and agreement on the rehab package. Growing frustration among fighters in camps is a reason for Dahal’s willingness to see progress in the peace process, argued a Maoist leader. “Frustrated, 45 percent of verified combatants are living outside the cantonments. If integration is delayed further, the situation will get worse,” said a Politburo member.

Maoist leaders have said they are ready to start the regrouping process within a week, if other parties give them the responsibility. They say they are also ready to go through the survey process, which according to a plan prepared by the Special Committee, will need at least 40 days. The first option has been criticised by non-Maoist parties who insist that combatants, and not the party, should be given freedom to choose their future.

The major parties have principally agreed to provide concessions in age, education and marital criteria set by the Nepal Army, but are yet to formalise it from the Special Committee.

Posted on: 2011-08-06 08:48

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