Crisis Group finds integration progress positive
Says Maoist combatant management possible in near future unless issue is misused
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KATHMANDU, AUG 18 - The International Crisis Group (ICJ) has said consensus among political parties on integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants is possible in near future if the parties give up reducing the peace process to a political bargaining chip.
In a report released on Thursday, the Brussels based think-tank urged the Nepali political actors to offer an urgent settlement to the former rebel soldiers by finding a compromise. The settlement of the peace process, according to the 35-page report, is essential for protecting the constitution drafting process and for reducing two standing armies to one.
The report has critically examined the ongoing debates among major parties on the Nepal Army-proposed integration modality and cash incentives mulled for combatants willing to accept the rehabilitation and voluntary retirement package. The report comes at a time when the Maoists and non-Maoist parties are inching closer to integrating 6,000-8,000 combatants by forming a new directorate in the Nepal Army.
The Nepal Army had floated a proposal for setting up a new directorate with non-combat duties--national-level development, rescue and relief operations, industrial security and guarding forests--early this year. While negotiations among parties continue, they are yet to find a meeting point on rank determination, norms, size and mandates of the directorate, among others issues.
“Finally, conditions in the Nepal Army are relatively favourable this time, with a chief who is willing to meet the parties part of the way,” states the ICG report. “Formal closure on the war can, and should, begin now.”
The report has urged the parties to be clear on the mandates of the directorate that will integrate the Maoist fighters. Being considered “non-combat” or unarmed is problematic for the combatants while Maoist suggestion of deploying the combatants for border security is unacceptable, states the report, stressing that Nepal's borders shouldn't be militarised.
The ICG has also urged parties to discuss whether the new directorate can participate in NA's prestigious activities such as peacekeeping operations and protection of national parksm among others. It has urged the NA to start preparations within the institution for accommodating the newly integrated combatants and urged the Maoists to rank their priorities in the ongoing negotiations.
The ICG has stressed that the combatants integrated into the Nepal Army should have a chance of reasonably successful career within the constraints of age and years of service and so should be given opportunities to catch up with their NA colleagues. Lauding discussions on bridging courses, the report says leaving integrated personnel uncompetitive could fuel discontent.
The think tank has urged stakeholders including donor communities to take lessons from the fraught 2010 exercise of discharging disqualified combatants. Attractive cash or cash and vocational training packages could attract more combatants to the rehabilitation and voluntary retirement programmes, according to the report. “...But without safeguards, the payouts could mean a large infusion of cash into Maoist coffers and become a source of political tension,” warns the report, urging the payments be made in instalments over a period of time.
Posted on: 2011-08-19 06:12
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