Dahal mandate to make "any compromise"
Maoists flexible on numbers, rank; determined to have combat role
Useful Links
» A new way to read online, exact replica of your daily and magazine
» For all you tweety fans out there!
» Allows you to find only those news from any date you choose!
» Search any news/ articles by author/ category/ date/ keyword
KATHMANDU, AUG 20 - The UCPN (Maoist) on Saturday decided to take a 'flexible stance' on numbers, rank determination and norms for integrating its combatants--mandating its Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to make "any compromise" except on the issue of combat role for the integrated forces. The decision appears to be a last-ditch effort to form a national consensus government under the party's leadership.
The Standing Committee meeting that took place at party headquarters Parisdanda on Saturday also decided to prepare a document on integration and rehabilitation of combatants and which would be presented at the three-party meet slated for Sunday, the last day provided by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to form a national consensus government. Leaders say they will bring a time-bound action plan for the integration and rehabilitation of combatants.
According to a senior Maoist leader, their SC meet has mandated the party's talk team headed by Chairman Dahal to make "any compromise" with other parties regarding the peace process in line with the Central Committee decision of July 22 outlining the party's bottomline on peace and constitution writing. “The party's talk team is entrusted with demonstrating a flexible stance on technical issues such as numbers, rank determination and norms,” said a Standing Committee member privy to the development. “However, such a decision should not be against the policy set by party on integration.”
Though the Maoists have been demanding that some 8,000-10,000 combatants be integrated, the SC meet has made an understanding that the party could accept the integration of 7,000 combatants if all issues are resolved in a package. “The number could be even less if we formulate an attractive and handsome rehabilitation package,” said party Standing Committee member and Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma.
Regarding rank determination, which is another bone of contention, Maoist leaders say they are ready to adopt a "practical approach considering the sensitivities of Nepal Army". “In today's meeting, we discussed that top PLA commanders can join politics instead of joining Nepal Army.This will settle the issue regarding whether the top notch of PLA would join the Army or not,” said another Maoist leader.
About the norms and standards, Maoist leaders say their party is ready to accept the international standard that every individual opting for integration should meet the norms of security agencies. However, other parties should give them a face-saver by agreeing to group entry after fulfilling norms. NC and UML are saying that group entry is impossible but they are ready to keep combatants in a group during the training period.
The SC meeting, however, decided not to demonstrate flexibility on the party's stance that the integrated force should get combat role, contrary to the proposal floated by NA. “If our combatants fulfill the norms, they should get combat role. We are not ready to become flexible on this issue,” said Sharma. The party's hardline faction is warning not to compromise with other parties on some policy related issues of integration such as combat role after integration and bulk entry into security forces. The faction maintains that combatants should be mobilized for border security as well.
Posted on: 2011-08-21 06:18
Post Your Comment