E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 10 - The Cabinet is yet to endorse the decision to set up a new general directorate for the integration of former Maoist fighters and issue a formal instruction to the Ministry of Defence and the Nepal Army for making necessary preparations.

Top leaders of three major parties and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha had signed the army integration deal on November 1. The implementing agencies--the Ministry of Defence and the Nepal Army--have not yet received any official correspondence on the decision, according to sources. 

"A new general directorate can be formed in the Nepal Army only after a Cabinet decision. We have not received any official information regarding the decision and have not conducted any discussion with the Nepal Army so far,” said Dwarika Prasad Acharya, spokesperson at the Defence Ministry.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar has looked after the Defence Ministry portfolio after dismissal of Sharat Singh Bhandari from the post. While Gachhadar looks after affairs related to the Home Ministry, State Minister Ram Bachchan Ahir (Yadav) is at the helm of the ministry that commands over 93,000 strong Army.

"There has not been any official exercise at the ministry. But when I recently met the Army chief, he apprised me of the preparations that were under way to select the barracks where the combatants to be integrated will undergo their training," said the state minister.

Sources at the Prime Minister's Office said the government would move ahead with the process of setting up the directorate after the regrouping process concludes. “This is the second step. The government will speed up the implementation process after the regrouping process concludes,” PM's aide Bishwodeep Pandey quoted Bhattarai as saying.

Meanwhile, the cross-party Special Committee headed by PM Baburam Bhattarai is scheduled for Sunday afternoon to make an assessment of the regrouping that concluded at the seven main cantonment sites last week and discuss the way forward. UML leader Bhim Rawal said the Special Committee meeting would start an initiative for forming the new directorate.

Though formal orders are yet to be delivered, it has been learnt that PM Bhattarai has asked the Nepal Army leadership to carry on their preparations. A team led by Director General of Military Operations Major General Daman Ghale is busy preparing a blueprint for execution of the integration plan.

"We are ready to play our part once the political decision is conveyed to us through the Defence Ministry," said NA Spokesperson Ramindra Chhetri.

Army sources said conducting training would require Rs 500,000 to Rs 700,000 for each combatant besides other logistics. They are optimistic that the strength of the general directorate would come around 13,000 because 'significant number' of over 9,000 combatants opting for integration will not be able to meet the standard norms during the screening.

State Minister Yadav threatens to quit

Minister of State for Defence Ram Bachchan Ahir Yadav has warned that he will tender resignation if the government fails to ensure representation of 10,000 Madhesis in the Nepal Army. "The four-point deal commits to increasing the number of Madhesis to 10,000 in the Nepal Army. If that is not implemented, I will tender my resignation," he told the Post on Saturday.

Posted on: 2011-12-10 11:59

Post Your Comment

Please note that all the fields marked * are mandatory.
* Full Name
* Address
* Email Address
* Comment
* Captcha	Get another CAPTCHA code
Note:	Comments containing abusive words or slander shall not be published.