E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 26 -

Integration of former Maoist combatants in the Nepal Army is likely to be further delayed with the major parties failing to sort out differences over a mechanism to monitor the process.

The ruling Maoist party has demanded formation of a monitoring mechanism comprising representatives of the Nepal Army, the People’s Liberation Army and the ‘neutral experts’. Such a mechanism, the Maoists say, would be required to resolve disputes that could arise during the army integration process.

The Nepali Congress, however, sees the proposal as a ‘ploy’ to delay the process and insist that the Maoist party should prepare itself to hand over the combatants opting for integration to the Nepal Army.  “The rank determination and monitoring mechanism are the contentious issues and they haven’t yet been discussed at the Special Committee,” said Special Committee member Jitendra Dev. “There were leaks in the integration deal signed last month, hence the process will not move forward until the Maoists come to a concrete conclusion on these issues.”

The seven-point agreement signed on November 1 commits to set up a non-combatant directorate within the Nepal Army to integrate maximum 6,500 combatants. Each combatant should meet the standard norms of the Army during the selection process and ranks would be determined in accordance with the standard norms of the concerned security force, states the deal.

While the deal stipulates that the Army will execute the integration process, the Maoists are insisting on the need of new mechanism to design the bridging course, decide on the rank determination and monitor impartiality of the selection process that will be carried out by the Nepal Army. They are also stressing that both the voluntary retirement and integration process should be carried out together.

 “The process cannot make any headway until there is a new mechanism to monitor and investigate the lapses that could erupt while executing the Army integration process,” said Maoist Politburo member Chandra Prakash Khanal “Baldev.”

The non-Maoist parties have stressed that the process to vacate the camps should be initiated immediately by bidding farewell to those choosing voluntary retirement and handing over those opting for integration to the Nepal Army. Combatants opting for integration can be shifted to cantonments located close the highways and sent to Nepal Army units located close to them for the selection process, according to them.

NC leader and Special Committee member Minendra Rijal said the new conditions raised by the Maoists are unacceptable. “Each and every word of the seven-point deal is internalised.” The Maoists cannot alter that,” he said. “Many in the Nepali Congress are dissatisfied with the decision to hand over Rs 500,000 to Rs 800,000 for those opting for voluntary retirement. The process cannot reach any conclusion if we start raising the issue of its revision,” he added. The prime minister-led Special Committee has met twice after the regrouping process was completed at seven main cantonment sites earlier this month. The issue of rank determination resurfaced at the first meeting, according to Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) representative Dev.

The Maoists are asking other parties to make a decision for providing them the rank of brigadier general in the proposed directorate to be formed under the Army. They also stress that numbers of colonels or lieutenant colonels to be offered to the combatants should be settled at the political level.

The NC and UML have been opposing the call saying that the rank determination is an already settled issue and that it will be determined by the Nepal Army on completion of the bridging course. Rijal said the Maoist reluctance to move forward the peace process could be an attempt to prolong the Baburam Bhattarai-led government.

“They should not expect continuation of the Baburam Bhattarai as prime minister, if there is no progress in the peace process,” said Rijal. NC leaders have been saying that the current government should continue until the peace process reaches an ‘irreversible’ point.

Prime Minister’s Political Advisor Devendra Poudel said differences between the parties on numbers and ranks were the reason behind failure to conduct the Special Committee meetings. “There is still a need of political consensus. The Special Committee will meet once differences on numbers and ranks are resolved,” he added.                                             

Posted on: 2011-12-26 09:01

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