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Step it up: UN to govt, Maoists
KATHMANDU, JUN 23 -
The United Nations on Wednesday urged the government and the UCPN (Maoist) to increase their support for the rehabilitation of disqualified combatants stating that many of the verified minors and late recruits who were released from the cantonments early this year are yet to come into its contact.
In a press meet organised at the UN House in Pulchowk, officials of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Interagency Rehabilitation Project said the slow take up of packages by the disqualified combatants is one of the major challenges to the rehabilitation programme.
“We have urged the government and the Maoist leadership to remain actively engaged to support the process,” said UN Resident Coordinator Robert Piper. “The success of the programme depends on the national ownership of the process.” He said the UN body is finding it difficult to get connected with the disqualified combatants who didn’t show up in the formal discharge ceremony that was completed in February.
Of the 4,008 disqualified combatants, 2,394 minors and late recruits were released from the Maoist cantonment sites during the formal discharge process. In March, the Maoists signed a resolution announcing the declaration of discharge of the remaining 1,614 personnel.
According to the UN, altogether 1,707 combatants who attended the discharge ceremony and 81 who had left the cantonments earlier have come into its contact for the rehabilitation packages. Of them, 981 have been referred to the rehabilitation packages, 465 are receiving training and education support and 51 have already graduated, said Desmond J. Molloy, senior rehabilitation advisor of the UNDP. Six male and six female disqualified have got jobs so far.
During their discharge, the disqualified had complained that the UN rehabilitation package with options of formal education, vocational training, micro-enterprise development and health service training was not generous enough to meet their expectations. Piper said the differences between the government and the Maoists on the modality of rehabilitation had created confusion among the disqualified on the rehabilitation package.
“There are isolated examples of individuals still being discouraged by the Maoist party from the programme. But there is no evidence to suggest the involvement of the party as a whole,” added Piper. He said, the Maoist party ordered some of the disqualified attending the UN-provided training to attend the May 1 rallies.
Posted on: 2010-06-24 08:18
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