Kathmandu Post

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Oppn parties want integration, farewell to go simultaneously

KATHMANDU, JAN 24 -
The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have expressed serious reservations over the Maoists’ preparation to take forward only the voluntary retirement process of Maoist combatants.

Leaders of the two parties argue that the Maoists want to use the combatants as a ‘bargaining chip’ by delaying the integration process. According to them, both integration and the voluntary retirement process should move ahead simultaneously.

“We have agreed on January 1 that the process of bidding farewell to combatants opting for voluntary retirement would commence immediately. We had also agreed to form a calendar and hand over the combatants opting for integration to the Nepal Army,” said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat.

“Maoists want to move ahead with this process partially and continue to retain the combatants as a bargaining chip. This is unacceptable to us,” he said.

Mahat, who represents the NC in the prime minister-led Special Committee, said the delay in the army integration process is the reason for the current stalemate.

“Integration of combatants as per the standards of the Nepal Army and the letter and spirit of the seven-point agreement is still the main issue,” he said.

“The constitution making process and formation of a national unity government cannot materialise until the integration process moves forward,” Mahat added.

UML leader Bhim Rawal said the plan to execute the voluntary retirement process may be intended to collect money for the Maoist party from the state coffers. “It seems the Maoists are concerned only in collecting cash from the government rather than concluding the peace process.

This is unacceptable,” he said. “We want to see progress in both integration and voluntary retirement process as per the seven-point agreement,” he added.

 

Posted on: 2012-01-25 07:31

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