Gaining momentum

Despite much reluctance and resentment from within the party, the Maoist leaders have finally convinced PLA commanders to move on with the regrouping process of former combatants.

Although the integration process should have begun on Sunday, it was delayed because cantonment commanders were in the capital preparing the final list of combatants opting for retirement and integration.

Two weeks ago, the political parties agreed to decommission Maoist camps and hand over the weapons to the government by 12 April. The Special Committee is conducting the final regrouping once again in which the ex-combatants will be given the option of voluntary retirement or integration.

After 7,365 ex-combatants opted for voluntary retirement in January, 9,705 combatants across 13 camps remain with only 15 cantonments to be vacated by the scheduled date.

By Tuesday the Special Committee Secretariat will handover cheques to 94 fighters who have opted for voluntary retirement in the Fifth Division of Rolpa Dahaban. “The process of voluntary retirement will begin from Tuesday in all cantonments,” said PLA spokesperson Chandra Prakash Khanal. “All the commanders will return by then.”

Although the maximum number of combatants to be integrated has been set at 6,000, the screening process is yet to be decided. The NC has been saying that combatants should be accepted according to NA’s recruitment standards, but the Maoists have been arguing that the ex-combatants are being integrated and so regular recruitment criteria should not apply. The Maoists want to select the combatants on their own so that the Nepal army does not disqualify them.