KATHMANDU, JUL 08 -
Resumption of the selection process of former Maoist soldiers opting for integration in the Nepal Army (NA) remains uncertain following reservations from the combatants.
The process remained stalled for the second day on Saturday after the government failed to address the combatants’ demands, which include recognition of current education levels and posts in the Maoist army. They are also demanding that the selection process not be executed like a regular recruitment drive, given the situation.
“We are planning to sit with the prime minister and discuss our concerns. If a new meeting point cannot be reached, almost all our friends will opt for voluntary retirement,” said Chandra Prakash Khanal, deputy commander and PLA spokesperson.
A large majority of the 3,123 combatants opting for integration will not meet NA norms if the process is executed like a regular recruitment process, according to Maoist sources.
The NA was all set to start the registration process at the cantonment-turned-barracks from Wednesday. However, the process was delayed after the former combatants expressed dissatisfaction over some issues of integration.
On Friday, around 70 combatants from Chitwan filled up registration forms showing their intent to join the NA. There were fewer forms from the cantonments in Rolpa and Surkhet but combatants from four other divisions did not allow the process to begin. They have demanded a lump sum payment for combatants choosing voluntary retirement, the scrapping of Nepal Army standards for selection and respectable integration into the security agency.
The seven-point deal signed in November last year committed to a three-year concession in age and one-level flexibility in educational qualifications for the combatants choosing integration.
“If there is no further concession on age and education, there will be great difficulty in resuming the integration process,” said Khanal.
Opposition parties are unlikely to accept further flexibility. On Thursday, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML criticised the prime minister for bypassing the Special Committee while starting the selection and demanded the process be conducted in line with the seven-point deal and the Special Committee decisions. Integration from Pg 1
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that the ongoing deadlock in integration is ‘technical’ and will be resolved soon. “The integration process is being executed in a dignified manner,” the PM told party cadres who visited his Baluwatar residence on Saturday morning.
“I would like to urge all sides to show restraint,” said Bhattarai. The prime minister said he was seriously discussing the issue with all stakeholders. “The prime minister is holding informal talks with the Nepal Army leadership about resolving these technical issues,” said Bhattarai’s Political Advisor Devendra Poudel. “There has already been a reduction in the number of aspiring candidates, so the prime minister has underscored the need to execute the integration process in a dignified manner.”
Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/08/top-story/selection-process-makes-no-headway/356778/
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