CAMP MANAGEMENT
A Step Forward
As government agrees to build houses and pay salaries to PLA, the second stage verification is likely to start soon
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
Despite its clear financial burden, the government has agreed to the Maoist demand for paying monthly remuneration of Rs 3000 to each members of People's Liberation Army (PLA) living in cantonments.
Following a stern warning by the Maoist chairman, the emergency meeting of the ministerial-level Cantonment Management Committee, on Sunday (May 20), had agreed to provide Rs 3000 as monthly remuneration to PLA members. The decision was approved by the meeting of cabinet on Monday.
As per this decision, Rs 93 million will be required every month for providing salaries to PLA. There are around 30,000 PLA members living in seven main and 21 satellite cantonments.
On Saturday itself, the ministerial level meeting had decided to assign the Ministry of Works and Physical Planning to build 1000 camps for the PLA. The physical conditions in the camps have been very poor and even the United Nations has been asking the authorities to improve the conditions.
"All the responsibility (of building proper camps) has been given to the Ministry of Works and Physical Planning. Required funds would be released soon," said Home Minister Krishna Sitaula.
As per the decision, around 1000 buildings will be built. Minister for Works and Physical Planning Yami vowed to complete the building of camps before monsoon. "Works will start right away," she said.
Earlier, on Saturday, addressing a press meet in Pokhara, Maoist chairman Prachanda had warned of a nationwide agitation if the government did not come up with decisions to improve camp conditions.
The latest agreement is expected to facilitate the start of second stage verification of PLA combatants in the camps. The meeting of Joint Coordination and Monitoring Committee (JMCC) – which includes representatives from the UN, Nepali Army and Maoist Army – on Monday, has decided to fix the date for the start of second stage verification in its next meeting scheduled for Thursday (May 24).
United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has been saying that it is already ready for the second stage verification.
According to Ian Martin, chief of UNMIN, the second stage of registration and verification of personnel in the Maoist cantonment sites is essential for two purposes: to identify minors who under the agreement must be discharged, and to determine whether personnel were recruited after 25 May 2006, in breach of the ceasefire code of conduct.
Martin had earlier expressed displeasure at the Maoists for linking of the start of second stage to fulfilling of other preconditions: in particular, the improvement of conditions in the cantonments, government remuneration for those registered there, and the formation of the committee envisaged by Article 146 of the Interim Constitution to take responsibility for the future of the Maoist army.
Even as the obstacle seen in the second stage of verification is being removed, the larger distrust among the eight parties is yet to dissipate.
The much-awaited meeting of the top leaders of eight parties has not taken place yet despite the expanding agenda they will have to discuss – from fixing date of Constituent Assembly elections to ensuring law and order; from Terai unrest to issues of negotiation with various communities; from amendment in constitution to continued parliament blockade; from the issue of declaring republic from parliament to growing atrocities by Young Communist League and so on.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala during his meeting with Narayan Man Bijukchhe, president of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), said that the Maoists should improve their behavior before date for CA can be announced. He said controlling YCL activities and returning seized properties were necessary before things can move forward.
