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VOL. 27, NO. 17, January 04, 2007 (Paush 20 2064 B.S.)
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Headcount Ends
The UNMIN has concluded the second stage verification of the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA). But the difficult question of their reintegration and rehabilitation remain unanswered
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
The UNMIN has done its job of verifying the members of Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) staying at seven major and 21 satellite cantonments spread across the country.
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Maoist combatants:: Waiting for rehab and rentegration |
It is now up to the government and the Maoists to decide the next course to rehabilitate the verified combatants so as to ensure a durable peace.
Not enough serious debates have been held regarding reintegration of PLA combatants into security bodies.
Most political parties are of the opinion that ideologically indoctrinated guerrillas of a particular political party cannot be a part of the national army. But they have not made convincing moves to address the concerns of the Maoists who will need, in turn, to convince its military wing in any such move.
There are proposals being floated that major chunk of the combatants could be reintegrated in police or a separate industrial security force. But these proposals have not been seriously debated.
The unnecessary lingering on this issue could trigger troubles in the coming months. The UNMIN has already offered its expertise in this issue.
End of Second Stage Verification
At a press meet on Thursday (Dec 27), Ian Martin, the chief of UNMIN, publicized a preliminary report of the second stage verification process.
As per the report, of the total PLA combatants staying at various cantonments, only 19,602 PLA men cleared the verification process.
The report stated that 15756 male and 3846 female combatants were found eligible after the completion of the stage of the verification process. Altogether 31,318 PLA combatants were registered after the first stage of verification at seven main cantonments and 21 satellite camps.
The report says that only 18,923 combatants were registered during the second stage of verification. It said only 697 combatants out of 932 combatants, who were absent during the first stage of verifications, were registered in the second phase.
Around 8640 combatants, who did not turn up during the second stage of verification, became disqualified.
The report adds that 2973 combatants were found ineligible as they were below the age of 18 in May 25 2006.
As per the previous agreement, the UNMIN verified only those combatants who were above 18 years of age and who were recruited before May 25, 2006.
After the first phase of verification, it was informed that there were 30,852 PLA combatants and more than 3,400 arms, in the cantonments across the country.
Martin said that the comprehensive report of the verification process would be submitted to the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee, which comprises the representatives of the UN, Maoists and Nepal Army.
As forty percent of their combatants have been disqualified, the Maoists have yet to react. But they did express displeasure at the UNMIN's publication of preliminary report.
Following the press meet by Martin, Maoist deputy commander Ananta said they were unhappy because he had publicized the report before its endorsement by the JMCC. "We had understood that the report will first be presented to the JMCC," he said.
