Dahal faction to organize ex and disqualified combatants

KIRAN PUN
KATHMANDU, April 26: Following the footsteps of the hardliner faction, the establishment faction of the UCPN (Maoist) has made preparations to form an organization of former and disqualified combatants.

The party establishment faction led by party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called a national gathering of former and disqualified combatants on Friday for the purpose.

"Former combatants will be mobilized in productive sectors and for struggle," said Nirmal Mahara, ex-PLA brigade Vice-commander.

The establishment faction´s decision comes merely a day after the hardliner faction formed People´s Volunteer Bureau. The hardliner faction formed a 17-member bureau on Tuesday under the leadership of leader Netra Bikram Chand with long-term plan to develop the bureau into a new People´s Liberation Army. Besides, the hard-line faction led by Maoist Vice chairman Mohan Baidya has already formed an organization of ex-PLA organization under the leadership of former division vice- commander Nep Bahadur Kunwar Magar.

According to leaders from the establishment faction, the retired and disqualified combatants and those taken out of PLA to form YCL in 2006 will participate in the gathering.

"The organization of ex-PLA will be more powerful than the Young Communist Legaue. However, it will not have a military structure," said a brigade commander who recently took voluntary retirement.

PLA sources told Republica that PLA chief Nanda Kishor Pun is likely to lead the organization. If that happens, he will be chosen unanimously. But if other names are proposed for the leadership, the power equation among Dahal and other deputy commanders will play a decisive role.

"The party will take a decision on who should lead the organization. But the possibility of Pun becoming the chief of the organization is very high.

Similarly, Chandra Prakash Khanal is likely to be Pun´s deputy while Tej Bahadur Oli is likely to get third position in organization´s hierarchy," said a division commander.