Almost ten months after a peace deal generated hopes of a successful
integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants, the process
remains incomplete and riddled with complications.
Over 3100 former fighters remain in cantonments, awaiting integration
into the Nepal Army (NA). Only half a dozen combatants out of 19,602
verified fighters opted for rehabilitation packages. Around 14,000
individuals opted for voluntary retirement and walked away with cash
packages, but a section among them are disillusioned with both the state
and the Maoist party leadership.
Integration
A seven point agreement between political parties on November 1, 2011
had stipulated that a maximum of 6500 combatants could be integrated in a
specially created directorate under the Nepal Army. It provided for a
degree of flexibility on age and educational qualifications needed for
entry at different levels into the NA.
During the subsequent regrouping process, disputes emerged between the
combatants and the Secretariat of the Special Committee (SC) for
Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist Combatants. The
secretariat planned to use the date of birth, rank, and educational
qualifications of the former fighters at the time of their verification
by UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) in 2007. But the combatants insisted on
using current educational record, and revised age as provided in the
citizenship certificates acquired after their entry into the peace
process.
As Vivek Gaire, a battalion commander in Rolpa, told The Hindu
then, “Many of our friends, who could not study during the war, have
used the past four years to earn degrees. Should that not be the
criteria now?” A compromise was found and both sets of data were
included.
But the issue re-emerged when the NA began the process of selecting
combatants. Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri, spokesperson of Nepal
Army, told The Hindu, that dispute over age had stalled the
process. “Going by the records, 26 percent of the 3123 former combatants
who opted for integration were not 18 at the time of UN verification.
They should have been discharged earlier.” Secretariat member Deepak
Bhatt says that the core of the problem is that combatants have used
separates dates of birth in the UN records and their citizenship
certificates.
The combatants have objected to the criteria used by the army, with the
result that the process is stalled. Mr Chhetri said the army was merely
operating according to the political agreement, and if any side sought a
revision on the age requirements, it had to happen through the all
party Special Committee. The SC, however, has not met as the political
climate has remained polarized, with opposition parties boycotting the
PM and demanding his resignation first. The Maoists however argue that
the army and opposition parties are going against the spirit of the
integration process by making it seem like a ‘normal recruitment drive’.
After a party plenum in July, the Maoist leadership warned the
opposition that if it did not show flexibility on age and education, all
the combatants would retire and there would be no integration. A
diplomatic source closely involved with the process said, “Settling the
integration issue now will only happen as a part of a new package deal
which will include determining the political roadmap vis a vis the
constitution and power-sharing. I can’t see the opposition relenting
before that.”
Retired fighters
A key trigger for the Maoist split was the handling of the integration
issue, with senior ideologue and the current chairman of the splinter
Maoist party, Mohan Vaidya ‘Kiran’ terming it as ‘surrender’ and
‘humiliation’.
During the November regrouping process, he urged his loyalists to
boycott integration and opt for retirement. His other party colleagues,
in particular the militant leader Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplab’, have
since sought to organize a section of former combatants into an
organised force. Maoist watchers estimate that anywhere between 3-4000
former combatants have shifted to Kiran’s party, but these figures are
merely speculative and there is no empirical data on it yet.
Not all of those who retired however have shifted to the new outfit -
some have left politics altogether, many have joined the parent party in
different capacities. Based on conversations with combatants in six of
the seven combatants earlier this year, a range of reasons appear to
have motivated a majority of them to opt for retirement – the gap
between the Maoist promise of ‘respectable’ integration and the actual
process akin to ‘recruitment’; the alleged financial mishandling of PLA
accounts; the fact that NA was not ‘democratised’ simultaneously;
fatigue with the military life; a desire to be in active politics; a
yearning to return home and lead independent lives. But an over-riding
sentiment was disillusionment that their years of struggle had not
resulted in the political change they had sought, nor had they been
recognised commensurately.
As a leading English-daily, The Kathmandu Post, noted in a recent
editorial, “The main objective of the integration and rehabilitation
process was perhaps to ensure a respectful and dignified safe-landing
into society for the thousands of Maoist combatants. In this objective,
the process has failed… it is only a matter of time before the political
effects of their disgruntlement will become evident.”
A timeline on integration and rehabilitation process
2006:
November: Comprehensive Peace Agreement declares end of Nepal’s
civil war. Provides for integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist
combatants of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
2007:
March: 31,252 Maoist combatants register in seven cantonments and
21 satellite camps. 3475 Maoist weapons deposited in containers. UN
Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) monitors cantonments.
December: UNMIN verifies actual combatants based on age and recruitment
date. Strength of Maoist PLA dips to 19,602. 4008 disqualified.
2010:
January-February: Disqualified combatants leave cantonments.
2011:
January: UNMIN’s term ends. PLA cantonments officially come under supervision and monitoring of all party Special Committee.
November: Seven-point agreement inked. Maximum of 6500 combatants to be integrated in specially created directorate under NA.
December: Over 9000 combatants opt for integration during regrouping process. More than 7000 take voluntary retirement.
2012:
Feb-March: Retired fighters leave camps. Satellite camps shut down.
April 9-10: Tensions erupt in cantonments. On Maoist request, government sends Nepal Army to take over cantonments.
Mid April: Only 3123 out of 9000 opt for integration in second round of regrouping.
June: Maoist party splits. Section of former fighters join new ultra-left outfit.
July: Former combatants accuse Maoist leadership of corruption at party plenum. Former commanders resign. Enquiry committee set up.
August: Combatants wait for integration in cantonments. Dispute over norms – age and educational standard – stall process.
from The Hindu
No comments:
Post a Comment