Govt, Maoists sharply divided

• Pascoe arriving today
• Leaders at variance over priorities

KATHMANDU, DEC 02 -

A day before the arrival of the UN Under-Secretary General, B. Lynn Pascoe, in Kathmandu, the government and the main opposition, UCPN (Maoist), still seem sharply divided over the priorities of the peace process. Leaders in the ruling parties, including the prime minister, want UNMIN to leave in January while the Maoists still believe UNMIN has a role to play until the peace process is complete.

The UN political department chief will arrive in Kathmandu after consultations with senior Indian officials in New Delhi on the management of Nepal’s peace process after UNMIN. In Nepal, Pascoe will express serious concerns over the political impasse with top party leaders and representatives of diplomatic missions and solicit their views on how best to put an alternative mechanism in place post-UNMIN.

“The second visit in less than two months means he is deeply worried,” said a Western diplomat. “He wants to know what exactly do we have in mind. After all, the peace process is still far from over and there has to be some mechanism out there on the ground for UNMIN to feel secure that all the good work it’s done doesn’t go to waste in a hurry.”

Signs on the ground are still far from promising.

Acting Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhedar is to present an action plan proposed by the Special Committee Secretariat Coordinator Balananda Sharma on behalf of the government on Friday afternoon. The proposal opposed by the Maoists plans to recruit 154 former security personnel to replace UNMIN’s arms monitors and establish Special Committee’s supervision over the cantonments by the end of this month.

“The government will reiterate its position. That it no longer needs UNMIN after the expiry of its current mandate in January. Efforts are underway to conclude the peace process,” said Peace and Reconstruction Minister Rakam Chemjong. “The Special Committee or any other mechanism will replace UNMIN’s monitoring role if the peace process is not completed by mid-January.”

Maoist leader and Special Committee member Barsha Man Pun said his party would object to the enforcement of Sharma’s “unauthorised proposal” during their meeting with Pascoe and would instead ask him to keep UNMIN until the “peace process reaches a logical conclusion.”
However, the parties are sharply divided over what constitutes the logical conclusion to the peace process and what should come first—integration and rehab or constitution drafting.

“The Special Committee Secretariat doesn’t have the mandate to monitor Maoist army personnel. So UNMIN’s arms monitoring function shouldn’t cease after the expiry of its current mandate,” Pun said. “UNMIN will continue until the integration process reaches a logical conclusion as this is the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” Pun added.

Towards that end, Maoist leaders say they are set to reiterate their commitment for rehab and integration of their combatants once there is a “package agreement” on the formation of the new government and taking the constitution drafting process forward.
They insist they have shown some flexibility in recent times. The Maoist party has termed Sharma’s (an NC appointee) appointment as the Special Committee Secretariat’s coordinator as “a major breakthrough in the peace process.” It has also expressed commitment to conduct a “formal ceremony” in the presence of the international community and government officials to bring the combatants under the government.

Most NC and UML leaders, however, rubbish the idea of the package deal as nothing but a time-buying tactic. “We would like to first of all see the Maoists demonstrate progress on integration and rehab without putting up any conditions,” said NC Special Committee member Ram Sharan Mahat. “There has been a lot of progress in constitution writing but not an inch has moved on integration.”

Pascoe, according to UN sources, will convey the leaders of the major parties that the UN Headquarters is unlikely to review the Jan. 15 closure of UNMIN unless all five permanent members of the Security Council change their mind. He will, however, assure leaders that the UN will closely follow the progress on the ground and will be ready to provide its good offices if asked.

“The prime minister doesn’t want to see any kind of UN presence in Nepal with regards to the peace process after Mid-January,” a prime minister’s aide told the Post. “But we are open to non-political UN role in peace if the Nepali Congress feels the country still needs one.”Mahat said his party would be “open to discussion” of a “small UN team” which will have an observer status should there be any need for “moral pressure” to take the peace process forward.

Pascoe’s meetings
Friday
FM Sujata Koirala
DPM Bijay Kumar Gachhedar
UML Vice-Chairman Ashok Rai
Top leaders of four Madhes based parties
Special Committee members
Maoists Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Saturday
NC President Sushil Koirala
US Ambassador Scott H DeLisi and US Deputy Assistant Secretary Alyssa Ayres
Envoys of Australia, Denmark, Norway, the European High Commission, Switzerland and Finland
Chinese Ambassador Qiu Guohong
British Ambassador John Tucknott
Joint meeting with ambassadors of P5 countries (the US, the UK, Russia, France and China)
French Envoy Jean Charles Demarquis
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood
Speaker Subas Nembang

Deuba, Dahal excel at playing hooky

PHANINDRA DAHAL

KATHMANDU, SEP 29

Political leaders across the party lines never tire of emphasising the need to bring out the new constitution on time. Their poor attendance in the Constituent Assembly (CA), however, belies their commitment.

Consider this. More than one-third of the CA members were always absent in the meetings held by the assembly in its two-year tenure. The attendance of the top political leaders was the worst, according to a policy paper released last week by the Kathmandu-based Martin Chautari, a think tank.

The paper, “Attendance and Participation in the Constituent Assembly,” asks the political leadership to make a firm commitment against the insidious practice of absenteeism, which has badly hurt the CA process. Examining the attendance register maintained by the CA during its 101 meetings held in the past two years, the study has revealed that the average attendance rate of the CA members in the period was 63 percent.

Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has the worst record. He has attended only two meetings. Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist) Dahal, who never tires of waxing eloquent on the need for a new progressive constitution, is the second worst offender. He has attended only seven meetings. The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, who has participated in only 10 meetings, is the third worst offender.

Party-wise, Maoists again look to be the worst offender among the major parties. The record shows 66 percent average attendance for UML, 63.51 for NC and 62.17 for Maoists. The policy paper states that more than half of the CA members of the MJF (Loktantrik) and MJF were absent in the CA sittings at any given time while Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Sadbhawna Party had their attendance records at 60.71 percent and 40.59 percent, respectively. Nepal Rastriya Party, which has a single representative in the CA via the proportional representative system, has the highest average attendance of all the political parties (88.12 percent).

At the individual level, Agni Kharel, of the CPN-UML, has outstanding attendance. He tops the participation list with 97 percent attendance in the CA meetings. Man Bahadur Mahato and Laxman Prasad Ghimire of the Nepali Congress were a close second-with 96 percent attendance. Next come Rajendra Kumar Khetan (ML) and Nilambar Acharya (NC) with 94 percent. Maoist leaders Baburam Bhattarai, Ram Bahadur Thapa and Krishna Bahadur Mahara, CPN-UML leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum leaders Upendra Yadav and Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta all fare badly — with their attendance rate below 30 percent.

Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel rests on relatively firmer ground, with an attendance rate of 49.5 percent.

Some prominent leaders (the top-level leaders were mentioned above) are hovering round a passable 50-percent mark: They include Ram Sharan Mahat, Bhim Rawal, Pampha Bhusal, Hisila Yami, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Amik Sherchan, Mahantha Thakur, Shankar Pokharel, Shekhar Koirala, Arzoo Deuba, Shalikram Jamakattel.

“Reasons behind the low attendance of the top leadership are clear - intra and inter-party power struggles are given priority over the writing of the constitution. The cause of low attendance at lower levels is more complicated,” says Seira Tamang, Chairperson of the Martin Chuatari, who carried out the research. “The reasons at the lower level are the issues of lack of experience, language issues, certain levels of knowledge, etc.”

A directly elected CA member, who is not named but quoted in the report, has said that he was in his constituency for 244 days in the two-year term of the CA “not counting the 55 days or so spent in the travel.” 

Chairman of the Constitutional Committee (CC) Nilambar Acharya said the negligence on attendance reflects the attitude of the political parties towards the new constitution. “Apart from the full house, the attendance of leaders is not encouraging at the CA committees,” he says.

Acharya attributes this lackadaisical attitude of the political leadership especially that of major parties, towards the CA process to the assembly’s failure to meet its two-year deadline for drafting the new constitution. “Other CA members have done their bit. Now we have lingering issues that should be decided by the leadership of the major parties. Until that happens, the differences will persist.”

Maoist serious about resolving PLA issues

Integration of Maoist Army personnel KATHMANDU, SEP 22 - In what appears to be a sign of serious engagement on integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants, the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) has decided to mobilise all five members of the party’s Integration Bureau. This is the first such occasion when the Maoist party has demonstrated its willingness to engage with the government to resolve the four-year stalemate on the future of its 19,000-plus combatants.

“We want to support the Special Committee to speed up the process of integration and rehabilitation,” PLA Chief Nanda Kishore Pun told the Post. "The involvement of all the members of the bureau will provide energy to the inter-party discussion on the issue.”

The bureau was formed last year to draw an outline on the party’s position on cross-party negotiations and address concerns of combatants living under the UN monitoring.

On Monday, the party had suggested that the chief of the People’s Liberation of Army Nanda Kishore Pun should be in the Special Committee Secretariat, the proposed mechanism that will oversee the combatants and cantonments once they are out of the purview of the Maoist party.

Pun has been officially recommended to the secretariat by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, confirmed Maoist Standing Committee member and former PLA deputy commander Barsha Man Pun.Of the remaining four members in the Integration Bureau, Barsha Man Pun and Janardan Sharma are the members of the Special Committee. Chandra Prakash Khanal and Kul Prasad KC are already in the Technical Committee.

A non-Maoist member of the Technical Committee agreed that the involvement of all “major players” of the Maoist party in the government mechanism would contribute positively to the process.

 “The mobilization of the whole internal bureau formed by the Maoist party to take decisions on integration and rehabilitation shows that they are serious this time to resolve the vexed issues,” said Deepak Prakash Bhatta, the Technical Committee member from CPN-UML. “This engagement will certainly expedite decision-making.” The political parleys leading up to the four-point agreement and extension of UNMIN’s term for the last time have created strong international pressure on both sides to provide impetus to the integration and rehabilitation.

UNMIN’s extension last week came with a clear message to Nepali actors that it is ultimately them - and not the international players - who are responsible to take the peace process forward. Subsequently, the Maoists have again lent  their presence at the Special Committee, defunct for the last four months. On Friday, the Committee endorsed a directive related to the new chain of command and code of conduct that brought the combatants under the government in principle.

The Maoists also agreed to constitute a 12-member secretariat to bring the combatants under the Special Committee. The secretariat will include eight members of the Technical Committee and one representative each from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force. The Nepal Army, the APF and the Nepal Police have already recommended Brig. Gen. Mahesh Bikram Karki, Deputy Inspector General Kesh Bahadur Shahi and DIG Simha Bahadur Shrestha respectively for the mechanism.

“Within the next few weeks the combatants will come under the government purview. We will strive to the utmost to reach an agreement on the modality of integration and rehabilitation before the termination of UNMIN,” said a Maoist leader involved in cross-party negotiations. He said senior Maoist leaders will visit the seven main cantonments within a week to brief the combatants on the new arrangements.
Still, serious differences persist between the Maoist and non-Maoist parties on the leadership of the new mechanism for the supervision, control and monitoring of the cantonments.

The Maoists want PLA Chief Pun to head to the mechanism while the Nepali Congress and UML are pushing for retired Gen. Balananda Sharma, also a member of the Technical Committee.  “We should get the leadership because we are trying to decide the future of our army personnel,” said Pun. “That is non-negotiable.”

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Tuesday discussed with Maoist Chairman Dahal how to forge consensus on who should lead the proposed mechanism but there has not been any agreement so far. 
A source close to PM said he has hinted that Nanda Kishore Pun could be given the position of the deputy-coordinator of the secretariat if the Maoists accept Balananda Sharma’s leadership.

Differing letters from Nepal befuddle UN

• Government and Maoist continue negotiation, common request to UN likely 
• US says UNMIN can't operate without consensus
   
• f there is neither a workable, consensual request, nor a technical rollover UNMIN ceases after Sept. 15 
  
  

The Kathmandu Post on Saturday reported:  

Two separate letters from the Nepali side, amid the controversy on the extension of the United Nations Missionin Nepal (UNMIN), have pushed the United Nations Security Council into a state of ‘confusion’. The member states of the world body entrusted with the responsibility to decide on the future of UNMIN have expressed their concern during meetings with Nepali officials in Kathmandu and have asked for a clearly-worded official position.

On Tuesday, the government sent a letter requesting the United Nations to extend UNMIN’s mandate by four months but remained silent on whether the Nepali Army should continue to remain under the UNMIN purview. The UCPN (Maoist) on Thursday sent a separate letter, saying that the UNMIN purview over the national army should continue. Given the differences between the government and the Maoists, it is not possible for the Security Council to take a decision, which would irk one of the two parties, UN sources said.
If the two sides don’t agree on the common language before Sept. 15, when UNMIN’s tenure ends, the Security Council will have two options before it. First, to give a “technical rollover” offer of some weeks for the two sides to find a common ground while giving UNMIN an extension within a current mandate, as Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has recently mentioned. But such a rollover should have the consent of the government. If the government refuses to accept the technical rollover, the Security Council has no option but to wrap up the mission, a source in New York said.


 “If there is neither a workable, consensual request, nor a technical rollover, the mandate expires on Sept. 15 and UNMIN ceases its substantive activities,” an informed source said. Already, the Nepal government has objected to the very concept of technical rollover which has been conveyed to officials, including Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, by the Kathmandu-based envoys of the member-countries of the Security Council.


Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN Gyanchandra Acharya put forth the government position against the technical rollover during meetings with the deputy permanent representatives from the three permanent members of the Security Council—China, the United Kingdom and France—on Thursday. Acharya will meet the deputy permanent representatives of the United States and Russia on Friday. (Reporting by Mahesh Acharya in New York and Phanindra Dahal in Kathmandu)


Meanwhile, the government on Friday proposed a six-point proposal before the UCPN (Maoist) as its precondition for sending a new request regarding the term extension of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) in its current mandate. 


Home Minister Bhim Rawal and Constituent Assembly Minister Minendra Rijal handed over the proposal to Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Maoist Standing Committee member Barsha Man Pun. Negotiators of both sides have said discussions on the proposal were “positive” and a joint letter requesting the renewal of UNMIN’s current mandate was soon likely to be dispatched at the UN. 

The government’s condition includes that the Maoist combatants should be immediately brought under the command of the Special Committee and the secretariat body to take over the command should be constituted within 15 days. The next clause includes that the Special Committee would immediately enforce the code of conduct and directives related to the new chain of command to be imposed on the Maoist combatants

The government has proposed formulation of a four-month action plan (Sept 15- Jan. 14, 2011) to complete the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants. 

The draft maintains that the government would request for a four-month extension of UNMIN’s current mandate, if the Maoists agree not to make any “obstruction” regarding the mobility, recruitment and training of the Nepal Army. “We have not reached a concrete conclusion over the mandate of UNMIN, but we are close to consensus,” said Minister Rijal. “Both of us have agreed to consult with senior leaders including the prime minister to finalise the agreement.”

Responding to the government’s proposal, the Maoists have stressed that they are ready to consider allowing the recruitment of technical manpower in the Army, support in bringing logistics related to training and participation in the UN peacekeeping. They have clarified that they will not agree on allowing recruitment in “non-technical positions of the NA.”

The Maoists have urged the government to give a six-month extension to UNMIN so that a six-month action plan to complete the integration and rehabilitation of the combatants can be formulated. 

Maoist leader Pun said both sides have agreed “in principle” to forward a common request to the UN Secretary General before UNMIN’s Sept. 15 deadline. “We are still discussing to preparing common clauses. If we reach an understanding, a new letter requesting an extension of UNMIN with its current mandate will be sent to New York on Saturday,” he said.

 

Government’s proposal 

1.    Immediate reactivation of the Special Committee to take charge of Maoist combatants 
2.    Formation of Special Committee Secretariat within 15 days 

3.    Formulation of a four-month action plan on integration and rehabilitation
4.    Fresh headcount of combatants
5.    Extension of UNMIN’s current mandate for four months
6.     End of obstruction on the mobility, recruitment and training of Nepal Army

Maoist position
1.    No requirement of time bound commitment to constitute Special Committee Secretariat
2.    Need of six-month action plan on integration and rehabilitation
3.    Six-month extension of UNMIN term
4.    Ready to cooperate in recruitment of technical manpower and address problems faced by the Army

On Friday, issuing a press statement tUS Ambassador Scott H DeLisi has said it will be impossible for UNMIN to continue to operate effectively without a full consensus on its role among the parties. “We also noted that although the question of UNMIN’s monitoring role needs to be discussed and agreed upon by the parties, the more compelling need is to address the core issues constraining completion of the peace process," he said.

UNSC will give a rollover to UNMIN

Following the fresh controversy between the government and Maoist on UNMIN, the three powerful members of the UN Security Council have mounted pressure for the two sides to resolve the new crisis. S

The press statement issued by the US Ambassador Scott H Delisi a day after the meeting states: 

"I, along with the UK Ambassador and the French Charge d’Affaires, met with the Prime Minister as well as the Chairman of the UCPN-M yesterday. Our goal was to seek clarification from the Government and UCPN-M on their views of the future of UNMIN’s mandate. Our concern is that without full consensus on that role it will be impossible for UNMIN to continue to operate effectively here. We also noted that although the question of UNMIN’s monitoring role needs to be discussed and agreed upon by the parties, the more compelling need is to address the core issues constraining completion of the peace process. We hope that the parties will keep their focus on those critical questions and not allow debate over monitoring or UNMIN’s role to keep them from making the hard political choices necessary to fully and finally implement the peace agreement. "

Below is the report carried by The Kathmandu Post  about the meetings:

Ambassadors representing the three permanent member countries of the UN Security Council (UNSC) have told the government and the Maoists that the UNSC would give a technical rollover to the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) if no political agreement is had before Sept. 15, the day UNMIN’s current term expires.

US Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi, British Ambassador John Anthony Tucknott and acting ambassador of the French Embassy Jean Romicianu conveyed a “common concern” during separate meetings with caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday, a source said.

The diplomatic parleys follow two separate letters dispatched by the government and the Maoists on UNMIN. “If there is no consensus among the two sides, the Security Council will give a month’s rollover of UNMIN’s current mandate with no changes to allow discussions to take place between parties to resolve this row,” a source told the Post, quoting the ambassadors.

The source said the envoys said that the international community does not want to take “any abrupt decision” on UNMIN’s termination. Meanwhile, the prime minister’s Foreign Relations Advisor Rajan Bhattarai said the UNSC cannot take a decision on the technical rollover of UNMIN’s mandate without the consent of the government.

“The envoys said it would be difficult for the Security Council to take a decision on two different requests forwarded from Nepal,” Bhattarai said. The envoys are said to have told the prime minister that the Security Council could write a letter to the government asking it to “further clarify” its request for mandate renewal.

The letter sent by the government on Tuesday says the government would like to see UNMIN focus on the monitoring of Maoist combatants and their weapons. The Maoists have “objected” to the request saying that it remained silent on UNMIN’s monitoring of Nepal Army. After the meeting with Dahal, DeLisi told reporters that the international community is now concentrating on providing better assistance to the peace process.

Nepal Army attends JMCC meeting

Recruitment row reffered to political leadership

KATHMANDU, SEP 06 -
The Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC) has asked the political leadership to look into the recruitment row in the Nepal Army (NA) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The tripartite mechanism comprising representatives of UNMIN, the NA and the PLA made an understanding to this effect on Sunday afternoon. The NA had earlier boycotted the JMCC meet on Aug. 27 after its decision to enlist of 3,464 personnel was kept on the agenda of the meeting.

“The Nepal Army attended the JMCC yesterday after the recruitment row was not kept as a formal agenda of the meeting,” said a government source. However, Maoist representatives raised the issue in the “open meeting” saying that the decision violates the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Agreement on the Monitoring of Management of Arms and Armies (AMMAA).

The NA representatives, however, said the JMCC was not the proper mechanism to discuss the decision on recruitment taken by the government. “Both sides have agreed that the row should be addressed by the political leadership,” added the official requesting anonymity. UNMIN Spokesperson Kosmos Bishwokarma said issues of mutual concerns were discussed in Sunday’s meeting.

Following the decision, Chief of the Nepal Army Chhatra Man Singh Gurung met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari and requested them to resolve the row at the political level.

PLA Chief Nanda Kishore Pun “Pasang” said they demanded the national army scrap its recruitment but no decision was reached in Sunday’s meeting. “We also clarified that the PLA will open fresh recruitment if the row is not settled by the political leadership,” he said.

Pun added that the PLA would take a call on its new recruitment, if the controversy isn’t resolved before the next week’s JMCC meeting.

Nepal Army recruitment getting more inclusive

PHANINDRA DAHAL
KATHMANDU, SEP 01
Of the 40 doctors recruited by the Nepal Army last month, six were from indigenous groups and five from Madhesi community. Three women, a Dalit and resident from geographically backward region also got enrolled as “technical lieutenant,” thanks to reservation.

Fifth Amendment to the Interim Constitution in October 2008 legally guaranteed the representation of marginalised groups in the national army. Since then, the Army has stepped up its effort to make the recruitment of its personnel inclusive and give the institution a national character.

Critics welcome the start but maintain that the Nepal Army has still a long way to transform itself into an inclusive institution.

“The evolution for inclusiveness in the Nepal Army has just begun and it should be carried out systematically based on a political decision,” said Retired Brig. Gen. Ranadhoj Limbu. “It should reflect the aspirations of the changed political context.”
Nepal Army maintains that it has strictly followed the principles of inclusiveness stipulated by the Interim Constitution and allocated 45 percent seats for minorities and backward groups in its hiring.

Of the total reserved seats, 32 percent are set aside for indigenous groups, 28 percent for Madhesis, 20 percent is allocated to women, 15 percent to Dalits and 5 percent to those from backward regions. The government has enlisted the Far-and Mid-Western districts of Achham, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Jumla, Dolpa, Bajhang, Bajura, Mugu and Humla as the backward region.

“Recruitment is an entirely voluntary and competitive process. We can’t force citizens to sign up in proportion of the demographic breakup of the nation,” said Army Spokesman Ramindra Chhetri.

Geja Sharma Wagle of the Kathmandu-based think tank Nepal Institute of Policy Studies (NIPS) said Nepal Army is still negatively portrayed as the “Army of the King” as the institution is controlled by higher class elites-the Chhetris and Thakuris. “The increase in participation of females, Madhesis and Dalits is a most to make it the army of the people,” he said.
Statistics provided by the Nepal Army shows that out of 19 decision-making posts including two technical major generals, nine are Chhetris, four are Gurungs, two are Brahmins and two are Chhetris. The decision making rank also includes a Rana and Newar. Females, whose recruitment started in 1962 comprise only 1.2 percent of the total strength of the institution.

The NA plans to take the number of females to five percent of its institutional strength. “We are considering increasing female participation in the Nepal Army and have asked the government to provide budgets so that we can construct female-friendly infrastructure,” he said.

“If we go by the past, the Army leadership was totally controlled by Ranas and Shahs. Now we have got the Army chief from a Gurung community,” said retired Gen. Limbu. “Inclusiveness is slow and gradual process.”

UNMIN tenure: Govt to figure out UNSC response first

KATHMANDU, AUG 29 - Despite its hard-line stance against extending the term of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) under the existing mandate, the government has decided to gauge the plausible reaction of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) before sending any formal request to it.

This decision was prompted by speculations that the UNSC may not entertain the government's request to limit UNMIN's mandate without Maoist consent. The government plans to remove Nepal Army from UNMIN's monitoring.

According to a source at the Prime Minister's Office, Nepal's Permanent Representative to the UN, Gyan Chandra Acharya, will make an attempt to take officials of the UN headquarters and the representatives of the the five permanent members of the UNSC into confidence on the revision of UNMIN's mandate before forwarding a formal letter.

Acharya is going to New York this week after holding consultations with the government.

"The permanent representative has been asked to explain the government's position and see how the Security Council could react if the government fails to forge consensus with the Maoist party and unilaterally request a mandate revision," the source said. "The government will take a call only after ascertaining the pulse of officials in New York."

On Friday, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal met ambassadors of the US, the UK, China, Russia and France and conveyed them his government's intentions. The same evening, Maoist Chairman Dahal met those diplomats and requested them to support a six-month extension of UNMIN with the current mandate. The Maoists have warned that a decision to revise UNMIN's mandate would jeopardize the peace process.

Supporting the position of the representative of the UN Secretary General in Nepal, Karin Landgren, the diplomats of the five permanent memebers of the UNSC are reported to have suggested both the government and the Maoists to strike "a common understanding on UNMIN before the UNSC meeting".

Landgren is leaving for New York on Thursday to attend discussions on Nepal's peace process in the UNSC scheduled for Sept. 7.

It is "unpredictable" as to how the Security Council would react if the government and the Maoists fail to reach an understanding, said an UNMIN official on Sunday.

"In such a scenario, the response is entirely contingent upon the decision of the Secretary General and the Security Council," he said.

While extending UNMIN's term last time, the Security Council had instructed the UN mission to immediately make arrangements for its withdrawal, including handing over any residual monitoring responsibilities by Sept. 15, 2010.

"One option given the current political impasse is to retain the status quo with a short extension of UNMIN," said the source. "Other options include not renewing UNMIN's tenure."

The UNSC is also likely to emphasise on the urgency of an exit strategy should the mandate be renewed, added the source.

Retired Lt. Gen. of Nepal Army, Balananda Sharma, who has also served as the Former Force Commander in the UN Mission in Sudan, said the UN would give greater recognition to the government's position if no consensus could be forged.

"The position of the government enjoys legal and political privilege than the position of a political party," he said. "But if the Security Council considers that the conflict among parties would be a threat to global peace, it may not consider the request of the member state but would rather impose its decision."

He said that in Nepal's case, it is highly unlikely that the UN body would intervene.

Meanwhile, the prime minister continued holding consultations with political parties to seek their suggestions on UNMIN's future. On Sunday, he held discussions with leaders of 16 political parties.

Maoists seek six more months

KATHMANDU, AUG 27 -
The UCPN (Maoist) on Friday asked the government to urge the United Nations Security Council for a six-month extension to UNMIN, whose term expires on Sept. 15.

 Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice Chairmen Mohan Baidya, Baburam Bhattarai and Narayankaji Shrestha met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and made this request. The official position of the Maoist leaders on the future of the UN political mission comes a day after the prime minister suggested downgrading UNMIN from a “political mission” to a “technical mission.” The discussion held at the Prime Minister’s Office couldn’t reach any conclusion after the Maoists objected to the government’s suggestion that the Nepal Army be kept out of the purview of UNMIN’s monitoring.

“UNMIN has been very instrumental in bringing the peace process to its current status. It should stay in the country till the peace process reaches its logical end,” Baburam Bhattarai told the Post. “Any attempt to create controversy against UNMIN or reduce its mandate would give a serious jolt to the peace process.”

Prime Minister Nepal, however, reiterated the government’s resolve to drop UNMIN’s monitoring of Nepal Army. The Maoist leaders stated their stand on UNMIN to envoys of the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council. Envoys of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia attended the discussion.

“We have requested the diplomats to support the extension of UNMIN with its current mandate,” said Bhattarai. “They have expressed their commitment to communicate our concerns to their governments.” The ambassadors stressed the need for “a common understanding” on the future of UNMIN so that it would be easier for the Security Council to make a quick decision on a high-stake issue.

PM proposes limiting UNMIN's role

KATHMANDU, AUG 26 -
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has floated the idea of downgrading the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) from a “political mission” to a “technical mission”, which will only monitor the Maoist army.

However, his own party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal was not impressed with the proposal pitched during a high level consultation held in Singhadurbar on Thursday afternoon. Leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Cabinet ministers, officials from the Foreign Ministry and non-Maoist representatives of the Special Committee and Technical Committee attended the discussion organised by the government to seek suggestions on the term extension of UNMIN.

According to a leader, the prime minister suggested that a small technical team comprising officials from the United Nations could be invited as an alternative to UNMIN to monitor the Maoists’ People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The prime minister proposed that the Nepal Army be kept out of the purview of the UN as the concept of “two sides” mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has become irrelevant since 2008, after the Maoists joined the Interim Parliament.

Khanal, without referring to the prime minister’s proposal, however, stressed the need to “forge a political consensus before taking any decision” on the fate of UNMIN, whose term expires on Sept. 15. “UNMIN is needed in the country until the peace process reaches its logical conclusion,” UML General Secretary and Special Committee member Ishwor Pokharel told the Post. “But its mandate can be narrowed down in the changed context.”

During the one-and-a-half-hour long discussion, NC leaders supported the prime minister’s proposal to end UNMIN oversight over Nepal Army. They argued that UNMIN could be given an extension with a limited mandate focusing on the monitoring of Maoist combatants.

“The mandate fixed for UNMIN four years ago has now become invalid. We have suggested a revision,” said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat.

“We listened to various opinions from leaders on the term extension. This is a preliminary consultation,” said Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong. “The government will consult with the Maoists and reach a conclusion.”

Some participants also suggested the government hold discussions with ambassadors of five permanent member countries of the UN Security Council before taking a call on the future of UNMIN.

Following the discussion on Thursday, a three-member task force comprising Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN Gyan Chandra Acharya, former Assistant Secretary of the UN General Kul Chandra Gautam and Retired Lt. Gen. Balananda Sharma has been assigned to prepare a proposal on the mandate revision.

NA's UNMIN exit call, parties divided

PHANINDRA DAHAL
KATHMANDU, AUG. 25
With Nepal Army lobbying for the exit of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) in September, political parties, who will ultimately decide the fate of the UN mission, remain sharply divided.

Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are considering narrowing UNMIN's mandate. UCPN (Maoist), meanwhile, has objected to any revision and warned such a move would put the peace process at serious risk. 

"The Nepal Army must be kept out of UNMIN's purview because the concept of two sides has become outdated," said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat on Wednesday. "The mandate should be amended and UNMIN should be given the task of first-hand monitoring of Maoist combatants." That, according to him, means UN monitors shouldn't rely on reports of PLA commanders but carry out regular roll calls in and supervision of the cantonments.

UML leader Pradeep Gyawali said there is no need to keep NA under UNMIN's surveillance in the changed political context. "We can bid UNMIN farewell if there is agreement among political parties on an alternative mechanism to take over the monitoring," he said. "There is no point keeping the Army under the UN scanner. We need to take a political decision." 

However, the Maoists say the peace process will collapse if such a decision is taken. "Congress and UML want to send UNMIN away at India's behest. After the exit of UNMIN, they want to impose presidential rule in the country and dissolve the Constituent Assembly," said Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun. "The PLA will come out of the cantonments if such a decision is taken and it will cost the country dear."

While the government and the Maoists remain divided over UNMIN's term, UN officials say the fate of the mission rests in the hands of national stakeholders and of the five members of the UN Security Council. "If there is consensus among the parties for a domestic monitoring mechanism, UNMIN wouldn't want to lengthen its stay in Nepal," said a UN official.

Special Representative of the Secretary General Karin Landgren is leaving for New York early next month to attend the discussion on Nepal's peace process at the UN Security Council. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is scheduled to table his report over the progress in the peace process on Sept. 7.

Meanwhile, the Army has recommended the names of three retired generals -- Balananda Sharma, Amar Panta and Bajra Gurung -- to head the proposed new mechanism under the special committee. Other members of the mechanism include representatives of the Home Ministry, Defence Ministry, the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, the National Investigation Department and the political parties at the centre as well as retired personnel from the Gurkha Army to carry out monitoring at the cantonments.

UNMIN has to go, says Nepal Army

Amid deepening political crisis in the country, the Nepal Army has suggested the government not to extend the term of UNMIN, that expires on Sept. 15. The stand comes at a time when the country is being governed by a caretaker government and the parliament has failed to choose the new leader even in its fourth attempt. The fifth voting is slated for Monday.

Observers say the UNMIN's departure at a time when the Maoist and non-Maoist parties are at loggerheads over the peace process and constitution drafting could create a void.




PHANINDRA DAHAL
KATHMANDU, AUG 20 -

The Nepal Army has asked the government not to extend the term of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which expires on Sept. 15. This is the first time the Army has taken an official position on UNMIN’s term extension.

Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung met Peace and Reconstruction Minister Rakam Chemjong on Friday and presented the Army’s position on UNMIN. UNMIN, whose first year-long tenure started on Jan. 23, 2007, is currently serving its sixth term.

“There is no conflict in the country and the premise that there are two sides to the conflict no longer exists. Hence, UNMIN should not be imposed on the country,” Chemjong told the Post, explaining what the Army chief said in their bilateral meeting.

“UNMIN’s responsibilities should now be transferred to the Special Committee formed for the Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants.”

During their 20-minute talks at the Peace Ministry, Gen. Gurung quoted clause 10.5 of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), arguing that the concept of “two sides” as referred to in the CPA had ceased to exist after the formation of the Interim Parliament in January 2007.

The clause states that all responsibility for implementing the obligations referred to in the accord shall be as per the arrangements made by the Council of Ministers after the constitution of Parliament.

“The government has not taken any decision on UNMIN. We will do that after consultations with the parties,” said Chemjong.

The Maoists have opposed Gen. Gurung’s stand, saying that the Army doesn’t have the authority to take a call on what is a political issue. “It is the political parties that need to decide the fate of UNMIN. The Army’s position has no relevance,” said Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun.

Never in the best of terms, relationship between the Army and UNMIN soured mainly after the UN body questioned the recruitment announced by the Army in November 2008.Prior to the four-month term extension of UNMIN in May, NA had lobbied the government to get rid of UNMIN’s monitoring role of the national army.

The relations between the two further soured early this month after UNMIN said NA’s decision to recruit 3,464 personnel was a breach of the CPA and Agreement on Monitoring and the Management of the Arms and Armies (AMMAA).

Early this month, UNMIN said that the proposed recruitment should be referred to the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC) for approval. The NA, however, shot back saying the UN body had no authority to question the decision taken by the government of Nepal.

Meanwhile, UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren on Friday urged the three major parties—UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—to take a unanimous decision on the future of UNMIN.

She said the UN Security Council will look for a clear request from the government of Nepal based on consensus among the parties for the term extension beyond Sept. 15.

In March, UNMIN had floated five options for its exit, including replacement of its monitoring role through domestic or a new international monitoring body. However, parties have not made any decision towards that end.

NA nay PLA aye to JMCC

PHANINDRA DAHAL

 AUG 07 -
In the wake of controversy over their fresh recruitment plan, the Nepal Army and the People’s Liberation Army are at loggerheads over the jurisdiction of the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC), the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) mechanism to assist the parties in the implementation of peace agreements.

The Maoists want the recruitment row to be settled by the JMCC. But Nepal Army says the mechanism can’t make any decision on the issue as it has become “irrelevant in the present context.”

The 98th meeting of JMCC held in Kathmandu on 23 April 2009.
Photo source: UNMIN

Clause 6.1 of the Agreement on Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies (ANNAA) states that the JMCC would comprise three members each from UNMIN, Nepal Army and PLA and serve as a dispute-resolution mechanism regarding the implementation of the agreement.

“The concept of the two sides as referred to in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement has ceased after the formation of the Interim Legislature Parliament. The JMCC has no meaning now,” said Nepal Army Spokesman Brig. Gen. Ramindra Chhetri. “Such a mechanism can’t question the government’s decision to permit the Nepal Army to go ahead with its recruitment.”

Referring to clause 10.5 of the CPA, Chhetri said the responsibility for implementing the obligations referred in the peace agreement shall now be as per the arrangement made by the Council of Ministers. “Neither any peace agreement nor the Interim Constitution forbids the Army to continue recruitment. The enrolment will continue,” said the Nepal Army spokesman.

PLA Spokesman Chandra Prakash Khanal “Baldev” said the JMCC is a legitimate place to resolve the recruitment dispute. “The meaning of the mechanism can only get over after the task of integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants is accomplished,” he said. “We are waiting for the JMCC meeting to lodge our written complaint against the new recruitment of the Nepal Army,” added the PLA deputy commander. He said the PLA would go ahead with its recruitment drive only after providing formal notice to the JMCC.

The recruitment row cropped up again last week after Supreme Court quashed a writ demanding the halt of recruitment in the Nepal Army saying that the matter was beyond its jurisdiction and the JMCC could deal with the row.

The PLA announced new recruitment after the Nepal Army opened up vacancy for 3,464 personnel in its infantry on Monday. Subsequently, UNMIN voiced concern over both the recruitment plans saying any recruitment by the two sides would be a breach of the CPA and AMMAA. UNMIN Spokesperson Kosmos Biswokarma said the JMCC would soon take up the matter.

“In the JMCC, UNMIN can press the alarm button that recruitment by both sides is a breach of CPA and AMMAA,” said Biswokarma. “It is up to the signatories to abide by the agreement and find a way forward to resolve the dispute.”

The mechanism is chaired by UNMIN’s Chief Arms Monitor Col. Marcos Manuel Miranda Caceres. Brig. Gen. Purna Chandra Thapa, Col. Sudershan Rana and Col. Arun Ghale represent NA while Nanda Kishore Pun, Chandra Prakash Khanal and Birendra Kumar Buda represent the PLA in the JMCC.

Prime Minister's election; a joke in Nepal

KATHMANDU, AUG 06 -
The fourth round of prime ministerial election on Friday ended in a debacle again, with both the UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel failing to secure a majority. The next election has been scheduled for Aug. 18 at 3 p.m.

Dahal garnered 213 votes, 46 less than in the previous round. Poudel got 122 votes, two down from the third round. Two other major voting blocs—CPN-UML and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM)— abstained for the fourth time. A dozen fringe parties including the CPN (ML) and RPP (Nepal) also stayed away from the polls.

The winning candidate had to secure 301 votes in the 601-member parliament. Two new Maoist lawmakers were sworn in to fill the vacant posts before Friday’s voting. The House saw the absence of 133 lawmakers when Dahal’s candidacy was put to the test. When the session convened, all 28 lawmakers of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) were busy at a Parliamentary Party meeting in Singha Durbar. The attendance increased to 561 when Poudel’s candidacy was put for vote.

Dahal was backed by Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, Nepal Pariwar Dal, Rastriya Janmukti Party, Nepa Rastriya Party, Sadhbhawana (Sarita Giri) and CPN-ML (Samajwadi), the new party that split from CPN-ML on Friday. Poudel got votes from Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party.


Despite the fourth failure, both Dahal and Poudel have stood in favour of giving continuity to the ongoing prime ministerial race.

UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said the Maoists and NC should review their position to end the current stalemate. “The failure to elect a majority government time and again means we should make a fresh start for national consensus,” said Khanal reiterating that UML wouldn’t support the formation of majority government even in the next election.

US warns terrorist risk in India due to Nepal's instablity

The United States has warned that the political instability in Nepal poses serious terrorist threat to India. The country reports on Terrorism 2009 issued by the State Department in Washington on Thursday states “Given Nepal‘s continued instability, however, there is a possibility that members of extremist groups could transit Nepal, especially into India.”

The report has been published at a time when seasoned diplomat Shyam Sharan as a special envoy of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was busy in parleys with Nepali political leaders in Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Post in its Friday edition has reported that the Maoist leaders tried to address India’s security concern during the meeting with the visiting envoy.


The Nepali parliament has failed to elect the new prime minister despite three elections has been conducted since July 21. Both UCPN (Maoist) Chairman and Nepali Congress (NC) Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel has failed to garner majority and according to sources, the indecisiveness would only end once India backs one of the two candidates.


What the report states about Nepal ?
While Nepal experienced no significant acts of international terrorism, several incidents of politically-motivated violence occurred in the country. Maoist -affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) criminal activity continued, including intimidation and extortion. In response to the YCL violence, other political parties condoned the use of violence by their youth wings. Unrest in the southern Terai plains remained high with the proliferation of numerous armed groups and an inadequate police presence. More than 100 armed groups are estimated to be operating in the Terai, some in pursuit of independence or autonomy, most composed of opportunistic criminal elements. Competing factions clashed with each other, with the Maoists, with hill-origin Nepalese, and with police, instigating numerous strikes, demonstrations, and Indo-Nepal border road closures. A Special Security Plan (SSP) was put in place in July to curb violence and end the culture of impunity. Despite this program, police still do not have an active presence in many parts of the Terai.

Nepal experienced several acts of religiously-motivated violence, most prominently the bombing of a Catholic Church in May. The attack was conducted by the Nepalese Defense Army (NDA), a Hindu extremist group that was responsible for shooting a Catholic priest and bombing a mosque in 2008. The leader of this group has since been arrested and their activities appear to have ceased.

There were no indications that Nepal was a safe haven for international terrorists. Given Nepal‘s continued instability, however, there is a possibility that members of extremist groups could transit Nepal, especially into India. The large ungoverned space along the Nepal/Indian border exacerbates this vulnerability, as do security shortfalls at Tribhuvan Airport, Nepal‘s international airport. In June, Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LT) member Muhammad Omar Madni traveled through Nepal enroute to New Delhi.

 Nepal is not a regional financial center and there were no indications that the country was used as an international money laundering center.

There were no prosecutions or arrests for money laundering in 2009. However, YCL illicit financial activities, including smuggling, extortion, and protection demands, increased in 2009.The United States sponsored the attendance of Nepalese security force officers at various international counterterrorism events.

About the UCPN (Maoist): In April, 2008, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) won the national Constituent Assembly election and formed a Government under Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Following Dahal‘s May 2009 resignation, the Maoists continued in political opposition and remained a U.S.-designated terrorist entity under the Terrorism Exclusion List and Executive Order 13224.

For full  report:
http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/USGOV_CountryReportsOnTerrorism2009.pdf

Army wants more top rank teeth

Asks govt to add two more Lt. Gen's 
Move could influence the appointment of Gurung's successor 


KATHMANDU, AUG 02 - The Nepal Army has put forward an institutional restructuring proposal and has asked the government to “strengthen its top ranks” by creating two additional posts of Lieutenant Generals.

A delegation of senior army officials led by Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Chhatra Man Singh Gurung on Sunday presented the proposal to Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari and Defence Secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimire. Insiders in the Army maintain that endorsement of such a proposal could influence the appointment of Gen. Gurung’s successor.


 The Army chief is completing his three-year term on Sept. 9, 2012.“The creation of additional posts will put Maj, Gen. Gaurab Samsher Rana and Maj. Gen. Nepal Bhusan Chand in the race for the Army’s top post,” a senior Army official told the Post.

Under the new arrangement, the post will go to Chand if Rana, after his promotion to the post of Lt. Gen., fails to get one year term extension, he said.

Under the existing provision, Rana, Director General of Military Operation (DGMO), will be elevated to Lt. Gen. in April next year after the retirement of Chief of General Staff Pawan Jung Thapa. Adjutant Gen. Chand will get promotion only a month after Chief of Staff Gen. Toran Jung Bahadur Singh retires.

 If Rana stays put as Lt. Gen. for a year even after completing a two-year term, he will then be the Army chief and Chand will be his deputy. “The meeting was just a briefing by the Army,” said a Defence Ministry official. “The government will have to discuss the issue with other stakeholders, including line ministries and agencies.”


During Sunday’s meeting, the senior Army officials argued that the restructuring of top ranks was necessary to transform the institution into international standard and create senior ranks parallel to the civil service.
Of the two additional Lt Gen posts, one can be adjusted from Raaj Prasad Sewa and another from “core group” that is not in existence yet, even though the plan to form it was made a decade ago. They suggested that the four Lt. Gens. should head four departments of the Army.
Maj. Gens. Anil Jung Thapa, Ram Bahadur Gurung, Daman Ghale and BA Kumar Sharma had attended the briefing. Citing the rank structure of of Indian, British and Pakistani armies, the generals maintained that additional posts of major general and brigadier general should be created.

New PM plan a hat-trick flop

Dahal bags additional votes after 11 MJF lawmakers cross the Floor 

PHANINDRA DAHAL 
KATHMANDU, AUG 02 -
The third round of the prime ministerial election ended inconclusively on Monday despite some lawmakers from the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) crossing the floor and voting for UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The fourth round of voting has been scheduled for 3 p.m. on Aug. 6.

Dahal garnered 259 votes, while his opponent Nepali Congress’ Ram Chandra Poudel got 124 votes in the polling. Of the 599 Members of Parliament, the winning candidate had to secure 300 votes to form a majority government.

Dahal got 17 votes more than in the second round after 11 lawmakers of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) defied the party’s decision to abstain from voting. MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav and Co-Chairman Jay Prakash Prasad Gupta did not vote for Dahal as per a decision made by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM).

UCPN(Maoist) Chairman Dahal with Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Nepal before voting.
Photo: Narendra Shrestha 

While Dahal was also voted by lawmakers of Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, Nepal Pariwar Dal, Rastriya Janamukti Party and Nepa Rastriya Party, Poudel was backed by Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party. The CPN-UML and other fringe parties voted for none of the candidates.

The voting session scheduled for 4 p.m. was delayed by four hours as the SLMM was indecisive until the last hour. Dahal made a last ditch effort to get the backing of the Madhes-based parties by sending his aides to hold talks in Singha Durbar.

While Dahal appeared upbeat after Sunday’s result, Poudel expressed dissatisfaction and accused the Maoists of “malpractice” in the polling. “The malpractice was visible in today’s election. The crossing of the floor is a clear indication of this,” said Poudel. “I have asked the UML chairman to take the incident seriously and review the party’s decision.”

UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, however, said the party would not vote for a majority government in the next election. Maoist leader Pun, however, claimed that the NC’s allegation was baseless as MJF had formally decided to vote for Dahal. “The increasing votes in our favour shows we will secure majority in the fourth round,” he said.

The House proceeding continued till late in the night due to a serious rift between the Maoists and the NC on the date of the fourth round of election. The Maoists proposed Friday, while the NC demanded the polls be held on Aug. 18 saying that party leaders would be busy in preparations for the upcoming party convention.
The fate of the two candidates now depends on the decision of the UML and the four Madhes-based parties. Dahal will get a majority if the Madhes parties vote for him in the fourth round, while Poudel will get a chance to lead a government if the UML and the Madhes parties vote for him.   

Sedentary Positions

At the cantonment in Rolpa, the ex-Maoist combatants insist on a political consensus on integration

Phanindra Dahal
Dahaban, Rolpa

Inside the fifth division of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) here in Rolpa, combatant 24-year-old Khuma Pun ‘Yatri’ remains anxious about her future, even though she cleared her SLC examinations this year.

Khuma Pun during the interview.

“I want to continue my reading and I also want to serve the national army. But the government is treating us like its step children. I can’t say what will happen in the future,” Pun says, before leaving to construct a sentry post inside the camp.

The integration and rehabilitation of over 19,600 combatants living in the 28 cantonments are two of the most intricate issues in the country currently. Two subsequent governments formed after the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections have collapsed without securing the future of the former rebel soldiers. Meanwhile, current negotiations continue to linger over the details of the process, including the numbers of the combatants to be integrated.

“The peace process cannot come to a logical conclusion without settling the issue of Maoist combatants and the new constitution cannot be promulgated under the shadow of the gun,” says Nepali Congress (NC) leader Shekhar Koirala.

The major bone of contention among the three major parties is the modality of integration and the number of combatants to be integrated into security agencies. The NC and CPN-UML argue that the number of Maoist weapons registered by UNMIN should be the basis of integration. This proposal has not pleased the Maoists, as only 3,475 combatants can opt for integration in such a case. The Maoists wants all combatants to be given a choice, and those choosing integration should be integrated into the national army or a separate security organ that constitutes ex-PLA members.

But without a political consensus, the current state of indecision will continue.
Ex-combatants at the Dahaban camp seem to be living a sedentary life without much option. The combatants start their day with a roll-call at 5 am followed by drills, physical training and some more exercise. With no specific work apart from small constructions and management in the camps, many live a married life with their fellow comrades, like Pun. Besides discussing politics and reading communist literature, both the commanders and the juniors share a “deep fascination” to serve in the national army. And some have their own proposals.

“The PLA was not formed to return home or get a job. There should be a political decision to merge the PLA and the Nepal Army together into a new national army,” says Vice-Commander Raj Bahadur Buda ‘Awinash’.

The Chief of the Nepal Army could be the head of the new national army, while the chief of the PLA could be appointed the second man, thus creating a win-win situation, argues the 47-year-old commander.

The opposition comes from several quarters—including top ranking officials in the Nepal Army—who oppose the integration of what they call “excessively politically-indoctrinated combatants.” Army Chief Gen. Chhatra Man Singh Gurung issued a statement in March this year opposing the bulk integration of combatants, warning that such a move could damage the organisational unity of Nepal Army. The Army has said on record that after a broad-based political consensus, it might consider the integration of individual combatants who meet its established standards.

Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari has said, “They (Maoist combatants) are loyal to the party. Integrating them means polluting the security agencies. To uphold the professional nature of the Army and other security agencies, individuals living in the cantonments should be integrated into society.”

Analysts urge the need of a political decision to implement this outstanding task of the peace process. “The integration and rehabilitation of combatants is a national responsibility. There should be a political decision to take this process forward,” says Retired Lt. Gen. C.B. Gurung.

Despite the need to complete this task, experts also argue that the fulfillment of standard norms of security agencies and the harmonization of the senior ranks of the PLA into the Army are the most complex issues that will occur while taking the decision on integration.

“The Nepal Army doesn’t recruit anyone who is above the age of 22. If we go by existing norms, most combatants cannot even meet the age criteria of recruitment,” adds Gurung. “There is no alternative but to make a one-time special provision to carry out this national responsibility,” he says.

Given the expectations of combatants who live at this foothill in Rolpa, it seems a political consensus on integration is the only way out. But the current impasse has deepened the insecurities former combatants have. Division Vice-Commander Ram Lal Rokka ‘Madan’ says he is an example of the insecurity the impasse over integration has created.

Originally from Kureli in Rolpa, his impoverished family depends on agriculture. While a 17-year old son studies in grade eight, Rokka’s 12-year old daughter studies in grade two. It’s difficult for the family to make ends meet with Rokka away in the camp, and two school-going children. For him, there is no other option but for political parties to find a common ground on the issue.

“Political parties should come up with a package that secures our future,” says the 38-year-old commander.

(Published at the Kathmandu Post on July 31, 2010)