The categorization has been completed formally on Thursday. What is the next step?
We will prepare a report of the categorization and give it to the Special Committee. With this, the first and the second points of the seven-point agreement have been implemented. Now, the process enters into another stage as stated in the third point of the agreement, which says security agencies concerned will begin integration of the combatants. Now, the bodies concerned should be ready to take over as stated in the agreement.
The number of combatants opting for integration exceeded the allotted quota. How have you taken it?
We are yet to know the exact number of combatants opting for integration. But a cursory look at the data shows that the figure stands at around 60 percent against 40 percent choosing voluntary retirement.
Political leaders had not expected such a high number of combatants will choose integration option. What prompted such a large number of combatants to opt for integration?
There are a couple of reasons. First, combatants should be understood as persons who love guns. They also want a government job. For such persons who love guns and want government jobs, joining the army is the answer.
Second, attraction for the Nepal Army is another reason. As their service in the Maoist army will also be counted, they will be eligible for pension in 2-4 years in the national army.
Third, internal politics [in the Maoist party] is yet another reason. One faction [the Mohan Baidya faction] urged the combatants to opt for voluntary retirement. Had the number of combatants choosing voluntary retirement been more, the number of combatants loyal to other faction [Maoist party establishment] would have been less.
In my opinion, there was an internal competition between the two sides to have more numbers of combatants on their sides. They [the party establishment] encouraged the combatants to choose integration over voluntary retirement. Even those who had opted for rehabilitation changed their decision and chose integration. No one encouraged the combatants to go for rehabilitation.
Lastly, pension and opportunity to serve peace keeping missions after joining the national army also attracted the combatants to choose the integration option.
Whether political consideration or attraction for the national army influenced their decision to opt for integration?
In some places, political considerations played a bigger role in influencing the decision of the combatants while attraction for the army was more in other places.
How do you see the decision of the injured, over-aged, and pregnant choosing integration?
Yes, such combatants have also chosen integration option. We did not prevent them from going for their preferred option. As they were free to take their decision, even those who had initially opted for rehabilitation, changed their decision and opted for integration later.
What is the number of such combatants?
A large number.
Why, in your opinion, around 2,800 combatants did not appear in the categorization process?
We cannot attribute a particular reason for this. It is natural to loose its members in an organization, which is not recruiting regularly.
But this is a different case. They were supposed to be in the cantonments?
I mean it is a natural tendency to seek opportunity by members of an organization of that size. There was uncertainty over their integration and rehabilitation. If they find better opportunity than integration and rehabilitation, they will leave.
Another reason is that the combatants were supposed to remain in the cantonment. They could leave cantonments only on authorized leave that too only 12 percent of the total number in a cantonment at a time. On the one hand, we did not have human resources to enforce the leave provision while on the other hand there is the question as to what extent they abided by that provision.
Similarly, some left the cantonments to quit politics and start a new life while some others left for better opportunity. Some others have gone abroad for employment. The combatants who were dispelled for disciplinary reason and those facing criminal charges also did not participate in the categorization.
In your opinion, what should be the immediate next step for the government after completion of the categorization?
First, the government should work to release those combatants who have opted for voluntary retirement from the cantonment since it is an easier task besides being a less controversial one. The government should make necessary preparations to give money to such combatants. Most of the combatants have wished and demanded that the money they are entitled to get is given directly to them. I have suggested them to open bank accounts in their name and give the account number to the center so that the money goes directly to them. They fear that the party or the PLA might take their money. The number of such combatants is large.
Why did only a few combatants choose rehabilitation package?
Only five combatants have chosen rehabilitation package. There are some reasons why only a few combatants opted for rehabilitation package.
First reason is political instability. They held the view that they might be deprived of the promised rehabilitation package once the government changes. Second, rehabilitation packages required the combatants to put in a few years in learning skills to claim the rehabilitation packages. Third, they doubted effective implementation of the rehabilitation programs. Similarly, they perceived rehabilitation word with negative connotation.
When will the security agencies take responsibility of the combatants who have opted for integration?
First, the government should make necessary preparations. The directorate under the Nepal Army should be constituted. There needs to be a legal basis first to set up the directorate. Likewise, necessary infrastructure should be prepared. The Nepal Army, which is short of required resources for its incumbent personnel, needs to arrange additional infrastructure.
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