Two weeks have elapsed since the Special Committee formed a four-member taskforce to finalize modality, norms and plan of action for the integration and rehabilitation of over 19,000 Maoist combatants. The taskforce comprising Special Committee members from UCPN (M), NC, CPN (UML) and MPRF met a couple of times before deciding to meet on April 1. But the taskforce did not meet and the date for next meeting also hasn´t been fixed yet.
The Special Committee meeting also hasn´t been held since the last meeting on March 23. The prime minister-headed body is waiting for a report from the taskforce on key issues of integration and rehabilitation. But it still remains uncertain as to when the report will be ready.
In this context, Republica´s Kiran Chapagain on Thursday talked to Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, a Special Committee member and a member of the taskforce, to elicit his response on the progress made by the taskforce and other political issues vis-à-vis his party. [break]
Excerpts: [break]
What has the taskforce done over the last two weeks?
There was a debate among political parties on whether the Maoist combatants should be integrated into security forces. During the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government, NC, CPN (UML) and some Madhesi parties had argued that the Maoist combatants should not be integrated into the security forces.
But after the formation of the taskforce, all the parties have reached an understanding that the combatants should be integrated. In addition, they have also agreed in principle that integration should be done in the security agencies. This has broken the ice between political parties.
What will be the modality of such integration?
In the beginning, the Maoists had proposed in the taskforce that there should be a separate force of Maoist combatants only. But other parties rejected the proposal outright. The taskforce has now been mulling to set up a mixed force. But we are yet to reach a conclusion on the kind of modality. We are basically discussing three modalities of integration.
As per the first model, there should be a separate directorate under the Nepal Army (NA) accommodating personnel from the army, Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal Police (NP) and the Maoist combatants. The second proposal is for setting up a fourth security agency [NA, APF and NP being three security agencies] comprising personnel from the NA, APF, NP and Maoist combatants. And the third model is about establishing a separate force exclusively for the Maoist combatants.
The taskforce was supposed to meet on April 1 and accordingly had asked all its members to come up with their party´s position on these modalities. But it has not yet met since its last meeting on March 28.
None of the parties represented in the taskforce have made their position clear on these modalities. We are waiting.
But the taskforce can discuss other issues like standard norms for integration, number or plan of action for integration while waiting for parties´ stance on integration modality.
We have an understanding in the taskforce that discussions on the norms should be held only after finalizing the modality for integration. Similarly, we have planned to discuss the number and time table for integration only after finalizing the norms for integration.
What is the position of your party on integration modality?
The best modality is: setting up a directorate under the NA accommodating personnel from the NA, APF, NP and the Maoist combatants.
Have other parties in the taskforce shown any indication as to which modality they would accept?
They are also positive toward setting up a directorate under the NA accommodating personnel from the NA, APF, NP and the Maoist combatants. But the Maoists´ position is more important. Following their meeting in Sindhupalchowk, the Maoists have also said that they are also positive toward this modality. In my opinion, the parties are likely to agree on this modality.
Why are you still against your party joining the Jhalanath Khanal-led government?
There two factions in our party. One faction accepts Maoist agendas while another rejects them. I believe the Maoist agendas are not good for stability and democratic exercises in the country. But our party Chairman [Upendra Yadav] has a differing stance. In my opinion, joining the current government means accepting the Maoist agendas.
But you did not write any note of decent when the party endorsed the four-point agreement between PM Khanal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and your party´s chairman.
There is no difference between the four-point agreement [which paved the way for MPRF to join the coalition], the 22-point agreement and other agreements related to Madhes issues in the past. The four-point agreement reflects the fundamental issues raised in the past agreements. Moreover, the prime minister´s party and the Maoists are yet to endorse the agreement.
The prime minister´s party and the Maoists hold different positions on the issues included in the four-point agreement. The agreement has been signed by overlooking the position of their respective parties. So it makes no sense for me to hold a differing view.