How do you see the handover of the cantonment?
It is positive. It has opened the door for parties to lead the peace process to a logical end as aspired by the people. It has also opened the door for political consensus. Above all, the handover of PLA has also created an environment conducive to drafting the new constitution.
What do you think are the challenges facing integration and rehabilitation process ahead?
Power sharing, modality of integration and commitment of political parties to drafting the new constitution are the major challenges.
There are unverified reports that PLA are taking part in the party´s orientation program even after the handover ceremony.
Yes, they will take part in the orientation program. We have already reached an informal understanding with the prime minister to allow them to participate in the orientation program.
But the code of conduct for combatants that came into effect with the handover of the cantonment does not allow combatants to engage in any type of political training or orientation inside or outside the cantonments.
This is a matter of practical understanding.
How many combatants will attend the orientation?
It is not yet clear.
What kind of offices will be set up in the cantonments for monitoring?
There will no offices as such in cantonments. We will have office only in Kathmandu. We have formed a special mechanism comprising nine-members, including PLA Chief Nanda Kishor Pun, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum -Democratic leader Jitendra Dev and a secretariat member Gopal Singh Bohora. This mechanism will also play the role of both the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee and UNMIN.
What must be understood is that UNMIN also had done nothing big. Both the Nepal Army and the PLA were under their own chain of command. They are run on the basis of mutual trust and understanding at the political level.
When will the regrouping for integration and rehabilitation start?
The Special committee will finalize that. The task left to us ahead now is to finalize the timeline and ascertain the modality of integration and rehabilitation. These works will be expedited soon.
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