According to Nepal Army Spokesperson, Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri, the army´s selection committee has commenced the registration of applications from the former Maoist combatants. [break]
"The selection process has begun at Shaktikhor cantonment," Chhetri said.
Maoist army commanders from different cantonments told Republica that the process has started in all the cantonments.
Nepal Army personnel stand guard in Chitwan. (Photo: Chandni Hamal)
Hikmat Baral Magar, brigade commander of the Fifth Division at Dahaban, Rolpa, said the army is starting the selection process there from Thursday.
Similarly, Deepak Lama, brigade vice-commander of the Sixth Division at Dasharathpur, Surkhet, said the former combatants are returning to the cantonments. "Their return and the selection process will go ahead simultaneously."
Purna Pun, brigade vice-commander of the Fourth Division at Jhyaltungdanda, Nawalparasi, said the army has started the selection process and checked off 15 ex-combatants.
At the First Division, the ex-combatants have started applying for selection, according to Division Commander Yam Bahadur Adhikari.
Altogether 3,123 combatants have opted for integration into the national army. They will be accomodated under a new directorate to be formed under the Nepal Army. The government, however, is yet to finalize the structure of the directorate.
Nepal Army personnel busy at work in Chitwan. (Photo: Chandni Hamal)
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