The pace of the discharge process of disqualified combatants exemplifies the pace of the Nepal’s overall peace process. The Maoists, who claim they are committed to the peace process more than any other political party or stakeholder is, have ironically obstructed the discharge process by pushing a variety of unjustified and costly demands. In October, they sought gratuity of a million rupees to each disqualified combatant. Upon facing rejection, they sought either land for apple farming or 4,000 cows for the combatants as rehabilitation offer. In the third week of November, the discharge process was halted after the Maoists disagreed on a close-ended questionnaire that was to be filled out by the combatants for their profiling. The Maoists are pushing for an open-ended questionnaire, apparently to give the disqualified combatants the liberty to demand cash incentives. Frustrated by rejection after rejection, the Maoists threatened in late November that they would unilaterally discharge the combatants.
The discharge of disqualified combatants and a decision over the fate of bona fide combatants is instrumental to the success of the peace process and to the success of constitution writing process. Lack of progress in constitution-writing is closely linked to the lack of progress in discharge, rehabilitation and integration, as a new constitution cannot be agreed upon as long two armies exist in the country. The continued existence of the Maoist army is not only technically problematic to a new constitution. It is also a source of undue leverage for the Maoist party, in addition to being a source of suspicion for ruling parties.
The Maoists must understand that the disqualified combatants will be better off in the long run accepting the informal education and vocational training package offered by the UNMIN and the government. A one-time cash incentive cannot ensure them a future the way skills to earn a living can. In any case, individuals who are not legitimate combatants cannot be allowed to become a liability on the government and the donor community. It is therefore imperative that the four-day Nepal visit by Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, starting Monday, ends in a time-bound action plan on the discharge of minors. It is also essential that the action plan is strictly followed. A swift discharge can inject a sense of purpose in the peace process and force the exponentially growing population of skeptics to review their verdict that the wait for a new constitution, lasting peace and economic progress is a wait for Godot.
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