With the endorsement of the rehabilitation package, something that was supposed to have happened last week, the secretariat under the Special Committee is sending out 210 surveyors to the seven main cantonments for the categorization work. [break]
The 19,000-plus Maoist fighters will be separated into three category, for purposes of integration, rehabilitation and voluntary retirement.
"The surveyors will be sent to the cantonments most likely by day after tomorrow (Wednesday)," Chief Secretary and Special Committee Spokesperson Madhav Prasad Ghimire told journalists, emerging from the meeting of the Special Committee on Monday.
Despite this development, the parties continue to harbor differences over the cut-off dates for the education level and rank of Maoist combatants, as agreed in the November 1 deal among the major political parties.
The parties had agreed that only the education level and rank at the time of verification of PLA combatants by the United Nations in 2007 will be considered during the integration and rehabilitation process.
But the Maoists have urged that the combatants´ present qualifications and rank also be considered during integration and rehabilitation, following a demand from the PLA commanders. The commanders have been pressing the Maoist leadership to consider the present education levels and ranks, as ignoring their present status would have direct ramifications for their integration and rehabilitation package.
"We have agreed to recognize the present and past education levels and rank of the PLA," said Maoist representative Barshaman Pun, emerging from the Special Committee meeting Monday evening.
But the NC representative on the Special Committee, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, refuted Pun´s claim. "No, there has not been any agreement to recognize the present education level and rank of combatants," said Mahat after the meeting.
A neutral source on the Special Committee told Republica that there has been an understanding to allow the PLA to use the education level mentioned in their curriculum vitae.
"If their present education and rank are to be recognized, what meaning will their education and rank at the time of verification have? Furthermore, if the present educational level of the PLA is to be recognized, what is the point in relaxing standard norms on education for the PLA?"
The Maoists have been requesting that the present education and rank of the PLA be considered as the ex-combatants have upgraded their education level following their verification by the UN and they can claim higher posts in the Nepal Army if their present education level is recognized.
Similarly, the rank of some PLA has changed since the time of verification and if their present rank is not considered, it will affect the rehabilitation package in cash terms. The higher the PLA rank, the more cash will accrue to the PLA personnel.
Different package for injured PLA
The Special Committee has decided to offer a different rehabilitation package for injured combatants and for female fighters with children, according to Pun.
The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction has been directed accordingly. Similarly, the committee also decided to give 50 percent of the rehabilitation package to the families of combatants who have died since their verification.
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