“The main difference was over rank determination,” said Nepali Congress member in the Special Committee Ram Sharan Mahat. [break]
Sources said the Maoist member in the Special Committee had proposed keeping the action plan silent on rank after NC and CPN-UML members objected to the Maoist proposal to award senior positions to the combatants. Maoist representatives maintained that the issue of rank would be resolved once the integration process moves ahead -- something both NC and UML rejected outright.
The Maoists have long been demanding that the PLA men be given some key posts through a political decision.
Sources said there has been unanimous agreement among the parties to set up seven selection centers for integration. However, the Nepal Army (NA) is mulling to set up additional centers as integration should be completed as soon as possible.
NA is preparing to take all Maoist combatants opting for integration in its barracks by mid-April to expedite the integration process. The combatants would be ferried in a bus and kept under make-shift tents.
The Special Committee meeting held at the Committee´s Secretariat in New Baneshwar on Sunday was close to an agreement on bringing the Maoist combatants, cantonments and their weapons under the purview of Nepal Army by mid-April, according to a press statement issued by the Prime Minister´s Office.
The parties, however, continue to remain at odds over the preliminary selection process, types of training to be given to the Maoist combatants and their placement after integration in NA.
The next meeting of the Special Committee is scheduled for 5:30 pm, Monday.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Maoist member on the Special Committee Barshaman Pun said discussions are moving ahead on a positive note. “We have agreed to sit again for talks on Monday as there are some contentious issues that need detailed discussions for consensus,” he said.
Pun expressed confidence that the integration process would complete by mid-April.
Mahat said they held discussions on the procedures, modality and standard norms for integration. “We hope to reach to an agreement by tomorrow [Monday],” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has said that the integration of Maoist combatants would be completed by mid-April. In the statement, the prime minister has also asked all not to cast doubts over the timely completion of the peace process.
Related story
The real culprits of flight delays
