“About 99 percent of the recruitment process has been completed in places where less number of positions were vacant,” an NA source told myrepublica.com. “However, in places like Kathmandu, where higher number of positions had fallen vacant, the process is halfway.”
On Monday, when Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa from Chitwan was warning Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal of action for not halting the recruitment process, the NA’s Eastern Divisional Headquarters, Itahari shortlisted 88 candidates for junior non-combatant positions. “The final list will be published within one or two days after the candidates undergo medical tests,” said the source.
In November, the NA had announced vacancies for 2,884 low-ranking positions by informing the line ministry, the Defense Ministry, in advance. The Maoist-led government remained silent on the recruitment for about two months. But Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the Defense Minister issued orders to the NA to halt the recruitment only last week after one of the Maoist army commanders warned of starting fresh recruitment in the “People’s Liberation Army (PLA)" also.
United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which has been monitoring the management of arms and armies, has said any recruitment in either army would go against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which is among various agreements reached between the then government and the Maoists.
At some places, even the written test has not been conducted due to higher number of vacancies. However, the recruitment process will be completed “soon” in all places, according to the source.
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