KATHMANDU, July 16: The government on Thursday said the process of discharging disqualified Maoist combatants, including child soldiers, is to begin from Friday.
The government has taken the decision to begin the process of discharging 4,008 combatants currently in the cantonments monitored by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). The process is to start from Hattikhor cantonment in Nawalparasi district and is due to be completed by November 2. [break]
The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction made the decision public Thursday after reaching an agreement with the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
The combatants were disqualified by UNMIN during verifications.
“We have taken consent from the Maoists before reaching this decision,” said Peace and Reconstruction Minister Rakam Chemjong at a press meet organized at the ministry.
According to him, a team led by Peace Ministry representatives will first collect information from the disqualified combatants about their interests and future plans.
“We will give them questionnaires to fill and take them to temporary shelters” Chemjong told the press.
Temporary shelters will be set up to house disqualified combatants for the time being. They will be kept at the temporary shelters for 45 days.
After placing them in the shelters, the government will provide them training and also ideas on finding jobs and opportunities. However, the place for the temporary shelters is not fixed yet.
“We will teach them about leading a normal life”, he said.
Responding to a question asked by a journalist, Minister Chemjong said, “Combatants cannot be obstinate while being discharging as they were disqualified by UNMIN.” He further said that this is the right time to choose an appropriate path for them.
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