Officials at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction have already held three rounds of talks with Maoist leaders in Kathmandu since the process was stalled on July 17 but there is no headway in this regard as of Monday.
There are 4,008 disqualified Maoist combatants in cantonments monitored by the United Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). Rehabilitation of these combatants disqualified by UNMIN is a part of the peace process.
A government team led by Joint Secretary Bishnu Prasad Nepal, accompanied by UNMIN officials, had visited the Parivartan Smriti Brigade on July 17. The team returned to Kathmandu after the disqualified combatants protested the discharge process.
The government has blamed the Maoists for the delay. But the Maoists said they are ´ready´ to resume the process ´at any time´.
Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong said the ministry has not been able to resume the process because the Maoists have not given a formal commitment to it.
“The government is committed to its decision on discharging the disqualified combatants. But the Maoists have not expressed a similar commitment to the process. We are waiting for a formal commitment from the Maoists,” he told myrepublica.com.
Officials said they cannot resume the process without a formal commitment from the Maoists.
Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun, who was present during all talks with the government on this issue, however, said the Maoists were committed to the process and were ready for it at any time.
“The government has not given us a timetable of the process. Once the government provides the timetable, we are ready to begin the process at any time,” Pun said. Government sources, however, said there is a difference between what the Maoists say and do over the issue.
“Had they been committed to the process, we would not have been forced to wait for 24 days since the process was stalled,” the sources said on condition of anonymity.
Another Maoist leader, Hisila Yami, who also attended a couple of talks with government officials on the issue, however, said the process is linked to the ongoing struggle for “civilian supremacy”.
kiran@myrepublica.com
post@myrepublica.com
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