The disqualified combatants have also warned of forming an 8th division of the People´s Liberation Army (PLA) as the seven former PLA divisions have already been dissolved. They claimed that the government and major four parties have invited a “disaster” by announcing the election date without forging consensus with the agitating parties. [break]
“We will form an 8th PLA division if our demands are not addressed,” Sagar Limbu, chief the discharged PLA told Republica on Saturday.
At a press meet held in the capital, Limbu also said that the 4,008 discharged combatants would form two PLA divisions. These combatants were discharged from cantonments in 2010 for being minors and late recruits.
The discharged combatants have been staging protests saying their demands were not addressed by their party or the government. They have forwarded a four-point demand to the government. Among other things, they have also demanded removal of the “disqualified” tag.
The erstwhile Baburam Bhattarai-led government had announced to remove the disqualified tag of the discharged combatants. They have also demanded Rs 600,000 in rehabilitation package to each of the discharged combatants. In addition, they have also demanded release of arrested combatants.
According to Limbu, around 70 discharged combatants are still in police custody.
“We will stage all forms of protest, including enforcement of a general strike. We will change the form of the protests after forming a PLA division,” added Limbu. According him, the national convention of the discharge PLA to be held on August 5- August 7 in Butwal will announce formation of the new PLA division and protest programs.
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