Late in the afternoon just before the constitution was promulgated on Sunday, she took some time out of her busy schedule from her fish farming in Nawalparasi district and said, "I am happy the Constituent Assembly (CA) has finally delivered the constitution but not even a single line of the new constitution has acknowledged the then People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s role for this to happen."She recalls that in every political orientation seminars and meetings she participated in during the insurgency, the party leaders routinely repeated the word 'Constitution Assembly' for new Nepal, for new fate of the suppressed, poor and the marginalized people.
"As the revolution took various twist and turns, the achievements of the 'People's War' were compromised in the name of institutionalizing the achievements through CA," she added while reviewing the peace process.
"The revolution has left us in the mid-way but I feel proud to bring this situation," said Thapa, who participated in more than 30 battles during her decade-long contribution to the People's War, which claimed about 17,000 lives.
On May 28, 2008, Nepal was declared a republic after the abolition of monarchy, that prevailed for more than 240 years, as peace process took a fresh start since the guns stopped firing after the April revolution of 2006.
After the four-point agreement was signed between the government and the UCPN (Maoist) on September 13, 2010 to take the peace process to its logical conclusion, the Maoist combatants were brought under a Special Committee.
Santu Darai aka Parwana, who contributed to the PLA since its establishment and is currently a lawmaker, said, "As the constitution from CA is the culmination of the 'People's War,' it's a matter of pride for me as a former combatant."
Darai stressed that the People's War was the beginning of a new era in the history of Nepal and the promulgation of the new constitution has laid that foundation by ending feudalism.
"As a former combatant, I am happy that a new chapter has begun."
He added, "I cannot be fully satisfied with the provisions in the new constitution as they still cannot address the deep-rooted problems of feudalism, but now the chances of uprooting the malpractices are higher."
Like Thapa, Darai also shared similar feelings over the CA not giving due credit to their contributions. "History cannot be erased. But we were at least expecting PLA's contribution to be mentioned in the new constitution."
"We hope to be further relieved after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Disappearance Commission successfully accomplishes its responsibility," said Darai, who is now 48 and hails from Gitanagar-1 of Chitwan.
Darai, who once led party Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal's security team, was the division commander at the Seventh Division based in Kailali, while the Special Committee for integration was actively functioning.
After a long hustle and bustle among the political parties on the number, modality and the ranks of the PLAs to be integrated in the Nepal Army, a total of 1,462 combatants including 70 commanders finally joined the Nepal Army. The Maoist combatants were integrated in the Nepal Army under the leadership of Yam Bahadur Adhikari as a lieutenant colonel, the top-most post provided to a former Maoist combatant.
Earlier in 2007, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) had verified around 19,000 Maoist combatants as eligible candidates. Of them, majority went for volunteer retirement and rehabilitation package.
"I was kind of frustrated with the number and modality of the PLA integration in the Nepal Army but had remained hopeful about the constitution from the CA," said thirty-five-year old Til Bahadur Budha Chhetri aka Sanip, who was involved in Maoists' first attack in Solu-Salleri in 2001.
"Had the constitution been promulgated under the leadership of our party, the constitution would have been more progressive and many of our issues would have been resolved," he added.
Budha Chhetri said it was unfortunate that many former combatants who faced hardship and braved bullets during the decade-long war are now compelled to work as laborers, security guards and cattle herders in foreign land.
"They could have been engaged in nation-building process. They would have proved their worth had the country made tangible plans to reintegrate them in the society," the formed combatant said.
Budha Chhetri, who hails from Angkhop of Taplejung district and was nearly killed several times during the war, is now partly happy that the new constitution has been promulgated.
"The Constituent Assembly has adopted out agendas but there is still room for further improvement and amendments. The agendas and assurances put forward by the party during wartime should not be ignored now and they should be further consolidated in the new constitution," he said.
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