A meeting of the standing committee of the UCPN-M took the decision after Maoist leaders could not agree on proposed rehabilitation packages developed by the Peace Ministry and the UN country team. The packages have proposed vocational training as well as formal and informal education for the disqualified combatants but no cash incentive as sought by the Maoists.
"We have decided to ask the disqualified combatants to return to their homes," said Maoist leader Janardan Sharma, who is also a member of a high-level committee formed to oversee the discharge process. "Once the UN gives the discharge plan and date, our party will discharge the disqualified on our own."
Begun on October 11, the discharge process had been uncertain after the Maoists rejected the proposed rehabilitation packages.
There are altogether 4,008 combatants disqualified by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), including 2,973 minors. The discharge of these combatants is a part of the peace process.
"We have been publicly portrayed that we have been demanding cash for the disqualified. We decided not to accept the [proposed] rehabilitation package so as to send a message that we were not after money for the combatants," Sharma told Republica.
Sharma said the government and the UN will be allowed to monitor the discharge process even if his party is unilaterally discharging the disqualified combatants. "But our party will welcome any rehabilitation package to the disqualified [even after the unilateral discharge]," said Sharma.
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