Gurung ruled out the mass entry during his meeting with the visiting UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs B Lynn Pascoe. [break]
According to a statement issued by Public Relations Directorate of the NA, Pascoe had asked Gurung as to how many Maoist combatants could be integrated into the national army.
Gurung told Pascoe that Maoist combatants were politically indoctrinated and it would be difficult to integrate them in the disciplined, professional, competitive and apolitical Nepal Army.
Gurung shared his apprehensions that the professional image such as truth, honesty and neutrality of Nepal Army could be tarnished if the Maoist combatants were integrated into the army. He said this could also threaten to break organizational unity of the army.
The statement added that Gurung also reminded Pascoe Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s remarks in a controversial video tape released last year in which Dahal had admitted that real strength of the Maoist combatants was only 7,000.
Gurung also made it clear that the army would welcome the Maoist combatants who come on individual basis to be a part of the national army but it would not welcome their bulk integration.
He also said those interested to serve in security agencies could be sent to Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department or be made a part of forest guards, border security guards and customs guards.
Gurung also pointed out the need to ask each combatants about their interest before integrating them into security agencies. He said those not showing interests to be a part of security agencies could be given economic package with opportunity to go abroad for job, vocational skills and educational opportunities.
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