“We will only have the option of asking the PLA members to take voluntary retirement if the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML refuse to integrate them in a dignified manner. This will push the country into another cycle of violence,” said Dahal at a press meet organized to make public the decision of his party´s seventh plenum that concluded on Saturday.[break]
The integration process has remained stalled for the past two weeks after the former PLA members refused to participate in the process demanding respectable integration into NA. They are concerned as NA has refused to recognize their academic degrees obtained after joining the peace process and age as mentioned during UNMIN verification in 2007. As many as 3,123 combatants are currently awaiting integration into NA.
Dahal also urged the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML to press NA to recognize current academic qualification of the former combatants. He also conceded his failure to foresee possible technical difficulties while signing the seven-point agreement last November. The deal had paved the way for integration of the former Maoist combatants.
"The Comprehensive Peace Accord envisions dignified integration of PLA members. But the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML rode roughshod over the accord´s spirit," Dahal said, adding, "We will talk again to the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML leaders to resolve technical problems. If they refuse, all the PLA members will choose voluntary retirement," he added.
Chairman Dahal also said that Prime Minster Baburam Bhattarai would tender his resignation only after forging consensus between the political parties.
"The allegation that Bhatarai has been a hindrance to consensus is baseless. The country will meet an accident if Bhattarai is forced to resign," said Dahal.
Meanwhile, Bhattarai said the government is preparing to amend the interim constitution through ordinance to facilitate Nov 22 Constituent Assembly election. He also said that the Election Commission has already endorsed the government´s preparations to amend the interim constitution.
Dahal returns govt vehicle
UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday returned the vehicle provided to him by the government. Dahal handed over the keys of the Toyota Prado to the Prime Minister´s Office. He said he would now use a less expensive vehicle that would be provided by the government as part of state facility to former prime ministers. “I returned the vehicle to the government today,” said Dahal at a press meet organized at the party headquarters in Paris Danda.
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