- Remaining combatants to be given alternative jobs
- Peace process stalled since Maoist PM resigned
- Maoists not sincere to peace process
- Unfortunate statement: Maoists
KATHMANDU, June 25: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Thursday said that only 5,000 former combatants who fulfill criteria for enrollment in the national army can be absorbed in the Nepal Army. [break]
In an interview with Reuters, the premier said the remainder must be given alternative jobs. He claimed that Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had told him that up to 5,000 Maoist fighters should be absorbed in the army.
"So, if their leader confirms that thinking then there is no question of integrating the total number of Maoist combatants in the army," Nepal said.
He also said the peace process with the Maoists has been stalled after Pushpa Kamal Dahal resigned from the post of prime minister last month.
“The peace process is stalled and not moving forward smoothly,” the premier said. “The Maoists want to show they are honest about peace, but their behavior is not so. They need to transform and change their behavior. Otherwise, they will be isolated.”
The premier added that the future of Maoist fighters must be settled before the new constitution is written or work in the Constituent Assembly would be hampered.
He also said rehabilitation of combatants would be complete by the end of the year.
Unfortunate statement: Maoists
Dina Nath Sharma, spokesperson for Unified CPN (Maoist), termed the PM´s statement unfortunate.
"This is not an issue to be decided by Madhav Kumar Nepal as an individual. Not even a prime minister can independently give his judgment over it. It is a serious matter to be resolved by the special committee [formed to supervise, integrate and rehabilitate the Maoist army combatants]. Giving such an irresponsible public statement by the prime minister is unfortunate," Sharma told myrepublica.com.
He accused the government of deliberately pushing the peace process to the brink of breakdown. "Instead of taking the peace process to a logical end, both the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are intentionally trying to breakdown the peace process," he said.
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