Meanwhile, the ministry is also engaged in talks with various armed groups but the results of the efforts are yet to be seen. The Ministry is also responsible for works related to transitional justice. Two major tasks – formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Disappearance Commission – in this regard remain incomplete.
In this context, myrepublica.com caught up with Rakam Chemjong, minister for peace and reconstruction to discuss issues related to the discharge of the disqualified Maoist combatants, ongoing talks with armed groups, formation of TRC and other issues related to peace.
Excerpts:
Myrepublica.com: Why hasn’t the process of discharging disqualified Maoist combatants resumed?
Rakam Chemjong: The process seems stalled when you look from outside. But the ministry is doing an internal homework needed for the discharge of the disqualified combatants. There was an understanding that the Maoists would publicly commit to the release of the combatants but they did not. Perhaps, the Maoists’ political struggle has affected the Special Committee [meant to supervise, integrate and rehabilitate the Maoist combatants] and discharge of the disqualified combatants. The Special Committee has started its work and I hope the Maoists will also support by discharging their disqualified combatants.
Myrepublica.com: But haven´t the Maoists publicly maintained that they are ready to cooperate with the government on releasing the disqualified combatants?
Chemjong: Such a commitment should come from their party. It was agreed that the Maoist party would commit to the discharge process publicly.
Myrepublica.com: Maoist leader Barshaman Pun, who is handling the discharge process, told Republica in August that the process would begin as soon as the government intimates it.
Chemjong: We have already fixed the timetable and the process will be completed in six phases.
Myrepublica.com: So, the Maoists didn´t keep their word?
Chemjong: As far as commitment is concerned, they did not do what they should have done [in the discharge process]. Their commitment should be credible. My only concern is that they did not live up to the understanding [concerning this process].
Myrepublica.com: You had announced that the process would be completed in 45 days while addressing a press conference on July 16?
Chemjong: The process can still be completed swiftly if the Maoists cooperate.
Myrepublica.com: The Special Committee has been formed. Can we hope that the process will resume now?
Chemjong: Yes. It must be resumed.
Myrepublica.com: When will it start?
Chemjong: I am thinking of resuming it immediately after holding consultations with all [Maoists and UNMIN]. I am hopeful that the process will be completed soon. But the Maoists should support the process from their hearts.
Myrepublica.com: Will the process resume from the coming week or the next week?
Chemjong: A little later. We will complete our internal homework before Dashain and the discharge process will resume sometime between Dashain and Tihar.
Myrepublica.com: You, on behalf of the government, have been holding talks with various armed groups operating in the country. But why haven´t the talks yielded any result yet?
Chemjong: The results are visible on the field. There have been no bombarding and abduction in Tarai. The groups that used to kill people have not murdered anyone. They have been asked to lay down arms through talks. They have been asked to abstain from carrying out illegal works. Those groups who have come for talks with the government have not engaged in anti-social activities such as bomb explosions and conducting extortions. The talks have definitely yielded positive results.
Myrepublica.com: But intelligence and security agencies have maintained that armed groups are just buying time to redraw their strategies, consolidate their position and expand their organization. What do you have to say on their intention behind joining the talks?
Chemjong: Talks are the first step to bring them on the path of peace. One should not expect them to give up everything at this stage. They possess arms. That is why the government has to hold talks with them. It is a mistake to expect that they would renounce everything after one or two rounds of talk. But they have not misused their arms from the time they came to the negotiating table. The talks have not reached the stage where we can expect them to lay down their arms.
Myrepublica.com: You said the law and order situation has improved due to talks with armed groups. But Home Ministry officials claim that the improvement is due to the security measures they have taken. Who is right?
Chemjong: It is mainly due to the talks with the armed group. The Home Ministry is yet to enforce the special security plan.
Myrepublica.com: You said earlier that the armed groups have weapons. How sophisticated are their arms?
Chemjong: I cannot say how sophisticated their arms are because this issue has not featured in the present stage of talks with them. But I think they have simple arms.
Myrepublica.com: The bigger armed groups active in Tarai like that of Goit and Jwala have not responded well to the government’s call for talks. What efforts has the government made to bring them to the negotiating table?
Chemjong: They are big only in name. The name of Goitji is ´big´. But his group is not so big in terms of its organizational structure, supporters and the number of its militants. The same holds true for Jwala group. The government is ready to hold talks with them too if they come forward.
Myrepublica.com: What are the ongoing specific efforts to bring them to the negotiation table?
Chemjong: Efforts are underway. The government will try its best to bring those groups that are political – Jwala, Goit, Ranabir groups to name a few – to the negotiating table. I hope Goitji will also respond positively to the government’s call for talks. Yes, as of today, he is not positive to talks.
Myrepublica.com: Intelligence reports say that these armed groups have their own army. How is this issue being dealt with while holding talks with them?
Chemjong: Yes, those groups which have arms also have their own militants.
Myrepublica.com: Intelligence reports also claim that the armed groups have been conducting military training for their militants?
Chemjong: Armed groups have arms as well as an army. They may be conducting military training [for their armies]. But those groups which have held talks with the government should not conduct such training.
Myrepublica.com: How will the government deal with those armed groups which do not come for talks?
Chemjong: The government will try its best to bring armed groups to the negotiating table. They are being contacted. I am hopeful that a few of them will come for talks. Talks are the best alternative for them.
Myrepublica.com: Successive governments have failed to form the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Disappearance Commission. What do you have to say in this regard?
Chemjong: I do not want to comment on what the previous government did. But this government is committed to table two bills – one related to TRC and another on Disappearance Commission – in the ongoing session of parliament. The disappearance bill is in the final stage of completion. Regional consultative meetings on TRC have already been completed. It will be finalized between Dashain and Tihar. This bill will be tabled in the parliament after Tihar.
Myrepublica.com: The list of martyrs prepared by your ministry during the time of the Maoist government was controversial because it included only Maoist supporters and excluded non-Maoists, including army and police. There is also a strong demand to review the list. Will this government review the Maoist list of martyrs?
Chemjong: First, there is a need for specific criteria regarding who should be conferred martyrdom. In our country, even those who died in road accidents have been declared martyrs. The government is working to prepare a standard to ascertain who qualifies to be addressed as a martyr. Once the standard becomes effective, the confusion over who should and should not be declared a martyr will come to an end.
Myrepublica.com: Will that list of martyrs be reviewed once the standard is fixed?
Chemjong: First, the list of martyrs has not been finalized. I have no knowledge of the list.
Myrepublica.com: But it was finalized by the Maoist-led government?
Chemjong: They prepared a list of martyrs but it was dragged into controversy. If the same list was finalized, it will be reviewed. Once the standard is determined, it will be clear as to who will or won’t get the status of a martyr.
Myrepublica.com: The government remained silent over the recent incident of armed Maoist combatants coming out of their cantonment.
Chemjong: The government has taken the incident seriously. That was a violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The government maintains that it should not be repeated.
There was a weakness on the part of UNMIN in this case. The responsibility of arms monitoring lies with UNMIN. It should not happen again. I think this issue has been discussed in the meeting of the UNMIN-led Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee (JMCC).
Myrepublica.com: Finally, do you have anything to say?
Chemjong: The issue of who is in power and who is not should not affect the work of the Special Committee, Technical Committee, discharge of the disqualified combatants and writing of the new constitution. If that is ensured, the peace process can be taken to a logical conclusion.
kiran@myrepublica.com
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