PLA integration
The Maoist Standing Committee (SC) has taken positively the Nepal Army proposal to form a separate directorate comprising a proportional number of Maoist combatants and personnel from other security agencies for the integration of PLA combatants. The party has decided to conduct a detailed study of the proposal once it gets a chance to have a look at the plan.
A two-day SC meeting that began on Saturday at Sukute resort in Sindhupalchowk district decided to invest time to study the proposal as a potential compromise formula to decide on the fate of the combatants.
Last month, the Army had briefed Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal on its proposal to form a separate entity within the Army comprising 50 percent former Maoist combatants and 50 percent personnel from the existing security forces.
The Army’s proposal comes at a time when a debate on the number of modalities has been raging—barely two months away from the date for the promulgation of a new constitution.
We have been encouraged by the contents of the proposal—judging by reports in the media, said Maoist Secretary Post Bahadur Bogati after the SC meet.
He, however, cautioned that the official position will only be made public once the party completes a study of the proposal.
The party leadership’s comments on the proposal come soon after some PLA combatants cantoned in the seventh division camp in Kailali positively reacted to the plan, describing it as a “basis for further discussion” in the integration process.
The Army proposes that the new directorate be named the ‘Office of the Director General of Security and National Development’ and that it be responsible for disaster relief operations, infrastructure development and road construction, industrial security and nature conservation.
The Army has also said that the directorate, with a strength of 10-12,000 personnel, could also be used for border security if the government so decides.
No comments:
Post a Comment