From My Republica
Defense Minister Bidya Bhandari said on Sunday that even a single Maoist combatant may not be eligible for integration if they do not meet “standards norms”.
She further added that the number of the combatants to be integrated should be determined on the basis of the weapons registered with the UN. The UN had registered 3,475 Maoist weapons during its verification in December 2007.
Bhandari´s remark comes a day after Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that all UNMIN-verified combatants are eligible for integration.
The number of combatants to be considered for integration has long been an issue of controversy among political parties.
“Integration should be carried out on the basis of international norm of one-weapon-one-combatant,” she said, adding that even a single combatant will not be integrated without meeting standard norms.
She did not elaborate what she meant by standard norms. Political parties except the UCPN (Maoist) have interpreted standard norms as the qualifications set by security agencies for recruitment.
Bhandari, who arrived in Pokhara on Sunday, opined that the combatants should be rehabilitated in their respective communities to ensure them bright future, instead of considering the integration option.
“It is duplicity on the part of the Maoists to demand integration of all their combatants in the army,” Bhandari added., “The Maoists should have already handed over their weapons to the government but they have not yet done so in an attempt to make a better bargain,” she said.
Filed under: Nepal
