The mechanism, once it becomes functional, will cut the link of 19,602 combatants with the Maoist party through its command, control and direction. These combatants are currently under the command and control of the UCPN-Maoist. [break]
"The committee will take a decision on establishing a secretariat on Wednesday. The nine-member mechanism will be in place once the secretariat is set up," Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong, who is an invitee member of the committee, told myrepublica.com.
Bringing the combatants under the special committee´s control through the mechanism will mark a significant step toward beginning the Herculean task of integrating and rehabilitating the Maoist combatants to conclude the peace process by May 15. The overdue management of the combatants is at the center of the peace process that began on November 21, 2006. The task has been regarded as the thorniest task of the process.
According a source, the committee will carry out the proposed integration and rehabilitation of the combatants will be carried out through this mechanism. The technical committee headed by former Lieutenant General Bala Nanda Sharma will provide needed policy input to the mechanism, which will be authorized to mobilize as many teams as needed in cantonments to complete the proposed integration and rehabilitation.
- Mechanism to carry out integration, rehabilitation tasks
- Army, police, armed police and PLA to represent it
- Differences persist over coordinator of the mechanism
"The same mechanism will enforce the code of conduct prepared for the combatants and oversee their implementation in cantonments," another committee member added.
The codes finalized by the special committee prohibit political activities by the combatants, use of picture of communist leaders and singing of communist songs, among others. Maoist representative in the committee Barsha Man Pun said the mechanism will comprise representatives each from Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the People´s Liberation Army, besides having four experts and a coordinator.
Sources said the committee could not name the coordinator of the mechanism due to differences between the Maoist representatives and non-Maoist representatives.
Maoist representatives wanted PLA commander Nanda Kishor Pun as its coordinator, sources said. But the non-Maoist representatives were of the opinion that either a former defense secretary or an independent defense expert should lead the mechanism.
Committee´s spokesperson and Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire said next meeting of the committee scheduled for Wednesday will discuss on the name of the person to lead the mechanism.
Nepali Congress representative in the committee Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said the Wednesday meeting will give final touches to the plan of action on integration and rehabilitation of the combatants.
kiran@myrepublica.com
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