Combatants hesitant to join integration process

SURKHET, Sept 5: Though former many Maoist combatants from the sixth division haven´t turned up at the cantonment here as of Wednesday, the Special Committee formed to oversee the integration process is all set to begin the process from Thursday.



Sources said combatants are hesitant to join the process due to various confusions over the overall integration process.[break]



According to Anil Bam, a combatant working at the cantonment, only 300 combatants have arrived in the cantonment as of Wednesday evening. "Friends have been hesitating to join the integration process due to uncertainty over their future," he said.



Altogether 572 combatants had opted for integration when they were given the choice a few months ago.



Another combatant Ramesh Singh said combatants´ turnout was low as there is no proper fooding and lodging arrangement inside the cantonment. According to him, even those who have already arrived there have been staying at villagers´ houses as guests.



"Our friends [combatants] left the cantonment immediately after it was handed over to the Nepal Army," he said. "There is no point in going inside the camps."



A team of special committee led by Deepak Bhatta is arriving in Dashrathpur on Thursday morning to begin the integration process.

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