The draft organogram, obtained by Republica, for the proposed NA directorate in which the Maoist combatants will be integrated has allocated 16 majors for the former Maoist commanders while the higher positions will be taken up by Nepal Army officers. [break]
The directorate will be headed by a major general and there will be five brigadiers, eight colonels and 33 lieutenant-colonels in positions higher than the highest positions [majors], in which the former Maoist commanders are likely to be appointed.
One division commander Yam Bahadur Adhikari and two division vice-commanders -- Padam Bahadur Tamang and Basudev Ghimire -- have already joined the national army in the hope of getting senior positions such as colonel and lieutenant-colonel.
"Former combatants will get their topmost posts in accordance of their qualifications," special committee member Ram Sharan Mahat told Republica.
Altogether 1,442 former Maoist combatants, including 71 for officer-level posts, have been undergoing training since Nov 25 at eight different locations. The training will last nine months for officer-level personnel and seven months for rank and file.
According to the draft prepared by the special committee, while Nepal Army personnel will transfer to the directorate in their existing ranks, seniority for the former Maoist combatants will be determined in accordance with the date of their joining the PLA as registered with UNMIN. In the case of same ranks, seniority will be decided in accordance with the date of joining the PLA.
According to the draft, the former PLA will get 16 positions of major out of 78, 30 positions of captains out of 90, 25 lieutenants out of 47, 14 subedars out of 91, 42 jamadars out of 212, 170 sergents out of 585, 193 corporals out of 660, 180 lance corporals out of 515, and 790 privates out of 1,640.
The directorate will be headed by a major general. One major general, five brigadiers, eight colonels and 33 lieutenant-colonels will be entirely from the Nepal Army. Similarly, among the lower posts, the six subedar majors and 204 non-combatants are allocated for the Nepal Army alone.
The special committee also decided to form the directorate into a directorate-general, titled National Development Security Directorate, under a major general.
After a fewer than expected number of combatants opted for integration, it was not clear how the directorate was to be formed. According to the seven-point deal among the major political parties --UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front -- it was presumed the directorate would have a strength of 6,500 with 35 percent from among the Maoists and the remaining 65 percent from state security forces.
Finally, only 1,442 Maoist combatants joined the national army. Earlier, the special committee had envisaged a directorate general of 18,571 [with 6,500 (35%) former PLA and 12,071 (65%) from the Nepal Army].
The UCPN (Maoist) had cantoned over 32,000 combatants in total. Later, 19,602 of them were verified by UNMIN, the United Nations mission in Nepal. Of those verified 9,000 plus opted for integration and the rest chose voluntary retirement.
Under the directorate-general, there will be four directorates -- disaster management, industrial security, forests security and development projects.
According to the draft, the disaster management, forest security and development project directorates will each have two battalions (2 × 575 or 1,150).
Related story
Thai embassy organizing "Journey to Thailand & Top Thai Brands...
