All cantonments will be emptied within 3 weeks: Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 26: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal stated during a meeting of the top leaders of the big three parties on Sunday that all the cantonments will be emptied in less than three weeks and that the Special Committee will take the initiative for that very soon.



“He said that his party is committed to the peace agreement and that it will not take more than two or three weeks to empty the cantonments,” UML leader Bhim Rawal quoted Dahal as saying. [break]



According to him, Dahal was replying to a question posed by the NC and UML as to why the Maoists are reluctant to reduce the number of the cantonments from the existing 28 to 14 as agreed earlier.



Then the NC and UML had asked Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who was also present at the meeting, to immediately call a meeting of the Special Committee and translate the commitment into reality.



Rawal also dismissed media reports that Dahal had presented a detailed plan for PLA integration at the meeting.



Talking to media after the meeting, Dahal had stated that he had forwarded a proposal at the meeting to complete the integration process within three weeks.



“I have proposed emptying the cantonments within three weeks. But such a decision should rather be taken by the Special Committee,” Dahal said.



The NC and UML had also objected to the government initiatives to hold talks with some armed outfits that are “criminal in nature”.



Maoist Chairman Dahal, Prime Minister Bhattarai, NC President Sushil Koirala, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, NC leader Krishna Prasad Situala and UML leader Bhim Rawal were present at the meeting held at Koirala´s residence in Maharajgunj.



The top leaders stated that they would hold a meeting again on March 1 with a detailed plans on PLA integration, peace and constitution, and commissions related to the forced disappearances and truth and reconciliation.



“We held brief discussions on the issues. We will hold a meeting again on March 1,” Koirala told reporters.



Rawal said that the leaders have agreed to prepare detailed plans based on the notes taken during the successive meetings of the leaders and present them during the March 1 meeting.



As per the earlier agreement, the UML is to present a proposal on constitution drafting, while the Maoists will work out a formula for PLA integration. Similarly, the NC will work out a proposal on the formation of various commissions.



In the meeting on Sunday, UML Chairman Khanal was present, unlike the last meeting in which Madhav Nepal represented the UML.

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