The meeting also decided to hand over the weapons´ containers to the government.[break]
The decision taken by the Special Committee is expected to expedite the integration process.
“The meeting has given impetus to the peace process. It is a very positive development, but things will depend on whether the Maoists will sincerely implement the decision,” said Dr Minendra Rijal, who represents the Nepali Congress (NC) in the Special Committee.
The meeting has also decided to allow the 9000-plus combatants opting for integration to go for voluntary retirement if they so wish.
As per the seven-point peace deal, a maximum of 6,500 combatants will be integrated into the NA directorate.
The meeting, however, did not take any decision on the issue of rank harmonization raised by the Maoists. “Everything has been settled in the seven-point deal. The process will move ahead as per the peace deal and the standard criteria of NA,” said Bhim Rawal who represents UML in the Special Committee, ruling out possibility of the combatants joining the NA rank above major.
As per the peace deal, no combatant will be able to join the rank above major in NA.
According to Rawal, the Special Committee secretariat also submitted a detailed plan on standard norms and procedures for integration in “accordance with the spirit of the seven-point deal”, and that will be discussed in another meeting slated for Sunday.
“We have more or less reached an agreement on all the issues. So the process should now move ahead,” said Rijal.
Coordinator of the Special Committee Secretariat Balananda Sharma said it is difficult to complete the integration process in a week.
“It took years to take concrete decisions on the process. How can it be implemented in a week?” said Sharma.
Sharma said that the Special Committee officials will visit the cantonments from April 5 to 12, and complete the task of collecting weapons by April 12.
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