Differences mar technical panel on rehab packages

KATHMANDU, April 5: The technical committee under the special committee on integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants has failed to come up with unanimous rehabilitation packages for the former rebel army personnel after the Maoists sought "unaffordable" cash incentives for their ex-fighters.



Sources at the technical committee and the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction said the Maoists have sought Rs 1.5 million to 2 million for each combatant who will opt to join politics or choose rehabilitation or take voluntary retirement when the process of their management begins. [break]



But the non-Maoists members in the committee and the government showed readiness to offer only a rehabilitation package worth Rs 360,000 for three years. The government has maintained that the combatants should not be given cash in lump sum and instead be given a rehabilitation package worth Rs 360,000.



"The Maoists have not explained the basis on which they have been claiming Rs 1.5 million to 2 million for each combatant who will opts not to be integrated," said a source at the ministry on condition of anonymity.



Non-Maoist representatives in the committee have argued that national living standards, per capita income and salary of government employees should be considered while determining such cash incentives.



Though the UNMIN verified 19,602 combatants in December 2007, this figure has come down to 19,549.



Maoist representatives Kul Bahadur KC and Chandra Prakash Khanal were not available for comments despite repeated attempts. But Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun, coming out of the meeting of the special committee on Sunday, said there were differences in the technical committee. He did not elaborate.



The special committee headed by the prime minister had last Sunday directed the technical committee to prepare the packages within three days. As it did not receive the package, its regular meeting on Sunday directed the technical committee to submit the proposed packages with dissenting views from the Maoists.



"We were of the view that the technical committee should forward unanimous packages to the special committee. But as the special committee sought the packages with dissenting views of the Maoists, the technical committee is submitting the packages it has developed in a couple of days," said a member of the technical committee.

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