NC and UML leaders made the request during a three-party meeting held at the residence of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at Lazimpat, Thursday morning. [break]
Talking to media after the meeting, senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said both NC and the UML urged the Maoist leadership not to ask for senior positions such as major general or colonel as reported in the media.
"We cannot determine issues like rank. Maoist combatants can get into any post if that falls under the existing norms of the army. If it does not fit in with NA´s standard norms, we cannot determine it from the top," he said.
Nepal said all three parties presented their respective positions, especially on issues related to army integration.
"Both NC and the UML have a feeling that the Maoists are trying to secure their distinct representation in the Nepal Army. They have clarified that they do not have any such intention and all they wanted was to drive the peace process forward smoothly," he added.
Maoist Chairman Dahal, who was tasked with presenting a proposal on army integration, had asked NC and the UML to consider giving ranks up to brigadier to the Maoists. However, both NC and UML leaders turned down the proposal, sticking firmly to the stance that integration should be strictly on the basis of the seven-point agreement.
According to NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel, the three parties have said the ranks of Maoist combatants to be integrated into the national army will be determined in line with the seven-point agreement reached on November 1."We have agreed in principle to conclude integration of the Maoist combatants on the basis of the seven-point agreement," he said.
In the seven-point deal, the parties agreed to count the number of years Maoist combatants served with the Maoist army and determine the equivalent posts that NA personnel commissioned at the same date currently hold, provided the Maoists meets necessary academic and other qualifications. As per the seven-point agreement, the highest post the Maoist combatants would get would be major.
However, Maoist Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, who leads the hardline faction in the party, refuted having reached any such agreement. "We have not relinquished any of our demands. Neither have the NC and UML left their stance [on army integration]," he said.
Baidya said the Maoists have not agreed to the NC and UML proposal to first conclude the peace process. "We have been maintaining that both the peace process and constitution drafting should proceed simultaneously," he further said.
NC President Sushil Koirala and UML senior leader Nepal had presented proposals on the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and a Disappearance Commission and on issues related to constitution drafting, respectively. The three parties will meet again Saturday after doing homework within their respective parties.
The leaders have agreed to invite TRC and Disappearance Commission experts to the meeting of top leaders for briefings. The contentious issue of bills pending in parliament will be settled at the level of top leaders.
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