Then government and the CPN (Maoist) had originally agreed to conclude the army integration process six months after the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections held in April, 2008. [break]
With the Maoists and non-Maoist parties continuing to differ over the number of combatants to be integrated, ranks to be awarded and more importantly whether the integration should be carried out on a group basis, the integration of Maoist combatants into NA remained stalled for years.
But nearly four years after the CA election, integration of the Maoist combatants almost concluded in 2012 except for the determination of ranks to be given to the combatants opting for integration. The existence of the two armies came to an end after NA took over all the cantonments in mid-April, marking a major achievement in the peace process.
"It is satisfying that the peace process has reached the stage it should have. Failure to take the peace process to this stage would have entailed greater risks and challenges," said a member of the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of the Maoist Combatants Minendra Rijal. The committee headed by the prime minister was entrusted with overseeing the management of former Maoist combatants.
Over 32,000 Maoist combatants had begun living in various seven main and 21 satellite cantonments in various parts of the country in early 2007 as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement reached between then government and the Maoists on November 21, 2006.
The number, however, came down after the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) verified only 19,602 combatants, disqualifying 4,008 combatants living in the cantonments´. The disqualified combatants were subsequently released from the cantonment in early 2010.
The stalled army integration process gained momentum after Baburam Bhattarai became prime minister in August 2011. In early 2012, the ´verified´ combatants opting for rehabilitation, integration and voluntary retirement were regrouped accordingly. While only six combatants opted for rehabilitation, 9,000-plus chose integration. The 7,000 combatants who chose voluntary retirement were released from the cantonments.
But as there was agreement among parties to limit the number of Maoist combatants for integration to 6,500, those opting for integration were again regrouped after the NA took over all 15 cantonments including the seven main cantonments that housed the remaining combatants on April 10. At this time, only 1,462 were selected for integration in the national army. With 20 other combatants failing to turn up for training, altogether 1,442 including 71 in the officer ranks are currently undergoing NA training in various parts of the country.
Though the protracted integration process has almost come to an end, many see challenges ahead. "Even if we put aside other components of the peace process such as formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Disappearance Commission, the management of former Maoist combatants has not come to an end yet," said Special Committee member from CPN-UML Bhim Rawal. "We are yet to settle the issue of rank determination."
Rawal cautiously added that problems may arise in the society in future as a very high number of combatants have chosen to go for voluntary retirement instead of rehabilitation.
"As the rehabilitation package includes skill-oriented training and job placement offers, this could have helped the former combatants, who do not have skills other than using weapons, lead a normal life in society," he said, adding that there are high chances of them getting involved in anti-social activities once they run out of the retirement money. The government had provided Rs 500,000 to Rs 800,000 to combatants opting for voluntary retirement depending on their ranks in the Maoist army.
Even those opting for integration appear less prepared ´psychologically´ as nearly 40 of them have recently filed application seeking voluntary retirement.
"Whether the combatants are prepared to transform themselves as disciplined soldiers is yet to be seen. It would be unfortunate if these combatants still pursue political goals. The success of the integration process depends on the resolve of integrated Maoist combatants to transform themselves as useful citizens," added Rijal.
Related story
Angelina Jolie wants children to remain close to Brad Pitt
