Of the three Maoists representatives at the secretariat, Chandra Prakash Khanal and Tej Bahadur Oli are close to Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal while Kul Prasad KC represents another faction led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya.[break]
Officials, who frequently attend the secretariat meetings, told Republica that intra-party feud has become so visible that the Khanal and KC often take completely opposite stances or both remain silent during discussions.
Lately, the internal conflict of the party has affected the implementation of the decision on recruitment of human resources to be deployed in all cantonments. The cabinet had approved 421 posts under the secretariat, as decided by the Special Committee, three weeks ago.
"Khanal is positive about implementing the cabinet decision but KC is against it. KC has maintained that recruitments are not necessary now," said a source.
The recruitment of human resources is important to realize the transfer of chain of command and control of Maoist combatants from the Maoist party to the Special Committee. In the lack of required human resources, the secretariat has not been able to monitor 21 satellite cantonments. No one from the Special Committee has yet reached those cantonments since the former Maoist combatants came under the Special Committee headed by the prime minister.
"Why should we hurry?" said KC when asked about his position on the recruitments.
The delay in recruitment has also affected establishment of a proposed situation center, a mechanism envisioned for reporting from cantonments on monitoring of Maoist combatants.
In the absence of such a mechanism, according to KC, a reporting system under the Special Committee on monitoring of cantonments and combatants has not yet started.
This is not a single case of how the Maoist intra-party dispute has affected the business of the secretariat.
"On many occasions they remain silent to hide their contradictions saying they want to consult their party. In fact, they do so to hide their opposing views on many issues related to integration and rehabilitation," said another member of the secretariat on condition of anonymity.
As they are embroiled in internal conflict, the secretariat under the Special Committee has not been able to hold routine meetings.
"We are busy in party meetings and functions. Once the party meetings conclude, we will attend the meetings of the secretariat," said KC.
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