Army chief Chhatraman Singh Gurung had briefed former prime minister Nepal along with some Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) leaders at Baluwatar on the integration modality. [break]
The army´s integration modality, however, wasn´t a detailed one. "It was actually just a two-page basic concept paper done without much homework on the details," said a senior NA official privy to the amry´s proposal.
"While sending the basic concept we agreed that we would do extensive homework and prepare a detailed proposal if the government asked for one but the request never came and we haven´t given much thought to it since then," said the NA official.
The essence of the NA´s proposal is to create a separate directorate under it that will pull 35 percent personnel each from the Nepal Army and the Maoist army, and 15 percent each from Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (APF).
The NA proposal also mentions that integration should be done on individual basis and should meet standard norms, with entry only at the ranks of private (common soldier) or second-lieutenant.
The NA official said personnel under the directorate will not take party in any combat; instead, they will be deployed for development and construction work and relief and rescue during natural calamities. Besides, the directorate will also be used for government forest conservation. "To fit its mandate, personnel under the directorate will be equipped with tools, not with weapons," the official said.
The proposal is silent about the number of combatants that can be accommodated under the proposed directorate, harmonization of rank, and leadership of the directorate. "But we have made it clear to the civilian leadership that leadership of the directorate should go to an official from the NA," he said.
Though the Maoists have said that they accept the NA´s integration modality it´s still not clear whether they also accept some of the conditions and critera set by the NA. The Maoist decision says the details and specifics will be discussed with other parties and stakeholders.
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