Maoist in Nepal leave cantonments

Six years after bidding adieu to violence, thousands of former Maoist rebels in Nepal started leaving the cantonments that had been their homes since end of the civil war on Friday. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Feb 4, 2012, 24:12:36 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Six years after bidding adieu to violence, thousands of former Maoist rebels in Nepal started leaving the cantonments that had been their homes since end of the civil war on Friday.

The farewell to arms by 7,365 combatants of Peoples’ Liberation Army who had opted for retirement is a major development in the country’s peace process that had got stuck in recent months.

The retired combatants were handed cheques worth half of their total compensation of NRs 5 to NRs 8 lakh (R3.12 lakh—R5 lakh) based on rank and service and some transport allowance.

The process started from Friday in the Sindhuli, Chitwan and Nawalparasi cantonments and will begin in the other four main camps from Saturday. The entire process is expected to be over in two weeks.

Once the combatants depart, the number of camps would be brought down to 14. The process to integrate 6,500 other PLA men into Nepal Army as per their qualifications will begin after that.

Since the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Accord, nearly 19,000 PLA members were staying in seven main and 28 smaller camps spread across Nepal as leaders decided on their future.

Their arms were kept locked inside the camps under supervision first by the UN mission in Nepal and later by a Special Secretariat. They were provided monthly stipend and rations.

Maoists despite joining political mainstream and heading government twice had rare distinction of having a private army.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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