Nepal Maoists flip-flop on rebel integration continue

Change of stance by opposition Maoists regarding integration and rehabilitation of former People’s Liberation Army rebels continues to affect the fragile peace process in Nepal.

Updated on: May 14, 2010, 17:45:11 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Change of stance by opposition Maoists regarding integration and rehabilitation of former People’s Liberation Army rebels continues to affect the fragile peace process in Nepal.

Two days after UCPN (Maoist) chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ announced possibility of solving the vexed issue within four months, the party did a flip-flop on Friday.

Maoist members of the special committee on integration and rehabilitation of the nearly 19000 former PLA rebels abstained from a meeting to resolve the key issue that has brought the peace process to a standstill.

The Maoists who orchestrated a six-day strike earlier this month are demanding removal of the government and formation of a national unity government led by them before holding any formal talks on the peace process.

Worried at developments, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has termed the need to arrive at a consensus among the parties as “extremely urgent”.

Established in January 2007 and entrusted with the task of monitoring arms and personnel of PLA as well as Nepal Army, UNMIN’s tenure has been extended six times till date.

The last extension for a period of four months till September 15, 2010 came on Wednesday. “The Security Council is not happy about the extensions and expects to see positive development,” said UNMIN chief Karin Landgren.

She also expressed concern at the political parties not capitalizing on the conducive environment created last week after Maoists withdrew their strike.

The Security Council has asked the Nepal government as well as UCPN (M) to agree on a time-bound action plan on integration and rehabilitation of Maoist rebels with help from the special committee.

Nepal is heading for a crisis as there is no consensus among the ruling parties and Maoists on several key issues including integration of Maoist rebels, constitution drafting and power sharing.

The deadline for drafting a new constitution and tenure of the Constituent Assembly expires on May 28. The country could come under emergency rule if the tenures of both are not extended.

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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