Nepal peace process headed for trouble

Nepal’s fragile peace process could be in jeopardy after a fresh Maoist demand for integration of additional 2,500 combatants in the Army, a move outrightly rejected by Nepali Congress, the main opposition.

Nepal’s fragile peace process could be in jeopardy after a fresh Maoist demand for integration of additional 2,500 combatants in the Army, a move outrightly rejected by Nepali Congress, the main opposition.

HT Image

As the process of categorisation of the Maoist combatants in all the seven cantonments across the country completed yesterday, a majority of the Maoist’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel or 60% of them have chosen for integration in the Nepal army while 40% opted for voluntary retirement with cash incentives.

Meanwhile, Maoist chief Prachanda met Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala has sought his support to increase the number of combatants to be integrated to 9,000 instead of the earlier agreed figure of 6,500.

Nepali Congress has rejected the proposal forwarded by the Maoists.

“We cannot agree on increasing the number of Maoist combatants to be integrated,” said Nepali Congress general secretary Krishna Sitaula.