Nepal's troubled peace process hits roadblock

Nepal's troubled peace process that saw some headway towards last quarter of 2011 has got stuck in New Year.

Updated on: Jan 8, 2012, 23:34:22 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal's troubled peace process that saw some headway towards last quarter of 2011 has got stuck in New Year.

Despite categorisation of over 16,000 former Maoists combatants completed last month, they are still in cantonments and their retirement process and integration into Nepal Army not started yet.

The two main opposition parties - Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) - blame ruling Maoists for the stalemate.

They allege Maoists are deliberately holding the process to ransom to exert pressure on others to include presidential form of government in the country's new constitution.

As per earlier deals, Maoist combatants should have started leaving their cantonments to go on voluntary retirement, come under Nepal Army or seek rehabilitation as per choices given by them.

But NC says the Maoist leadership is unwilling to let go of the combatants unless others accept a form of government where President is directly elected and has more executive powers.

"Remarks by some Maoist leaders that combatants won't leave cantonments unless we agree on a directly elected president is a matter of serious concern," said NC leader Bimlendra Nidhi.

He said Maoists are bringing up new issues like awarding appreciation certificates to former rebels seeking retirement or rank-harmonisation for those joining army to exert pressure.

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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