The civl war waged under the direction of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) began in 1996 and ended in 2006 by signing a Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), in which the UCPN agreed to confine its former 19,000 fighters inside the cantonments.
Known as People’s Liberation Army (PLA) formed under the hardcore communist party, the PLA was the military arm of the party. As agreed among the ruling and opposition parties, the former guerrillas were provided with three rehabilitation choices: 1) integration into proposed Directorate of Nepal Army; 2) a handsome golden handshake package; or 3) rehabilitation in the society through various employment and other adjustment options.
Parties have agreed that out of the 19,000, only 6,500 will go for the integration in Nepal Army. The remaining 12,500 are given the choice of voluntarily retirement or accepting the rehabilitation package.
Those who choose the volunteer retirement would get up to $ 11,500 in cash (Rs. 900,000).
Under the CPA, signed on Nov 21, 2006, the UCPN-Maoist cantonments were built for the former soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) are waiting to be integrated into the Nepal Army, or rehabilitated back into society.
Since 2007, these combatants were monitored by the UN’s political mission, UNMIN. UNMIN had wrapped up its mission in last January.
Surveyors and monitors left for the cantonments for a reassignment of the former fighters this Friday from seven satellite cantonments, where the combatants have been kept for five years.
Three of the seven main cantonments in Nawalparasi, Kalali, and Chitwan districts – where the PLA combatants were settled after the commencement of the peace process – are undergoing the regrouping process. Monitors will interview the fighters first, and then, according to their choices, they will be confined to separate camps for final processing.
On November 1st, Nepal’s major political parties agreed to speed up the sluggish peace process by signing a seven-point deal, built on top of the 2005-06 peace framework. This deal provides a detailed blueprint for the completion of the peace process that has eluded the country for over three years since the Constituent Assembly elections in April 2008.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar signed the agreement to commit to national consensus on completing the peace and constitution-making processes by resolving contentious issues in the integration of Maoist combatants. The deal, if implemented, will mark a critical step in the completion of the peace process, and will provide a way forward for addressing the fate of the former Maoist combatants.
The international community, including the United Nations, had been increasing pressure on the Nepali actors to reach an agreement to address the future of the combatants.
Another crucial front of the Nepal’s ongoing peace process is drafting a new constitution by the 601 members of the Constituent Assembly, which has become a Herculean task. With the peace process negotiations out of the way, serious negotiations on constitutional issues could resume. For once, the parties can negotiate on issues such as state restructuring and forms of governance in a free manner, without seeking to impose conditions or demand compromises in other areas, if the current pace of peace process heads to the logical conclusion.
The early conclusion of the peace process is necessary if Nepal really wants to restore peace and tranquility. Without a logical conclusion of the peace negotiations, Nepal cannot make headway in the statute drafting process, another key step to Nepal’s modern history. It is presumed that after the completion of the peace and constitution drafting processes, a long and tardy post-transitional process would finally be over, and Nepal can prepare for new periodical elections. Nepal has been witnessing many ups and downs during this five year long transitional period. Frequent changes in government, poor governance, poor delivery, sky rocketing prices of essential goods, and deep divisions among the political parties, leading to a deficit of trust and crisis of confidence among the parties and frustration across the general public.
Leaders know that there are no other options other than arriving in consensus sooner rather than later. As an international community, Nepal’s immediate neighbours – India, China, and others – have been quietly watching each and every development inside Nepal. A new Nepal, as leaders frequently say, after the end of a centuries old monarchy and the lifting of a Hindu identity is only possible by remaining united and strong in determination.
Anil Giri is based in Kathmandu, Nepal, as a senior correspondent with The Kathmandu Post, covering foreign affairs, diplomacy, and international relations. He is also a contributor to many international media outlets, including AHN, Korea Times, BBC, and The Guardian.
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Nepal Approaches Significant Peace Building Opportunity
November 22, 2011
The civl war waged under the direction of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) began in 1996 and ended in 2006 by signing a Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), in which the UCPN agreed to confine its former 19,000 fighters inside the cantonments.
Known as People’s Liberation Army (PLA) formed under the hardcore communist party, the PLA was the military arm of the party. As agreed among the ruling and opposition parties, the former guerrillas were provided with three rehabilitation choices: 1) integration into proposed Directorate of Nepal Army; 2) a handsome golden handshake package; or 3) rehabilitation in the society through various employment and other adjustment options.
Parties have agreed that out of the 19,000, only 6,500 will go for the integration in Nepal Army. The remaining 12,500 are given the choice of voluntarily retirement or accepting the rehabilitation package.
Those who choose the volunteer retirement would get up to $ 11,500 in cash (Rs. 900,000).
Under the CPA, signed on Nov 21, 2006, the UCPN-Maoist cantonments were built for the former soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) are waiting to be integrated into the Nepal Army, or rehabilitated back into society.
Since 2007, these combatants were monitored by the UN’s political mission, UNMIN. UNMIN had wrapped up its mission in last January.
Surveyors and monitors left for the cantonments for a reassignment of the former fighters this Friday from seven satellite cantonments, where the combatants have been kept for five years.
Three of the seven main cantonments in Nawalparasi, Kalali, and Chitwan districts – where the PLA combatants were settled after the commencement of the peace process – are undergoing the regrouping process. Monitors will interview the fighters first, and then, according to their choices, they will be confined to separate camps for final processing.
On November 1st, Nepal’s major political parties agreed to speed up the sluggish peace process by signing a seven-point deal, built on top of the 2005-06 peace framework. This deal provides a detailed blueprint for the completion of the peace process that has eluded the country for over three years since the Constituent Assembly elections in April 2008.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar signed the agreement to commit to national consensus on completing the peace and constitution-making processes by resolving contentious issues in the integration of Maoist combatants. The deal, if implemented, will mark a critical step in the completion of the peace process, and will provide a way forward for addressing the fate of the former Maoist combatants.
The international community, including the United Nations, had been increasing pressure on the Nepali actors to reach an agreement to address the future of the combatants.
Another crucial front of the Nepal’s ongoing peace process is drafting a new constitution by the 601 members of the Constituent Assembly, which has become a Herculean task. With the peace process negotiations out of the way, serious negotiations on constitutional issues could resume. For once, the parties can negotiate on issues such as state restructuring and forms of governance in a free manner, without seeking to impose conditions or demand compromises in other areas, if the current pace of peace process heads to the logical conclusion.
The early conclusion of the peace process is necessary if Nepal really wants to restore peace and tranquility. Without a logical conclusion of the peace negotiations, Nepal cannot make headway in the statute drafting process, another key step to Nepal’s modern history. It is presumed that after the completion of the peace and constitution drafting processes, a long and tardy post-transitional process would finally be over, and Nepal can prepare for new periodical elections. Nepal has been witnessing many ups and downs during this five year long transitional period. Frequent changes in government, poor governance, poor delivery, sky rocketing prices of essential goods, and deep divisions among the political parties, leading to a deficit of trust and crisis of confidence among the parties and frustration across the general public.
Leaders know that there are no other options other than arriving in consensus sooner rather than later. As an international community, Nepal’s immediate neighbours – India, China, and others – have been quietly watching each and every development inside Nepal. A new Nepal, as leaders frequently say, after the end of a centuries old monarchy and the lifting of a Hindu identity is only possible by remaining united and strong in determination.
Anil Giri is based in Kathmandu, Nepal, as a senior correspondent with The Kathmandu Post, covering foreign affairs, diplomacy, and international relations. He is also a contributor to many international media outlets, including AHN, Korea Times, BBC, and The Guardian.
