Democracy and Class Struggle publishes these reports from Kantipur for information purposes.We will publish materials from comrades when they become available. We aso note that some of the sites we rely on for information from Nepal from the revolutionary perspective have been disrupted.
Dahal aka Prachanda tried to get the backing for deal from Baidya aka Kiran , General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa and Secretary CP Gajurel who objected to the deal saying that it is against the party's official decision.
Speaking to reporters after the deal, Baidya aka Kiran said they could not agree on it, but also said that it would not cause a split in the party. Earlier during the negotiations, leader CP Gajurel from this camp walked out the three-party meeting.
The Maoist Party General Secretary Thapa said the deal is against the will of the Nepali people and it would not be helpful in concluding the peace process in real sense“ "We have registered note of dissent and we will bring our view tomorrow organising a press conference”," said Thapa.
Mohan Baidya aka Kiran will prepare strategy on Wednesday morning on how to move ahead.
KATHMANDU, NOV 01 - The major political parties finally made a much-awaited breakthrough in the peace process by signing a historic agreement on army integration, constitution drafting and power-sharing on Tuesday. The seven-point agreement built on top of 2005-06 peace framework , for the first time, provides a detailed blueprint for the completion of the peace process that had eluded the country for over three years since the elections for Constituent Assembly took place in April 2008.
UCPN (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 time-bound agreement that commits these political forces for a national consensus on completing the peace and constitution making process resolving the contentious issues in the integration of Maoist combatants.
The deal if implemented will mark the critical step in the completion of the peace process.
Emerging from the conclusive negotiations, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal described the agreement as milestone and assured of its implementation.
The deal commits to integrate maximum 6,500 Maoists combatant in the Nepal Army, offers package worth between Rs. 600,000 to Rs. 900,000 for combatants opting rehabilitation and cash package between Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 800,000 for combatants choosing the voluntary retirement option. According to the deal, the regrouping of combatants along with the return of the properties seized during the conflict to rightful owners and dismantling of the paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League will be completed within November 23.
The agreement provides a way forward for addressing the fate of over 19,000 former Maoist combatants living in the seven main and 21 satellite cantonments since 2006. The international community including the United Nations had been putting pressure the Nepali actors to reach an agreement to address the future of former combatants.
According to Tuesday's agreement, a new directorate would be formed within the Nepal Army with the mandates for infrastructure development, rescue and relief operation, forest security and industrial security to integrate the combatants. The size of the directorate is likely to go up around 18,000 as it will comprise 65 percent personnel from existing security agencies and 35 percent personnel from the combatants.
Combatants will be integrated on the individual basis after fulfilling standard norms of the Nepal Army and will have to complete bridging course and trainings before starting their service in the national Army. Parties have agreed to relax the standards on age, martial status and educational attainment.
The issue of rank determination will be resolved on the basis of existing standards of the security forces by the prime minister-led Special Committee.
The date of combatants' enrolment in the Maoist Army recorded by UNMIN, the provision of allocation of rank in the security forces would be kept in mind so as not to adversely affect the career prospect of regular recruits of the existing security agencies.
The government will provide golden handshake package of Rs. 800,000 (division commander level), Rs. 700,000 (battalion commander level), Rs. 600,000 (company commander level) and Rs. 500,000 (ordinary combatants) in four installments within two years for those who will choose voluntary retirement. Education, training and entrepreneurship development package worth Rs. 600,000 to 900,000 for those who will opt for rehabilitation option.
The weapons belonging to the combatants will come in the custody of the government with the beginning of the integration process, reads the agreement. The Special Committee will meet on Wednesday to endorse reached by party leaders regarding the integration and rehabilitation of combatants.
In the agreement signed on Tuesday, leaders have committed to form a high level mechanism to conduct discussions for concluding the peace and constitution making process. They have agreed to immediately form an expert panel from the CA instead of a commission to seek recommendation on the restructuring of the state.
They have pledged to proceed ahead in preparation of the first draft of the constitution within a month. The efforts to form national unity government once the peace and constitution making process gains momentum in accordance to agreement signed on Tuesday.
Leaders involved in negotiations have said there is no possibility of change in government leadership before the November 30 deadline of the CA. There is a tacit understanding between the Nepali Congress that a Maoist led government will continue until the promulgation of new constitution and NC will lead the next government that will ovesee the general elections as per the new constitution, according to Maoist and NC leaders involved in cross-party talks.
Parties have pledged to form Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission to probe enforced disappearances within a month and have agreed to withdraw conflict-time cases as per the spirit of Interim Constitution and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. They have agreed to provide compensation to the rightful owners whose properties were confiscated by the Maoists and reiterated commitment to uphold rights of peasants through land reform.
The Maoist party will officially instruct its cadres to ensure the return the captured properties and register the vehicles used by party with temporary number plates within November 23, states the deal.
