PLA selection schedule soon

LEKHANATH PANDEY

KATHMANDU: A six-member committee formed to select ex-PLAs candidates eligible for integration into the Nepali Army is likely to come up with a schedule and work procedure soon, a member of the panel said.

Devendra Sitaula, joint secretary who represents the Ministry of Defence and member of the committee, said, “The committee is doing its works as tasked by the Special Committee (for the supervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants). We will come up with a concrete selection schedule soon.”

However, Sitaula did not divulge the timing for the commencement of selection process. A military source claimed that the process would begin within two weeks.

Some 3,129 Maoist former fighters wished to be in the national army are spending their time in the cantonments under the Nepali Army’s command and control since April 10.

Daman Ghale, a Maj Gen representing the Nepali Army in the six-member committee, said the committee had sent a letter to MoD to clarify some issues regarding the integration work procedure. “Once the MoD gives decision on it, we will move ahead.”

Ghale did not elaborate the content of the letter. However, sources claimed that there were certain issues to be clear. These include the age of the combatants, creation of required posts for

integration, amount to set up infrastructure to procure other necessary stuffs. “These are the issues to be clarified before the commencement of the selection procedure,” said a MoD

official.

Balananada Sharma, coordinator at the Secretariat under Special Committee, had earlier suggested for speedy commencement for the

selection process.

Though Sitaula said that the groundwork was underway, no formal meeting of the selection committee has been held since its first meeting of April 19.

UN representative in town

KATHMANDU: Tamrat Samuel, Director of the Asia and Pacific Division at the Department of Political Affairs in the UN, today arrived in Kathmandu to take stock on the latest progress in peace process and promulgation of the new constitution. Ram Babu Sah, Director at the UN Information Centre, Kathmandu, confirmed his arrival today. A foreign ministry officer told THT that the UN representative is scheduled to call on PM, DPM and Foreign Minister among others. “He has come with a message from the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Nepali stakeholders,” said an official. Ban was scheduled to visit Nepal on April 28, but later cancelled.