Narayangarh, December 5, 2007

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said today that the integration of UNMIN-verified Maoist People’s Liberation army fighters in the Nepal Army would be initiated after the verification process ends. He added that it was very likely that 40 per cent of the PLA fighters would be declared unfit by UNMIN.

Speaking at an interface programme organised by the BBC World Service Trust, Sitaula said: “Verified PLA fighters who meet the required standards would be integrated into Nepal Army after the verification process ends”. Admitting that the peace process was not moving forward at the desired pace, he added: “By December, the verification process will be over.

The government will draw up a policy for the integration after ascertaining the exact number of verified PLA fighters. Later, the integration process will start.” PLA soldiers are spread in seven cantonments and 21 subcamps all over the country and UNMIN is currently in the second phase of verification of soldiers of the PLA’s third division in Jutpani of Chitwan district.

The Home Minister said that the UNMIN officials had told him that only 60 per cent of the 31,000 PLA soldiers in the seven divisions have been verified so far. Sitaula said that legwork on drawing up a strategy to integrate PLA soldiers into the state army was yet to begin. He added that crime, insecurity and unrest in the Tarai had reduced after the government passed the anti-abduction bill and weapons control act.

He said the government would not adopt a hostile or aggressive policy towards the armed groups operating in the Tarai.

Colleges hiring security men to curb rioting

Kathmandu, December 5, 2007

With hooliganism, indiscipline and riots among college students becoming a part of modern-day college culture, authorities concerned have started hiring former security personnel and recruiting martial artists in their colleges to avoid indiscipline and violent activities.

“The behaviour of students cannot be judged at once. As some of the students turn violent, colleges have to take special measures to keep peace,” said Lok Bahadur Bhandari, managing director, Xavier International College.

As college students come from different parts of the country and have diverse family backgrounds, misunderstanding among them is normal, he said. “But such misunderstanding is found to be fuelling violent activities.” The Xavier International College has recruited 12 security personnel, including discipline in-charges and a counsellor.

Bhandari said students are losing interest in education and their interest is drifting towards parties and pubs. There are many students, who are into drugs and hooliganism. In the past, teachers used to be worshipped as god; nowadays they have to fear students, he said, adding that gang fights are a regular affair.