DASARATHPUR: Demanding a proper settlement, the disqualified PLA combatants at a farewell programme in Dasharathpur today warned the government not to consider them weak.

Harka Bahadur Nepali, a disqualified combatant, expressed his anger against the government saying that the government had tagged them as disqualified although they had fought along with the others in the people's war. Nepali, saddened at being sent out of the cantonment said, "We are still ready to wage war but not ready to be tagged as disqualified."

Kamal Oli, another disqualified combatant from Bardiya, said that they were being sent out in an unjust manner. Oli who had joined the PLA in 2005 lamented that service at PLA for six years had gone in vain.

Demanding integration of disqualified combatants in the security agencies other than the Nepali Army, Oli said that otherwise the combatants might join other militant groups. "We have learnt to use weapons and if not resettled properly the consequences may be counterproductive to the nation,” he claimed. Tuphan Singh Rawal, another combatant from Kohalpur, Banke, also shared similar lines.

Speaking at the farewell programme, PLA deputy commander Chandra Prakash Khanal 'Baldev' said that they were sad to send their friends out of the cantonments. Arguing that UCPN-Maoist was responsible and serious about drafting the constitution, Baldev urged all parties to cooperate.

Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator Robert Piper said that the disqualified combatants will be under the supervision of UNMIN for a year. Sixth Division commander Mahendra Shahi 'Prajwal', however, said that sending the disqualified combatants off the cantonment was not the permanent solution to their problems.

Out of nearly 3100 combatants in the Sixth Division, 630 combatants were disqualified. Only 494 were present at the farewell programme, though. PLA deputy commander Baldev, UN Residential Coordinator Robert Piper, OHCHR head Richard Bennett, UNICEF Nepal representative Jenelliya Melsuffer had put abir vermillion powder) and garlanded the combatants.