After releasing the 268 combatants from Maoist's fifth division cantonment in Dahaban, Rolpa on Monday, the discharge process of the disqualified Maoist combatants that started a month ago from the Maoist second division cantonment in Dudhauli, Sindhuli has concluded today.
Only 268 among 452 disqualified by the UNMIN during its verification in 2007 were present in the discharge ceremony. Rest of the 184 disqualified combatants had already left the cantonment in Rolpa.
Addressing the concluding ceremony at the fifth division cantonment in Rolpa, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the disqualified combatants were discharged from the cantonments to assist the ongoing peace process.
UNMIN Chief Karin Landgren opined that the Maoist leadership should make sure that the discharged combatants will not be involved in any sorts of criminal activities. Representatives from UNMIN, UNDP and the envoys of six different nations including the fifth permanent member of Security Council were also present in the.
The discharge of the disqualified combatants had started with the release of 201 combatants from the Maoist second division headquarters in Dudhauli, Sindhuli on Jan. 7.
Each of the disqualified combatants were provided with an identity card, a new pair of clothes and Rs. 22,000 as traveling expense--Rs. 10,000 by the UN and Rs. 12,000 by the Maoist to their departure.
The government and the United Nations have offered the discharged former combatants a rehabilitation package that includes vocational training and formal education. The disqualified can make their choices on the offer within a year of their discharge.
Among the 4,008 disqualified combatants, the UNMIN has categorised 2,973 as minors (born after May 25, 1988) and 1,035 as recruited after the signing of the Ceasefire Code of Conduct in May 25, 2006.
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