Nepal Maoist fighters to be integrated into army
Thousands of Maoist fighters confined to camps as part of Nepal's peace deal are to be integrated into the national army within six months, the country's new president said yesterday.
In a speech outlining the policies of the recently formed Maoist government, President Ram Baran Yadav also said the ultra-leftists were in favour of private enterprise and would only implement carefully considered land reforms.
"The integration and rehabilitation of People's Liberation Army will be completed within next six months to take the peace process to a logical conclusion," the president said in a speech.
Around 19,000 former Maoist fighters have been staying in United Nations-monitored camps since a 2006 peace deal that ended a decade of civil war and led to the abolition of the monarchy in May this year.
The Maoists went on to win elections and form a government -- with ex-rebel leader Prachanda appointed prime minister -- but still need to resolve the issue of what to do with their hardened fighters.
President Yadav said that the government will concentrate on "bringing economic and social transformation" to the Himalayan nation and one of the world's poorest countries.
"The government will encourage public-private partnership for economic and infrastructure development and a high-level, scientific land reforms commission will be established to bring changes in the agriculture sector," Yadav said.
"Private investment will be encouraged to promote and develop the industrial sector, and employment opportunities will be created within the country to end the trend of people going abroad for jobs in the years ahead," he said.
The Maoists have promised a radical reform agenda, but in recent months have shown signs they would be a cautious and considered approach to policy.
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