Nepalese Leaders To Bring Maoist Arms, Cantonments Under Army

New Delhi, April 11, IRNA -- Nepalese political leaders Tuesday inched forward on the stalled peace process as they agreed to bring the arms and the cantonments of the former Maoist guerrillas under the direct control and supervision of the national army. Amid mounting pressure on the government to conclude the 2006 peace process, leaders of ruling UCPN-Maoist and the main oppostion parties, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, decided to hand over the arms and the cantonments to the Nepal Army. The decision was taken during the crucial meeting of the Special Committee on Army Integration (SCAI), pti reported quoting to Nepali Congress leader Ramsharan Mahat, who was also present during the talks. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Maoist chief Prachanda, Nepali Congress general secretary Krishna Sitaula and central committee member of the party, Ram Sharan Mahat, CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and leaders of Joint Democratic Madhesi Front. The 15 Maoist cantonments, the weapon containers would come under direct control and supervision of the Nepal Army from today, according to Mahat. Thirteen of the total 28 cantonments, where nearly 20,000 former Maoist guerrillas were housed since the end of the decade-long insurgency in 2006, have been vacated a month ago. As per a seven-point deal among the main political parties, it was agreed to integrate 6,500 Maoist combatants in the Nepal Army as part of the ongoing peace process. The crucial decision comes amid stepped up pressure by the main opposition parties to expedite the integration of the former combatants with the army, a key part of the peace process./end