Kathmandu: The Maoists should not be
given key ministries of home and defence as the former rebels
may misuse their position, prominent Nepalese human rights
activists and civil society members have said.
In a joint statement, they appealed to Nepal Prime
Minister Jhala Nath Khanal that "the Maoists should not be
given the important portfolios of home and defence as they
have not yet returned seized property and they have not yet
integrated their combatants."
As the peace process has reached a critical juncture,
the important ministries dealing with security should not be
given to the Maoists as they have not yet disbanded the
People`s Liberation Army (PLA).
They still claim that the chain of command of the
Maoist combatants has not yet been actually transferred to the
Special Committee to look after monitoring, integration and
rehabilitation of the PLA, the statement said.
Although it is the prerogative of the prime minister
to distribute portfolios, a party whose combatants are yet to
be integrated and rehabilitated and has officially adopted the
policy for a peoples revolt at its plenum in Gorkha district
recently, should not be given such important portfolios, said
Sushil Pyakurel, a leading human rights activist.
They have also expressed fear that the Maoists might
withdraw pending cases of rights abuses against the party
members. Main opposition Nepali Congress and other democratic
parties have already asked the prime minister not to give home
and defence to the former rebels.
PTI
