NC and UML Object Combatants’ Allowance Increase (October 2-8)

The Council of Ministers on 2 October 2011 took decision to increase the allowances of the Maoist combatants by Rs 1500 from the previous Rs 5000 per month. The opposition parties Nepali Congress and UML opposed the increase in allowances at a time when the peace process should be concluded and a new constitution promulgated. They were mainly against the increase as it was raised without first discussion in the Army Integration Special Committee.

Nepali Congress suspects the allowance increased reflects the UCPN (M) intent of not completing the peace process immediately. NC and UML leaders comment that the commitment to take the peace process forward and unilaterally raising the allowances are contradictory. UML asserts that the increase in allowance is in contravention of the Interim Constitution and the Directives for Supervision, Control, Direction and Code of Conduct for Maoist Army Combatants-2010. General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel in a press statement accused the government of disregarding the legislature-parliament with its decision to increase the allowance not included in the budget. UML accused the government of not being serious in completing the peace process by increasing the allowances instead of integrating the combatants quickly.

There was no progress in the peace process though UCPN (M) chairperson Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had said that there will be breakthrough in the peace process before Dashain. Congress and UCPN (M) could not forge consensus despite several discussions between them. Prime Minister Bhattarai accused Congress and UML for not reaching a consensus for the delay in the peace process, and Congress leaders accused the UCPN (M) leaders for the same. However, Congress conceded that UCPN (M) had become more flexible than before. The discussion between only Congress and UCPN (M) also raised UML’s suspicions to the point that UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal stated that agreement between Congress and UCPN (M) on the peace process and constitution will not be acceptable to his party.

Major Developments

October 2	The Council of Ministers takes decision to increase the allowances of the Maoist combatants in cantonments by Rs 1500 per month. UCPN(M) vice-chairperson Mohan Vaidya and members of his faction including Ram Bahadur Thapa, CP Gajurel, Netra Bikram Chand, and Dev Gurung remain absent in the UCPN(M) standing committee meeting.
October 3	Meeting between UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Congress president Sushil Koirala. Congress takes exception to the increase in the monthly allowance of the combatants. UML takes serious exception to the government decision to increase the monthly allowances of the combatants. It states the decision is in violation of the Directives for Supervision, Control, Direction and Code of Conduct for Maoist Army Combatants-2010. Meeting of parties in the government at prime ministerial quarters at Baluwatar decides to challenge the allegations the four-point agreement being antinationalist.
October 4	The meeting between UCPN (M) and Nepali Congress leaders agrees to take the peace and constitution-drafting process forward.
October 5	UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal states that any agreement between UCPN (M) and Congress to move the peace and constitution-drafting process forward will not be acceptable to his party.
October 6	Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai in his message on the occasion of Dashain states that the peace process will be given the first priority.
October 7	UCPN(M) leader Dev Gurung the possibility of seeking an alternative to prime minister Bhattarai if there is no amendment to the four-point agreement.
October 8	Meeting between UCPN (M) and Congress leaders discusses the peace and constitution-drafting process. Meeting of the UML standing committee expresses regret the defence minister Sharat Singh Bhandari’s comments as being antinationalist. CA Chairperson Subash Nemwang requests UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal to work towards peace and constitution-drafting process.