Nepal: PLA members who have been disqualified plan new campaign of struggle

Nepal News:  Disqualified PLA combatants announce nationwide protest programmes

The disqualified combatants of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) on December 18 announced nationwide protest programmes putting forth four-point demands including the cancellation of their disqualified recognition, reports Nepal News. Organising a press conference in Kathmandu Central Struggle Committee of the Disqualified People’s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants announced that they will take out protest rally in Dhangadi on December 23, Nepalgunj on 25, Itahari on 27 and Hetauda on 28. They also plan to enforce bandh (general strike) in all the development regions on different dates to be followed by Nepal bandh on January 4. The then United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) had disqualified 4,008 combatants, including 2,973 minors during the verification…..

————————————————

Disqualified PLA warn of stir

2011-12-22

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

DHANGADHI: Disqualified PLA combatants today announced their agitation saying the government had failed to do anything for them at a press conference in Dhangadhi, where they informed about their demonstration in Dhangadhi on December 23 and a Far-west bandh on December 29.

Speaking at a press conference, Bharat Rokaya, central secretary of Disqualified People’s Liberation Army said, “The party used us for ten years to fight in the people’s war and now it has left us in the lurch.”

“Even our own party is oblivious to our condition,” lamented another former combatant Prem BK, urging the party and government to take initiatives for their honourable rehabilitation or face more intense agitation.

The disqualified combatants, who are now staying at Lamki of Kailali with injured and handicapped combatants, have demanded implementation of the agreement reached with the then Jhala Nath Khanal-led government.

“Though we have submitted many memoranda to the government, nothing has come of them so far,” lamented the former fighters, who have put forward a number of demands including their long-term management.

From Kailali-based PLA Seventh Division alone, 372 combatants were disqualified during the UNMIN verification. From all the seven divisions, about 4,800 combatants were disqualified.