At least 2,973 former Maoists combatants who were disqualified as minors but who are still holed up in People’s Liberation Army cantonments will be discharged by February, said Radhika Coomaraswamy, special representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict at a press conference here today while wrapping up her six-day visit to Nepal.

“Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has agreed to the discharge of minors from PLA cantonments. I held talks with ministers for Home, defense, Law and Justice, Peace and Reconstruction and Constituent Assembly members. PLA deputy commander Nanda Kishor Pun ‘Pasang’ also assured to release the minors soon,” she said.

The commitment of the Maoist-led government is in line with the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), which was signed in 2006.
It also pays heed to the Security Council recommendations within the framework of Resolution 1,612 on the issue of children and armed conflict.

All minors should have been released immediately after the signing of the CPA but they were held back citing various reasons. They might have been roped in by other armed groups, said the Special Representative. “We are yet to see what process would be best for them to resume civilian life,” she added.

Coomaraswamy, who was in Nepal to press the issue of the release and reintegration of former Maoist child-soldiers and the adoption of a similar tactic by the armed groups in the Tarai as well as political violence by youth groups, also visited the Chulachuli PLA cantonment in Illam and interacted with conflict-affected children in Biratnagar.

“The UN country team is ready to support former PLA child combatants to resume civilian life as they look to a new future in a new, peaceful Nepal,” said the Special Representative referring to the reintegration packages developed by UNICEF and UNDP which would be tailored to the impressionable minds’ needs, skills and long-term aspirations, in collaboration with civil society and in compliance with international standards and guidelines including the Paris principles.

“Impunity for violence must stop and the rule of law must return to Nepal for peace to be given a chance so that children can live in security,” stated Coomaraswamy. She said that the commitment of Prime Minister to address the case of Maina Sunuwar as a priority was a symbolic step forward.

Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF Representative for Nepal, said that the government and UN are currently formulating a National Plan of Action to address issues and needs of all children affected by the conflict.

“UNICEF and government and non-government organisations are working in 58 districts at the community level to reintegrate children, trace their families and provide the children vocational and socio-psychological counselling,” said Mellsop.