Commanders of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Wednesday met senior leaders of the party and suggested them to pressurise the Special Committee and the government to start the integration of the combatants at the earliest.

During the meeting held at Maoist party headquarters Paris Danda, the commanders also asked the leaders to press for the party’s demand for the leadership of the proposed directorate under the Nepal Army, a source said.

During the meeting, the Maoist leaders said they were positive about the Nepal Army chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung new proposal in which he has reportedly mentioned that 6000 combatants could be integrated into the NA en masse and that around 60 PLA personnel could be given the post of ‘Major’ while 350 more could be given officer posts below Major.

In the proposal submitted to the Prime Minister, Gurung has also significantly reduced the duration of the bridge course for the combatants to seven months from the proposed 18 months.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after the meeting with the party leaders, PLA chief Nanda Kishor Pun said the PLA was ready to accept the decisions of the Army Integration Special Committee and that the integration process should start at the earliest by formulating an action plan.

Along with the PLA chief, seven division commanders participated in the discussion with the party leadership. Party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa and military in-charge Barshaman Pun were present in the meeting from the party. nepalnews.com