Govt will get info on Maoist combatants 'at any cost': Minister Pokharel

Information and communication minister Shankar Pokharel has said refusal of Unified CPN (Maoist) to provide the correct number of combatants living in the cantonments is a reflection of their insincerity to peace process.

During a face to face interaction with journalists in Dhangadi on Friday morning, minister Pokharel said the government, however, will get the actual number and other information on the Maoist combatants at any cost.

The remark from minister Pokharel, who is also the government spokesperson, comes a day after visiting United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, made it clear that the actual number of the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) combatants living in UN-monitored cantonments and other information on them can't be shared.

Pokharel said it was important to know the number of combatants in the cantonments for integration and rehabilitation as per the agreement and urged the main opposition party Maoist to cooperate with the government on the issue.

He warned that amount allocated for salary and daily consumption of the combatants would be stopped if the Maoists fail to cooperate on the issue.

The government is expected to release money meant for the combatants from March 14.

Pokharel also claimed that UNMIN's refusal to provide information on the Maoist combatants has raised distrust towards it.

He further said the country will not get a new constitution within the timeframe if parties look for alternative of the current coalition government. nepalnews.com