Interview met ‘Comrade Pratiksha’

De UNMIN (United Nations Mission in Nepal) is klaar met de verificatie van deze strijders. Hun wapens liggen opgeborgen in containers op een plaats buiten het kamp, maar de Maoïsten behouden de sleutels. Volgens het vredesakkoord zouden  PLA en NA (Nepal Army) samensmelten, maar in de praktijk is daar nog altijd geen vooruitgang in. Commander Pratiksha, hoofd van het 4de kampement, beantwoordt mijn vragen over de stemming die er heerst.
What kind of adjustment or merger of the two armies do you see? Can you imagine a future in which the PLA and NA (Nepal Army) are in the same barracks, eat in the same kitchen?
Pratiksha: “Of course, we are not against the NA, we are against the king. We are ready to eat, play and sleep with them, as long as they obey to the political leaders and not to the king.”
Should the decision on the future of the armies be taken by the current political leaders, by the people elected through the Constitutional Assembly elections or by the military leaders?
“All decisions should be taken by the SPA (Seven Party Alliance) as per the peace agreement. We are ready to adjust according to their orders.” 
Last week 12 Nepali Congress members openly declared that without a ceremonial king the country is in great danger. If the SPA decides to keep some sort of ceremonial king, what will he PLA do?
(firmly) “Not possible, the situation is out of question. We are sure our political leaders will never come to such a compromise.”
Some time ago Prachanda came to Chitwan, 3th cantonment site, and told the PLA to be ready for another 10 to 40 years of fighting. Are you ready to fight again?
“Of course we are ready, but at the moment we are in the peace process and we want to fight on the political side. We believe in the peace and election process.”
What if the elections do not take place? They have been postponed two times. What kind of political scenario do you see if by the end of April the elections still could not take place?
“We are very sure that elections will take place, so this is a hypothetical question.”
Yesterday the government has asked UNMIN (United Nations Mission to Nepal) to stay another 6 months. Will the government be able to take good care of the PLA once they are gone?
Pratiksha: “The government is not taking good care of us right now. In the 12-point agreement they say that both armies will be treated equally, but why does a NA soldier get 100Rs a day for food and a PLA soldier only 60Rs? Why do they get 4400Rs salary and we 3000Rs? Even this salary they don’t pay regularly. Only 4  out of 11 months have been paid.”
When was this?
“Just before Dashain, almost three months ago. At the same time, the NA has increased its force by 20 000 since the agreement was signed. Nobody writes about this. The UNMIN should speak more on these two issues.”
As a result of this lack of funds, how is the situation in this site?
“You can see that some of us still sleep in tents. We don’t have the logistics and facilities we need.”
But I can see a lot of construction is going on. Will this site become a permanent base?
Pratiksha: “That will depend on the peace process. If the peace process goes well it will become permanent yes, but if it does not go well…(smiling)”
Thank you for making time for us.
Bij een korte inspectie van het kamp nadien blijkt dat de meeste soldaten nog steeds in tentjes of primitieve hutten slapen. Houten barrakken, een eerste hulp post, training faciliteiten en een toegangspoort zijn echter in constructie. In de praktijk lijkt het tijdelijk kamp langzaam maar zeker een permanente basis te worden, al zijn er nog geen grote constructies.
Opvallend was ook dat geen enkel van de aanwezige leiders een uniform droeg. De atmosfeer was eerder informeel. Hun houding was duidelijk meer politiek dan militair. Enkel op de vraag wat ze zouden doen mocht er alsnog een ceremoniële koning blijven was er enige sterke emotie in de toon merkbaar. De bottom line is een republiek, over de rest valt te praten.