Reintegration of Maoists Ex-combatants in Nepal

Abstract

Reintegration of ex-combatants is one of the major processes after the end of armed conflict. This study revolved around the question of social, political and economic challenges and opportunities that ex-combatants in Nepal come across while they remained in cantonment and after their voluntary retirement. The idea of integration has been analyzed along three dimensions; social, political and economic reintegration, notably adapted in Nepalese cultural, social and political context. After the demobilization, most of the ex-combatants did not return to their original home community, instead they opted to settling new lives, especially in new communities.

The research is based on the analysis of primary data from the field, through the semi-structured interview methods of the data collection. The Study suggests that the cash which ex-combatants received during voluntary retirement helped them to move out of the cantonment but it failed to contribute or bring any noticeable changes in their lives as civilians due to the lack of guidance and plan. The cash based option has been understood as the problem solving schemes for the management of ex-combatants as an approach to implement the peace agreement rather than a process to transform ex-combatants into civilians.