PM orders security chiefs to maintain law and order

Home Ministry requires Rs 22.4 B for execution of plan Kathmandu, Dec. 24, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Saturday said that the government was ready to spend any amount of money to maintain law and order in the country. He said this at a meeting with chiefs of the security agencies at the Home Ministry, according to his press advisor Ram Rijhan Yadav. Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai also orders the security chiefs to work seriously in maintaining law and order. "You have an equally important role in fulfilling the expectations of people from me," Yadav quoted the PM as saying. The people should a feel sense of security, said the Prime Minister, while instructing the security chiefs to not deviate an inch from their duties under any political pressure. Expressing his worries about the deteriorating security situation of the country, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said that the situation in which people were killed in broad daylight should end. The Home Ministry submitted a 3-year security plan to the government. According to the plan submitted by Home secretary Sushil Jung Rana and chief of the Security Division and Ministry spokesperson Shankar Koirala emphasis has been laid on reconstruction of infrastructure damaged during the conflict period, opening of new vacancies, and capacity building. Secretary Rana said that the Ministry needed 22.24 billion rupees for the execution of the plan and it needed approval from the Finance Ministry. During the meeting, security chiefs complained that they were facing difficulties in executing their duties due to political interference. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Finance Minister Barsaman Pun and chiefs of the security agencies were present in the meeting. However, the Chief of the Army Staff was absent. Former Maoist militias submit memorandum Commanders of the former Maoist militia Saturday submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai seeking hearing on their 6-point demands that include honorable farewell to combatants. In the memorandum by 17 division, battalion and brigade commanders and joint commanders, they reminded the Prime Minister that the demands submitted to Army Integration Special Committee coordinator Balananda Sharma went unheard. They have demanded national commendation letters for the combatants choosing voluntary retirement and special citations for those who were injured. Other demands include providing a lump sum of relief for the combatants. They also demanded Rs. 800,000 for brigade and division commanders, Rs. 700,000 for brigade joint commanders and battalion joint commanders, Rs. 600,000 for company and platoon commanders and Rs. 500,000 for section commanders and those in lower ranks. Special provisions for mothers of new born babies, pregnant women and children were other demands. They also demanded scrapping of the cases filed against combatants who joined the Maoist party by deserting the security agencies during the conflict period.