FORMER MAOIST FIGHTERS HAVE LEFT LEAVING CANONMNT EMPTY; PROMISED INTEGRATION HASN’T GONE AHEAD FOR MONTHS Kathmandu, 14 Aug.:Former Maoist combatants under the seventh PLA camp in Kailali have left their cantonments in droves. They said they can no longer lead a cloistered life waiting for the integration work to make headway, Mohan Budhair writes in The Kathmandu Post from Dhangadil. A few combatants remain in the Talband-based main camp while two other satellite camps are vacant, Nepal Army (NA) Colonel Arjun Khadka said on Monday. He said the satellite camps at Masuritya and Chisapani are vacant since Sunday. “We feel that we are being kept in the dark as our commanders have all left the camp,” said Aakash, a combatant. He said their commanders have stopped communicating with the camp. “After the commanders stared leaving the camp, the juniors followed suit. About 25 combatants who remained under the two satellite camps also left on Sunday,” Khadka said. The combatants are unhappy with camp life as they have not received ration and salary for the Nepali month of Srawan, according to Khadka. “They left saying that they have nothing to eat. Only five combatants remain now in the main camp at Talband,” said the Colonel. Indra Bhakta Maharjan, the PLA deputy brigade commander of the camp, however, said the combatants are out of their cantonments due to some personal reasons and that they will report back. “No one is leaving the camp or the integration programme,” he assured. There are 319 combatants under the seventh division camp. nnnn ACTING ARMY CHIEF BRINGS IN NEW FACES IN HIS SECRETARIAT ar Kathmandu, 14 Aug.: Acting Army Chief Lt. Gen Gurav Shumshere Rana has brought in new faces in his secretariat, Annapurna Post reports. Brig. Gen Gyaendra Jung Rayamajhi is military secretary and advisor of the Chief I Brig. Gen Himalaya Thapa. The changes were effected before Gen. takes full charge as Army Chief. nnnn