Seventy former Maoist rebels, including four women, on Monday became officers in the Nepal Army they once fought. A total of 66 males and four women fighters completed the nine-month officer-cadet training.
The cadets were conferred insignias by Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Gaurav Shumsher Rana and lieutenant Generals Pawan Bahadur Pandey and Netra Bahadur Thapa at an event organised at the Nepali Military Academy in Kharipati, Bhaktapur. A passing-out parade was held to mark the occasion, which was attended by the head of Nepal’s interim Government Khil Raj Regmi.
Of these 70 cadets, one will be given the post of Colonel, two will be promoted to the post of lieutenant Colonel, 16 to the post of Major, 30 as Captains and the rest 21 will continue as lieutenants.
Meanwhile, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nepal congratulated the country, terming the occasion a milestone in the historic peace process.