August 26, 2013 - Seventy former communist rebels graduated from Nepal's military
academy on Monday and became officers in the national army they once fought. The
66 men and four women wore Nepal army uniforms and were given the rank of lieutenant
by the head of the country's interim government, Khilraj Regmi, at a ceremony at the
academy just outside Katmandu. Many of the 70 will eventually receive higher ranks
after they complete further training. Maoist rebels fought against government troops
from 1996 until 2006, when a peace agreement was signed. Thousands of former rebels
wanted to join the national army but many gave up because of delays in the peace process.
About 13,000 people are believed to have died in the decade-long conflict. After
the peace agreement was signed, thousands of former rebels spent years in U.N.-monitored
camps because politicians were unable to agree on their future. They finally were
handed over to the national army for training last year. An additional 1,352 former
rebels will also serve in the national army in lower ranks once they complete basic
training. (Source: AP)