'Discrimination' in PLA camp irks fighters BY MOHAN BUDAAIR MASURIYA, KAILALI, July 29 - Maoist combatants in a UNMIN-monitored camp have been been irked by "discrimination" over food and other camp facilities between their commanders and themselves. According to sources, kitchen for the commanders is different where "good quality rice" is served along with curry, dal (lentil soup) and meat whereas only low-quality rice is cooked for the fellow fighters, which is served with either curry or dal. Beides food, fighters said there was discrimination over shelter and other facilities between the "commander level" Maoists and lower-ranked fighters here in the seventh division. However, they have been ordered to remain mute over such practices and to simply obey directives of their seniors. "We never get both daal and curry with rice," said a fighter on condition of anonymity. "However, we get meat once a week. But it can be either thulo khasi (buffalo meat) or sano khasi (mutton)." According to him, meat is served to the commanders as and when they ask. According to him, there is a different mess for commander Prajwal, brigade command and camp secretary Singh Raj, and other brigade commanders where cooks are Maoist fighters. However, in the mess of fighters, they take turn to cook, which they claim to be the "commune system". Similarly, while Prajwal's room is well furnished and carpeted where there are TV, computer with internet, cupboard and other pieces of furniture, the fighters have been sleeping on wooden cots with blankets or sleeping bags in the makeshift huts. According to a hotelier at Masuriya, when Prajwal comes out of the camp, he usually eats meat with beaten rice while others eat samosas. "He (Prajwal) never drinks water we serve; he drinks only bottled mineral water." "The commune system, which the commanders and other leaders used to advocate during the insurgency, is gradually fading away," rues another Maoist fighter. Courtesy: www.ekantipur.com