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NC leaders express ire over special committee

As the dispute over army integration and the special committee to oversee the entire process deepens further, leaders of Nepali Congress (NC), the main opposition party which is acting as a major stumbling block on the whole matter, have started to make claims and counter claims to ram home the point that it is against the country's interest.

Acting- president of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala on Friday warned of mutiny inside the Nepal Army if the Maoist PLA combatants are integrated into it.

Koirala, a nephew of party president Girija Prasad Koirala who's resignation from the post following his embarrassing defeat in the Constituent Assembly election is still under review inside the party, also warned that his party would launch a nationwide movement if the government goes ahead with the integration process.

NC is already running a nationwide "awareness campaign" since the past two weeks to oppose Maoist-led government's major agendas including army integration.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Press Union Rupandehi in mid-western town of Butwal, he said that the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists in August 2006 states that Maoist PLA combatants would be integrated into the security forces but not particularly the Nepal Army.

He also vowed to bring the Maoists "into its knees" on the issue of the army integration.

Koirala also made it clear that NC decided not to participate in the special committee on army integration as it was formed without any consultation with the party.

Meanwhile, toning down his rhetoric a little bit former prime minister and senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said that his party is not against "integration and rehabilitation" of PLA combatants, but maintains that it should be done as per the peace accord. Deuba, however, didn't elaborate further.

Speaking at a press meeting organized by Press Union Kanchapur in far-western town of Mahendranagar, Deuba however said that the special committee on army integration was formed violating the past agreements and understandings.

Deuba also threw his weight behind Vice President Parmananda Jha who during a speech on Wednesday called the special committee on army integration as "unconstitutional" nepalnews.com ag Nov 07 08