NC acting Prez warns of stir against 'wholesale' army integration
Acting president of Nepali Congress (NC) Sushil Koirala made it clear that the NC is opposed to wholesale integration of Maoist People's Liberation Army into the Nepali Army (NA) and warned that the party will launch a strong movement if there are such efforts.
He, however, said that the NC would not hesitate to accept the integration of PLA personnel meeting NA standards.
"If they [the government] go for wholesale integration of Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army then we would launch a strong struggle," Koirala thundered at an interaction organised at Reporters' Club, Monday, "Any move to meddle with the army won't be tolerated."
Koirala, however, said that the party is in favour of integrating the Maoist combatants into the [proposed] industrial security force or other sectors of the society, and, in the same breathe, railed at Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who he referred to as Maoist chairman Prachanda, for being responsible for the existence of two armies in the country.
"Now that he has reins of the national army, why does he need to keep another army?" he asked.
Koirala also warned that another round of conflict may envelop the country if the Maoists try to implement People's Republican set up in the country.
He also borrowed the favourite line of attack of most NC leaders against the Maoists, blaming them for trying to impose totalitarianism in the country.
"The Maoists are trying to defeat democracy, but Nepali Congress would not remain silent. We would come strongly against it," Koirala said. nepalnews.com Oct 13 08
