MK Nepal says there exists 'serious doubt' on Maoist leading a 'civilian
govt'
As the government faces intense national and international pressure to
forgo its plan to sack the Army chief, head of Constitutional Council (CC)
and senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal Thursday said that serious doubt
has emerged over whether the government led by Unified CPN (Maoist), of
which UML is a key partner, is indeed a "civilian government".
"The prime minister himself seems to be confused over whether he is
leading a civilian government or not," he said.
Nepal, who was speaking at a programme organised by Press Chautari in
eastern town of Biratnagar, said the people are also looking at the
Unified CPN (Maoist) with suspicion as the party has its own standing army
- the People Liberation Army (PLA).
He further said that as the country is looking forward to the completion
of the army integration process, it is not advisable to tamper with the
Army. He denied any possibility of mutiny by the army (Nepal Army), and
accused the Maoist party of maintaining its paramilitary structure instead
of dismantling it.
Advising the Maoist party to move ahead on the basis of political
consensus, Nepal said that if the government led by the former rebels had
consulted with all political parties before deciding to seek clarification
from the Army chief then the country would not have faced this difficult
political stalemate now.
He also clarified that the public remarks made by his party leaders over
the issue are all their "personal opinions", and that since party Chairman
Jhala Nath Khanal has also arrived from China UML will come up with its
official position on the issue till tomorrow to ensure that it is resolved
on the basis of political consensus.
The Central Committee meeting of the UML is expected to be held Friday
morning, and which will decide on the line the party should take on Army
chief's case.
Nepal, who together with senior leader KP Oli is strongly opposed to the
government plan to sack the Army chief, was busy all day Wednesday
mediating between Maoist leaders, PM Dahal and President Yadav after
sensing that the political crisis brought about by the row over government
plan to sack the Army chief may further deepen. nepalnews.com ag Apr 23 09
