Koirala's astonished as PM 'does about face on PLA recruitment issue so soon'
Nepali Congress president and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
has blamed Prime Minister and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal for
breach of an understanding with the Nepali Congress reached on Tuesday
regarding the fresh recruitments opened by the Maoist People's Liberation
Army (PLA).
"In yesterday's meeting he (PM Dahal) told me that he would stop the PLA
recruitment, but he hasn't done so. He has gone back on his promise within
a day," Koirala said, addressing the 6th convention of Nepal Teachers
Association in Kathmandu Wednesday.
The NC strongman further said Prime Minister Dahal must be able to fulfill
his commitments and abide by the past agreements if he expects good
relation with the NC. "If he wants to have good relation with us, he must
fulfill his commitments and move ahead democratically," Koirala warned,"If not, there might by unimaginable accident."
"I have told the Prime Minister that he won't be successful in the absence
of peace and stability," Koirala added, stressing that consensus among the
parties is the key to write new constitution and bring the peace process
to a conclusion.
Prime Minister Dahal had met Koirala and other senior NC leaders Tuesday,
assuring the latter of stopping the PLA's recruitment process. However,
PLA commander Nanda Kishor Pun 'Pasang' has said the recruitment process
has already begun and that it would not stop unless Nepal Army does the
same regarding its fresh recruitments.
PLA has said it plans to recruit over 11,000 combatants to fill in the posts that remain vacant after United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) declared around same number of their fighters as unfit after verification. The UN body has already termed the recruitment process as a breach of the comprehensive peace accord (CPA). nepalnews.com mk Mar 04 09
