PLA starts taking applications; 300 youths apply on first day

Amid controversies, two divisions of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have started collecting applications from youths across the country as part of their recruitment process.

The Fourth Division of the PLA located in Nawalparasi and Rupandehi has collected 250 applications from its four cantonments located in Hattikhor, Jhyaltungdanda, Jargaha and Saimon on Wednesday, reports say. Ganga Bahadur Gharti Magar, commander of Paribartan Memorail Brigade at Hattikhor said the applications would be accepted until March 8.

Likewise, more than 50 youths have filed their application in the First Division Headquarters located in Chulachuli of Ilam district. The Division has a vacancy for some 1200 posts in various ranks, informed Army Secretary Naresh.

Youths above 18 years of age can obtain the application form by paying a fee of Rs. 5. They have to attach a photograph and a copy of the Nepali citizenship certificate with the application.

The Third Division located in Shaktikhor of Chitwan has posted a notice calling for applications from interested candidates. None had filed applications on the first day. The Fifth Division located in Dhawan of Rolpa district and the Sixth Division located in Surkhet are preparing to distribute the forms.

The PLA had announced the recruitment process in the posts that had fallen vacant after second verification by UNMIN which disqualified about 12000 personnel from its 31000-men strong army, earlier this week.

The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) as well as a coalition partner the CPN (UML) have criticised the announcement and called for immediate withdrawal of the recruitment process saying the recruitment would hamper the peace process. UNMIN, which has been monitoring the peace process in Nepal, has also said the recruitments in the army is against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Maoist leaders have said the recruitment has started without consultation with the party.

Prime Minister and Chairman of the Unified CPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal had said he would stop the recruitment process at a meeting with NC president Girija Prasad Koirala on Tuesday.

The PLA started its recruitment process following the recruitment of some 3000 personnel by Nepal Army (NA). The former has said it would stop the recruitment process only if NA withdraws its recruitment.

NA recently completed the recruitment of some 3000 personnel amid dispute with the government.

Meanwhile, PM Dahal who is also the coodinator of the Army Integration Special Committee has said that the meeting of the committee would be called soon. nepalnews.com ta Mar 05 09

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