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VOL. 28, NO. 18, Jan 09, 2009 (Paush 25 2065 B.S.)
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Recruitment Row
The government and the army differ over army recruitment
By A CORRESPONDENT
It was almost two months ago that the Nepali Army (NA) had called for the recruitment of over two thousand soldiers to fill the positions that had become due to regular retirements and sundry reasons.
But after two months, the same procedure has been dragged into a nasty controversy. While the NA has maintained that it has not violated any pact by recruiting people in vacant positions, the Defense Ministry – under pressure from the Maoist commanders – has ordered the NA to stop the process.
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President Dr. Rambaran Yadav (Right) and COAS Katuwal observing Army Parade. |
However, the NA has been saying that since it has already received 50,000 applications and has even collected revenue from aspirants across the country, it cannot stop the process midway.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has been caught in an awkward position. As he needed to demonstrate a balancing act – while placating his Maoist commanders as well as keeping the NA in good humor – he has been making vague statements.
On Saturday (Jan 3), while addressing the commanders of Maoists, he said that no one can engage in military recruitment in violation of the understanding. He said that if Nepali Army (NA) recruits, then Maoists, too, would do the same.
Speaking at the General Staff meeting of Maoists' "People's Liberation Army," Saturday, he made those comments in front of all deputy commanders and commanders of Maoist army. Quoting the PM, Maoist deputy commander Chandra Khanal 'Baldev' said that the PM was in talks with NA chief in this matter.
Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' has also refrained from making harsh comments.
Talking to reporters in Chitwan on Monday (Jan 5), he said that the government will ensure that its orders are followed. When asked pointblank if he intends to sack the army chief for not following the government's order, he said, "Let us not engage into that talk. The constitution is pretty clear that the army will obey the order of the government."
Earlier he had claimed that domestic and foreign 'power centers' were engaged in driving wedge between Nepali Army (NA) and the government.
"Many power centers are working to make Maoists a failure. There are hands of such power centers in creating rift between NA and the government," he said, speaking at a function in Padampur VDC of Chitwan on Saturday (Jan 3). He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, other parties have started backing the NA position. Main opposition Nepali Congress vice president Ram Chandra Poudel has warned of protests if the government sacked Chief of Army Staffs (COAS) Rookmangud Katawal, who was appointed during the reign of NC-led coalition.
Speaking at the Reporter's Club on Saturday (Jan 3), Poudel claimed that CPN (Maoist) is making every effort to influence the army, judiciary and police forces and that the current fresh recruitments opened by Nepal Army do not violate the peace accord.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) leaders. "The NA can fill old positions that have become vacant," said a UML leader.
Finance Minister Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai had earlier clarified that the government was not mulling over appointing new army chief.
