By Rajendra Pokhrel

Members of the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) representing the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have said they will not participate in upcoming AISC meetings called by the caretaker Prime Minister saying that he has no right to call the meeting.

Speaking at a programme in the capital Wednesday, NC leader and AISC member Minendra Rijal said, “It will be nothing more than a drama by PM Bhattarai if he calls the meeting of the ASIC. NC and UML will not attend the meeting."

“The caretaker government has no right to call the meeting nor the integration process can move forward until there is political consensus”, Rijal said.

Similarly, Bhim Rawal, an AISC member from the UML, accused PM Bhattarai of showing autocratic tendencies by not showing interest in reaching consensus. "The UML will not take part in the AISC just to be a witness," said he.

Meanwhile, the government is preparing to start the integration process from coming Tuesday.

According to a Maoist source, the process to finalise the list of PLA commanders, who will be recommended for senior ranks in the Nepal Army, is underway.

Former PLA chief Nanda Kishor Pun is leading the homework and has prepared a preliminary list to be presented to the general staff meeting of the PLA for discussion.

Pun has proposed division commander Yam Bahadur Adhikari for the post of Colonel, the highest post to be given to the Maoist combatants "as per the agreement among the major political parties before May 27".

Adhikari is the commander of the 1st Division of the PLA stationed at Chulachuli, Ilam. Altogether 3,129 PLA members are awaiting integration. nepalnews.com