Kathmandu: A top leader of the Nepali
Congress party, which is a key partner in the 22-party
coalition, today said the former Maoists guerrillas cannot be
integrated into the army as it will lead to "conflict and
civil war" in the country.
Sushil Koirala, the Nepali Congress Acting President,
underlined that the Maoists People`s Liberation Army (PLA)
cannot be integrated into the military. He said there are
chances of conflict and civil war if the PLA is integrated
into the military, the Kantipur online reported.
However, Koirala underlined the need to rehabilitate
the Maoist combatants by providing Rs 5 lakh to 10 lakh or
send them outside the country for employment.
He claimed that the new constitution cannot be drafted
until the Maoists PLA is rehabilitated. However, he warned
that if it is drafted in the present situation, the combatants
might use weapons during the elections, the report said.
The political parties are deadlocked over the Maoists`
demand to rectify the decision of President Ram Baran Yadav,
who reinstated General Rukmangad Katawal, the then Army Chief
dismissed by Maoists Prime Minister Prachanda in May 2009.
Political tensions have been high in Nepal since a
government led by the UCPN-Maoist resigned last May amid a
dispute with the president over the then military chief`s
refusal to incorporate former Maoist rebels fighters into the
military.
The Maoists, who have around 40 percent of the seats
in parliament, argue that the president`s move was
unconstitutional and has compromised "civilian supremacy" over
the military. Prachanda had blamed Gen Katawal for trying to
resist the integration of former rebels into the military as
stipulated under the 2006 peace agreement.
PTI
