PLA-men refuse non-combatant role

KIRAN PUN
KATHMANDU, June 9: Commanders of the Maoist People´s Liberation Army (PLA) have demanded that their party reject the Nepal Army (NA)´s integration modality that has proposed turning them into a non-combative force.

The PLA commanders put forward such views during an interaction with party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter´s residence in Nayabazaar on Wednesday.


“We are not against integration, but we reject the NA´s integration model that wants to turn us into a non-combative force, which means to reject us as soldiers,” a participant quoted Acting Fifth Division Commander Raj Bahadur Budha Magar as saying.

Magar was of the view that no one can be a soldier without arms and argued that it would be humiliation for the PLA if the party goes for that model.

“We want a dignified place to serve the nation and the people. So we don´t want to become forest guards. We are against the modality that obliterates our existence. Why should we accept the modality which was agreed upon without consulting us,” Magar, who is close to Dahal, stated.

In reply, Dahal argued that his party has accepted the Nepal Army (NA)´s integration modality only in its spirit -- not in its entirety.

“It is wrong to say that we have accepted the army´s integration modality; we are yet to discuss and finalize the details,” a PLA commander quoted Dahal as saying.

The Maoist chairman faced a tough time allaying fears of the commanders that the party is “obliterating” the PLA´s existence by accepting the integration model that is “humiliating” for the “revolutionary guards”.

The PLA members also demanded that the directorate should be led by the PLA, not by the NA.

The meeting saw participation of some 150 commanders from all 28 cantonments. Most commanders held views that the party should not accept the proposal to turn them into a non-combative force.

The commanders argued that the party should first pay heed to the plight of those PLA men who were maimed during the insurgency.

“Maimed and disqualified PLA members are wandering without works. The government must address their concerns before taking the integration process ahead,” stated Yam Bahadur Adhikari, First Division Commander.

The PLA commanders also accused the top leaders of being left without any roadmap to revolution and instead promoting factionalism.

“There are not only three factions, but four. None of the faction should woo our support. None of you have any roadmap to revolution. If you have, present it before us. We are ready to sacrifice ourselves for revolution, but not for the self-aggrandizement of the leaders,” a participant quoted Raj Bahadur Budha Magar as saying.

The PLA commanders also strongly demanded that the party reject the proposal to recruit the PLA personnel only in lower ranks. “We are against the decision to violate the existing order and ranks in the PLA after integration,” stated Mahendra Shahi, Sixth Division Commander.

The commanders also expressed dissatisfaction over the party´s stance to integrate 8,000 to 10,000 PLA personnel. “So, are the rest of us incompetent?” a commander asked in a chit sent to Dahal. But Dahal simply parried this question.

Most of the commanders demanded that the government announce “golden handshake” while taking the integration process ahead.

The party held the interaction program to understand the views of the commanders on the integration issues.

Dahal had refuted the allegations that he has submitted the keys of the arms containers to the government. “It is false that we have submitted the keys to the government. We have made compromises as per the needs of the time. The party has not deviated from its ideological goals,” a commander quoted Dahal.

Dahal replied that the standard norms of integration and rank harmonization has not be discussed and finalized. These two issues are the most contentious in the integration process.

Division commanders Yam Adhikari, Suk Bahadur Rokka, Dhan Bahadur Maskey Magar, Tej Bahadur Oli, Raj Bahadur Budha Magar, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi and Santu Darai had spoken at the program, while the middle-rung commanders had posed their questions in writing.

All the top office bearers, military in-charge Barshaman Pun and PLA Chief Nanda Kishore Pun were present at the function.

DDR not acceptable: Baidya

Baidya told the commanders that the Demobilization, Development and Reconstruction (DRR) model is not acceptable to him. “We wrote a note of dissent against the party´s decision to accept the DDR model,” a commander quoted Baidya as saying.

Baidya has written a note of dissent against the party´s decision to end the security bring provided to the senior party leaders by the PLA personnel. PLA guards from the Baidya faction have not submitted their weapons to the party headquarters.

There are more than two dozen PLA guards in the security of the leaders from the party hard-line faction.

Maoist strike cripples life in Dhangadhi

DHANGADHI, Dec 23: The indefinite strike called by UCPN-Maoist after the Dudejhari incident in Kailali has crippled life in the district.

Meanwhile, an all-party meeting held on Wednesday to end the five-day long banda ended inconclusively.

Chief District Officer of Kailali Gehanath Bhandari said no agreement could be reached on the Maoists´ demand for establishing a temporary camp in the jungle for the squatters. He, however, said that their other demands like treatment for those injured in Dudejhari incident and formation of probe commission were agreed upon during the meeting.

“I have said yes to their seven demands. But their demand for temporary shelter cannot be fulfilled,” Bhandari said.

The Maoists had called for an indefinite strike since December 19. They have stood firm on their demand for temporary arrangement for the squatters even if it is outside the Dudejhari jungle.

UCPN-M Kailali secretary Hari Prasad Chaudhary ´Utsab´ said that they would continue their protests until their demands are met.

'Dahal's remark sarcasm against govt'

KATHMANDU, Dec 23: UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha on Wednesday claimed that his party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s remark on India was to mock at the government and political parties´ inability to take any decision without support from the India.

* Dahal to talk only to Delhi, threatens indefinite strike

Addressing a mass gathering in the capital on Tuesday, Dahal had vowed to speak only to New Delhi to resolve the political deadlock here. He had said there was “no point talking to puppets here in Nepal?” “I have no energy for talks with the leaders of the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress.”

“The chairman´s statement was sarcastic. He meant that the political parties here in our country are like puppets so much so that they can´t take any decision even on our national agenda without inputs from India,” Shrestha clarified.

According to him, the Maoists have come up with a conclusion that external forces, particularly India, have become a major stumbling block to establishing civilian supremacy in the country.

“We have said this in the past as well. We had clearly said that the president´s move had come with an intention to derail the peace process,” he said.

Shrestha further clarified that talks with India will be held on resolving bilateral issues, including the Nepal-India Friendship Treaty-1950 and the Kalapani and Susta disputes, not to settle the country´s internal political issues.

House to resume Thursday

KATHMANDU, Dec 23: After obstructing the parliament proceedings for more than five months, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has decided to let the House run from Thursday.

A meeting of the parliamentary party of the UCPN (Maoist) took the decision to this effect on Wednesday.


Maoist leaders said the party took the decision unilaterally after months-long talks with the ruling political parties on ending the protracted political deadlock yielded no result. They, however, said they would continue to raise their concerns in the House and their decision to let the House work is only the change in the form of their struggle.

Maoist Vice Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai said they would raise their agenda and debate the issues in the House instead of obstructing the House and shouting slogans in the House.

"The form of struggle has been changed as per the current political situation. Now, we have decided to struggle inside the House to establish civilian supremacy," he said.

He said several options on the ways of struggle to be adopted in the parliament are under discussion within the party. "Whatever the options be, the form will be as per the internationally accepted principles and values," he added.

The Maoist party had been obstructing the parliament -- except for a few days to present and pass the annual budget -- ever since they walked out of the government on May 4 after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav countermanded the Maoist-led government´s decision to sack then army chief Rookmangud Katawal.

The Maoists have been demanding that they be allowed to register a resolution motion against the president in the parliament. But, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have rejected it.

Dahal to address House

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to address the parliament meeting on Thursday and he will announce the end of the ongoing obstruction in the House. "I will allow the leaders from other parties as well to speak in the House if they demand," Speaker Subas Nembang told myrepublica.com. Then the parliament will resume formally, he said.

In the meeting, the ´bill to amend some Nepal acts on institutionalization of the republic´ will be tabled at first.

PM to visit China on Dec 26

KATHMANDU: Chinese investment in Nepal's infrastructure building along with hydropower and tourism promotion in the country will be the main priority areas during the upcoming China visit of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal due on December 26 to 31, Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel informed on Tuesday.

The PM today held discussions with the concerned ministers, government secretaries and businessmen on the agenda of his China visit. The government, however, is yet to complete the homework on the agenda, said Pokharel.

The PM will lead a 15-member government team including Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and Finance Minister Surendra Pandey and a 14-member team of businessmen from the private sector.

"We are yet to complete the homework on how to deal with the issues of different projects of the main priority areas and other agenda. The concerned ministries will soon come up with the agenda in this regard," said Minister Pokharel.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Planning and Works Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar informed that today's meeting discussed the agenda of the China visit. "The visit will, particularly focus on the issues of bilateral interests such as Chinese investment in Nepal in the areas of international airport and road construction and hydropower and business promotion," the DPM said.

"The visit will also center on giving free access to the Chinese market for 279-item Nepali goods," informed the DPM.

Meanwhile the PM also discussed with a team of businessmen led by Kush Kumar Joshi, president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Surendra Bir Malakar, president of Nepal Chambers of Commerce.

"We have seen the potential for attracting Chinese investment in Nepal. The delegation of businessmen will interact with Chinese authorities and businessmen in this regard during the visit," said FNCCI president Joshi.

He informed that they would also interact with Chinese delegations about Chinese investment in hydropower, infrastructure development and banking sectors as there was possibility of inviting Chinese investment in those areas.

Leaders object to Dahal's remarks

KATHMANDU, Dec 22: Political leaders have seriously objected to the remarks of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that his party would hold talks with New Delhi to resolve the ongoing political deadlock. The leaders also alleged that the Maoists were trying to invite “foreign interference” to resolve our internal problems.

* Dahal to talk only to Delhi, threatens indefinite strike

Addressing a Maoist rally in New Baneshwar, Maoist Chairman Dahal had justified his remarks saying that several rounds of talks with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had failed to yield results as their “puppet” government was dancing to the tune of India.


NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who is closely engaged in the ongoing peace process, said the remarks of Maoist Chairman Dahal were “depressing” and “provocative”. He said that the Maoists were hurling baseless allegations on political parties and the southern neighbor in order to hide their own mistakes.

Sitaula said that the Maoists have not been honest with their commitments even as they continue reiterating their commitment to peace and the new constitution. “The remarks are unfortunate for the people who are in favor of peace and political stability in the country,” he said, adding, “There is still time. We urge the Maoists to forge consensus.”

Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party Surya Bahadur Thapa termed the remarks “anti-national”. “I felt sorry to find him (Dahal) terming India as the master,” he said. “Such remark from a leader of his stature is an ignominy to Nepal.”

Thapa said that Dahal should have taken a firm stand and thrown a challenge had he sensed such interference from India. “But Dahal himself bowed down before Delhi,” he said, adding, “This has disclosed where and how the Maoists lived during the insurgency.”Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav said that inviting foreigners to resolve our own problems is against our national interest. Yadav, however, said that such emotionally-charged remarks would bear no meaning in the country´s politics.

NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel said the remarks of the top Maoist leader contradict his party´s action. While the Maoists have professedly launched the campaign to arouse nationalism, the party is talking about holding talks only with New Delhi, he said. “This is something contradictory.”

CPN-UML leader Raghuji Panta, who is also principal advisor to the prime minister, said it is an illusion on the part Maoists to see the current government as a “puppet”. “Political parties in the current government recognize that the real owners are Nepali people,” he said. The prime minister is duly elected by the majority votes of the people´s representatives in the legislature parliament. “If someone sees foreigners as the owner of the current government it is nothing but their illusion,” he added.

trike out of Maoist control: PM

KATHMANDU, Dec 21: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Monday morning asked Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to withdraw the protests.


In a telephone conversation between the two leaders on the second day of the three-day general strike called by the Maoists, Nepal drew Dahal´s attention to the violence during the strike and the possibility of the protests going out of the control of the Maoist leaders.

“The movement is not in your control,” the prime minister´s political advisor Raghuji Panta quoted PM as telling to Dahal. “And if the protests go in the same manner, they will slip away from your own control. This will ultimately incur losses to your party.”

Nepal also warned that the government will adopt stern measures to discharge its responsibility if the protests continue to be violent.

In reply, Dahal admitted that the protests had gone violent and that the ties between the major political parties have worsened further.

According to Dahal´s personal secretary Samir Dahal, the Maoist Chairman asked the prime minister to help create an environment for consensus.

The two leaders have agreed to hold meeting soon to address the Maoist demands. However, the date of the meeting has not been fixed yet.