The Maoists have reacted strongly to the refusal by the army chief Gen Katuwal
and the prime minister to integrate the PLA and the NA. Maoist spokesman Krishna
Bahadur Mahara, who is also information minister, said this would jeopardise the
peace process.
Earlier, Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai accused Koirala
of senility and said he had forgotten that integration of the two armies was
clearly spelled out in the peace accord.
He added: "Koirala's statement
is against the peace accord, this clearly shows who is responsible for
lengthening the state of uncertainty." However,the Maoists haven't reacted
officially to the statements from Koirala and Katuwal. Analysts said they may be
working on a compromise of getting ex-guerrillas into the Armed Police Force.
The peace accord and the interim constitution have provisions for the
inclusion, reestablishment and security of the PLA. However, in a press meet at
Baluwatar on Tuesday, Koirala made it clear that he would not allow the merging
of the PLA with the NA.
Meanwhile a previously scheduled meeting of the
Maoists' Central Committee at Kirtipur was called off due to previous engagement
of the Maoist chairman, Puspha Kamal Dahal and senior leader, Baburam Bhattarai.
The meeting was expected to take up Dahal's proposal to start a street uprising
if the elections are rigged and also discuss the election preparations of the
party.
To integrate or not to integrate
3.30PM NST | 9 January 2008
Update | From Issue #381 (January 4-10, 2008)
