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Inclusion of Maoists in Army opposed

KATHMANDU: Acting President of the Nepali Congress (NC), Sushil Koirala, has warned of a revolt if the Maoists’ Army, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is integrated with the Army.

On Monday, Mr. Koirala said the PLA should rather be used in industrial or other social sectors. “If they are integrated into the national Army, we could [go] for a strong revolt,” he said.

He also criticised the Maoists for not returning seized public properties and not rehabilitating families displaced during the 10-year insurgency. NC leaders have blamed the Maoists for raising only the ‘integration issue’ at the cost of ‘rehabilitation’.

The Maoist-led government, in its programmes and policies, had announced to integrate the PLA with the Army in six months. Though a month has passed since this announcement was made, the government has not yet formed a committee to begin the procedure. Nearly 20,000 Maoist combatants are sheltered in 28 cantonments.

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