E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 02 -

The Nepali Congress (NC) has said it fully honours the Supreme Court’s directive that allowed the Constituent Assembly a last six-month extension. The party rubbished claims that the court decision was an “intrusion” into the affairs of the CA and the “principle of power balance” in the trinity of judiciary, executive, and legislature.

A meeting of the party’s office bearers called at party President Sushil Koirala’s residence on Thursday concluded that the court directive was in line with the constitution and was aimed at addressing people’s aspirations of peace and constitution.

The meeting also took serious exception to Maoist Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal’s remarks that the number of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants to be integrated into the national army can be increased to 9,000 from the agreed maximum limit of 6,500. NC office bearers said the party cannot show any flexibility on the number of Maoist combatants to be integrated beyond what has been determined in the November 1 seven-point deal.

NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC said Dahal’s remarks had made NC suspicious. “NC remains firm on the November 1 agreement which dictates everything from modality and norms to number of Maoist combatants to be integrated,” he said. NC President Koirala also raised the issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai the same day.

Meanwhile, the party has formed a committee under NC leader Narahari Acharya to coordinate and work with the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) which is assigned to recommend the CA within two months a best possible model to federate the country. Acharya said his committee would be a bridge between the SRC and the party. Economic viability and sustainability would be at the heart of NC’s recommendations on state restructuring, said Acharya. “We have no rigid position on the number of provinces, but what we stress is economic and social sustainability provinces.”

‘Misuse of camped fighters’ perks institutional corruption’NC leaders have taken serious exception to the alleged misuse of PLA allowances by the Maoists arguing that the act, if proven true, would be a clear case of “institutional corruption”.

Though the party is yet to take an official decision, leaders said they would take legal and other possible measures to hold the Maoist party accountable for the alleged wrongdoing. Earlier, some reports surfaced in the media that the Maoist party had been drawing over Rs 24 million monthly in the name of allowances to some 3,000 combatants who are actually missing.

NC leaders, who gathered at Party President Sushil Koirala’s residence in Maharajgunj on Thursday, said the party should demand an immediate and thorough investigation into the case. “It’s a serious crime to hoodwink the government and get the state coffers to bleed in the name of combatants who don’t exist,” said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat, a member of the Special Committee. He, however, said the case would not disrupt the ongoing peace process.

As the regrouping process progressed in seven main cantonments, it appeared that as many as 3,000 of the total 19,000 UNMIN verified combatants have fled camps. “We are taken aback by the reports. How could the Maoists keep the government in dark for so long,” said NC leader Narahari Acharya. “This is a serious issue and our party should raise this strongly at the Special Committee [for integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants].”

•    NC says Dahal’s remarks on integrating 9,000 combatants objectionable

•    Supreme Court verdict not an intrusion on CA turf

•    Narahari Acharya to coordinate with SRC

Posted on: 2011-12-02 07:25

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