Maoist chairman Prachanda

Maoist chairman Prachanda(File Photo)
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda has proposed that Nepali Army and People’s Liberation Army should be placed under a joint command after the formation of the interim government.

Addressing an interaction organized by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) in the capital on Thursday, the Maoist supremo said, “We can place the armed forces of both the sides under a single command when an interim government is formed according to the new interim constitution.” He also proposed that prime minister should be the commander-in-chief of the joint command.

Prachanda proposed that it could be a way to resolve the problem of two armies during the transitional period paving way for their ultimate merger. He further said there could be a joint committee comprising Generals of the Nepali Army and commanders of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to observe the activities of the whole armed force. The two forces may be kept in separate barracks.

Prachanda stressed that there would be no need of inviting foreigners or international agencies to manage arms and armies. The Maoist leader’s latest statement has come days after the ruling Seven Party Alliance and CPN (M) signed on an agreement that has called upon the United Nations to help and monitor in the management of armed personnel and arms of both the sides.

The rebel leader also said contentious issues like people’s court, Maoist’s local governments, and display of arms by the rebel guerrillas would be settled once the interim government was formed.

Prachanda expressed disappointment over debate on the interim constitution drafting committee and what he called “unnecessary” delay in starting the draft work. He said, “A five-page document based on the 25-point code of conduct and 8-point agreement is enough but there are attempts to expand the present six-member committee to 25.”

Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai was also present in the interaction. The FNCCI leadership has not divulged anything regarding the Maoist supremo’s views related to economic policies of the interim government in which Maoists will also be a party.

Meanwhile, Maoist spokesperson, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, has said the US Ambassador James F. Moriarty’s recent statement was not based on the ground reality or the interest of the Nepali people.

US ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty

US ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty (File Photo)
“If what Moriarty spoke is the official voice of the US, we urge the government of the US to review it since it is against the aspirations of the Nepali people and entire democratic forces,” Mahara, who is also the coordinator of the Maoist negotiating team, said on Thursday.

He said it was up to the people of Nepal to decide what should be done to resolve Nepal’s political problems and restore peace.

Addressing a function in the capital on Wednesday, the US envoy has raised serious doubts over the Maoists’ commitment towards peaceful resolution of the decade-old armed conflict.