The ruling CPN-UML on Sunday finally came up with a formal position on the govt-Army row by concluding that political consensus should be sought before making any decision on the Army chief’s case.

The Standing Committee meeting that resumed at the party’s headquarters in Balkhu since early morning, however, decided not to back the plan of Maoist-led government, of which it is a key coalition partner, to sack the Army chief General Rookmangud Katawal.

A majority of the Committee members were against the idea, as they believed relieving the Army chief from his post prematurely will reflect badly on the army integration, constitution writing and the entire peace process, according to Shanker Pokharel, the UML secretary.

Likewise, UML general secretary Ishwor Pokharel said even as the Prime Minister is intent on sacking the army chief he cannot do so without taking other parties into confidence.

Although CPN-UML was to come up with an official view of the party on the Maoist move to sack the General Katawal on Saturday, it had failed to do so after majority of Standing Committee members including senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal thoroughly opposed the Maoist plan.

The decision of UML appears cryptic as majority of political parties including main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) stand firmly opposed to the Maoist move, even warning that they will continue to obstruct House sessions until the government withdraws all plans to take action against General Katawal.

Some reports quoted sources as saying that UML is trying to find some middle path to resolve the Army-Maoist row by holding consultation with other parties following NC’s plea not to support Maoist plan to sack the Army chief.

The UML can either suggest the Maoist to stop further action against the Army chief by handing him a warning or opt for a “face saver” by picking General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung, third in line in the army peg, as the new Chief of Army Staff. nepalnews.com ag Apr 26 09