PM Deuba defends army, other details

September 25, 2001
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Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba told parliament Tuesday there is no question of the Royal Nepal Army defying government orders.

“There is no question of the Army defying government orders. The King deploys the Army on the recommendation of the National Defence Council, ” Deuba said.

Deuba made the remarks in reply to questions raised by members of parliament while discussing appropriations for ministries that he heads, including the Defence Ministry.

Deuba said Army will be deployed to implement the Integrated Development and Security Project (IDSP) in additional districts on popular demand.

Deuba’s statement is significant because his predecessor Girija Prasad Koirala said he resigned earlier this year because of Army defiance of orders to crack down on Maoists who abducted 71 policemen in far west Nepal this year.

An unidentified Royal Palace official has denied Koirala’s charge in a newspaper.

Senior woman leader of the ruling Nepali Congress Party Shailja Acharya has demanded a constitution amendment to put the Army under government control.

Government initially launched the IDSP programme in seven Maoist affected districts last year to win over the hearts and minds of people with plans to extend the programme to four more districts, a Home Ministry source said.