by Niraj Aryal
Kathmandu: At a Press conference organized Tuesday by the Military Headquarters at its premises the Royal Nepal Army refuted the allegations made in the recent past by some political quarters that the Nepali army was not under the parliament.
The Royal Nepal Army has made it abundantly clear that when the force is being mobilised as per the instructions of a constitutionally established Defence Council, no suspicion and confusion should arise in the minds of the political quarters.
On the occasion, the RNA clarified that it had been working for the cause of establishing peace in the country and were always ready for making security situation better and participate in the development processes initiated by the government under the Integrated Development scheme.
When asked what if the RNA is told to assimilate the Maoists military personnel into the mainstream Nepali army, the Army Officer Dipak Gurung said that as the Maoists too were genuine Nepali citizens and hence they deserve every right to help the nation by being in the Nepal Army.
“If the Government so decides, the RNA would be ready to accept them mentally and physically both”, added Major Gurung.
He however admitted that there have been some instances of minor clashes in between the security forces and the Maoists rebels even after the ceasefire announcement of January 29.
“If some one comes to fire at us, we need to retaliate and this is what has been happening in remote areas. But the clashes of higher dimensions as it used to be in the past have all stopped”, added Major Gurung. But on the overall, the other camp has been exhibiting its good intentions after the ceasefire announcement, continued Gurung.
To a query as to which side emerged victorious after the ceasefire announcement, pat came the reply from Mr. Gurung that it had been a victory of the Nepalese and those who long for peace.
To yet another query of a media man, Major Gurung made it amply clear that their remaining in the districts and the Maoists affected areas depended on the government.
“If the government instructs us to come back to the barracks, we would return in minutes”, declared Gurung.