Maoists trying to promote their commander as army chief: NC By Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Oct 24 (PTI) Strong objections have been
voiced by the Nepalese opposition over what it alleged was a
move to make former guerrilla commander Pasang as the new Army
Chief of the country's army.

The opposition has also raised hackles over a reported
move to send non-army personnel including Pasang for army
training to China.

These serious allegations were raised by a prominent
Nepalese Congress lawmaker and party's whip in the Constituent
Assembly Shobhakar Parajuli. He accused the Maoists of
hatching a plot to promote Pasang, who replaced Prime Minister
Pushpa Kumar Dahal Parchanda as the chief of the Maoists
Peoples Liberation Army (P.L.A.) to head the Nepalese Army.

"We suspect that former guerrilla commander Pasang may
be appointed as the chief of the Nepal Army," Parajuli told
the Constituent Assembly Thursday.

The Nepalese Congress charges come as differences
continue to prevail among the Constituents of the new
government over moves to induct 19,000 former Maoist
guerrillas in to the Army.

Parajuli said that the Maoists have selected Pasang as
one of the four persons for participating in the high level
training being conducted in China for senior army personnel.

The Maoist leader is one of the four persons selected
for the nine month training programme, which is generally
required for an individual to be appointed as the Army chief.

It is objectionable to select non-military person for
army training, he pointed out. The selection process for the
training to be provided by government of China is already
completed and they may fly to Beijing any time to participate
in the training, he said.

Asked why other political parties were silent over such
a serious issue, he said, this was a part of the Maoists'
strategy to provide Pasang international acceptability.

However, Prime Minister Prachanda addressing the eight
anniversary function of the Armed Police Force in the capital
said, the government will not do any thing that would effect
the integrity of the security forces.

He assured that the new government will maintain
neutrality in its dealing towards the security forces without
showing any prejudice.

Those who waged war know better the importance of peace,
the Prime Minister said and asked the security forces not to
be swayed by disinformation about the new government's
perception of the security forces. PTI SBP
DEP