“Now it has been clearly proven that Nepal Army (NA) is not under the civilian control as it did not stop the recruitment process in the NA as ordered by the government,” Khanal told journalists here on Thursday. “Therefore, now the only force that can be trusted by the Nepali people and the government is the PLA.”
He said that the PLA was ready to abide by the government’s decision. “We are waiting for the logical conclusion of the ongoing peace process. We are looking forward to the government decision and we will follow whatever the decision comes from the government,” he added.
The PLA is marking its the 8th anniversary here at Hattikhor Thursday.
Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa are scheduled to arrive here to observe the function. The PLA had invited President Dr Ram Baran Yadav as chief guest of the function and made publicity accordingly. However Yadav refused to attend it. On Wednesday, non-Maoist members of the Army Integration Special Committee had suggested PM Dahal not to attend the PLA function.
Altogether 3,078 of the total 19,602 UN-verified Maoist combatants are here in the Fourth Division.
Maoists used to celebrate PLA Day on Mangsir 8, which generally falls on November 23. The Maoists have started celebrating the PLA Day on Phalgun 1 according to the Nepali calendar (which falls on February 12 or 13), the day the party started underground armed rebellion in 1996. Wednesday also marks the 14th anniversary of Maoist People´s War.
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