KATHMANDU, July 19: All former PLA division commanders, except the commander at the PLA Seventh Division, and all seven vice-commanders resigned en masse from their respective posts Thursday over funds misappropriation row.
Their resignations come following former PLA fighters halting their party UCPN (Maoist)´s ongoing seventh plenum in the capital, accusing their commanders of financial irregularities and demanding that details about financial transactions carried out by their commanders at the cantonments be made public. [break]
Suk Bahadur Roka Magar, commander at the Sindhuli-based PLA Second Division, told Republica Online that they jointly tendered their resignation ´to facilitate the probe´ into the charges leveled against them.
The commanders quitting their posts are Yam Bahadur Adhikari of the First Division cantonment in Ilam, Roka Magar, the Second Division cantonment in Sindhuli, Dhan Bahadur Maskey, the Third Division cantonment in Chitwan and Kali Bahadur Kham, the Fifth Division cantonment in Rolpa.
Likewise, Tej Bahadur Roka, commander of the Sixth Division cantonment in Nawalparasi and Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, the Sixth Division cantonment have also tendered their resignation. Santu Darai, commander of the Seventh Division cantonment, however, has not resigned yet.
Early in the day, a standing committee (SC) meeting of the party, held in party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s residence in Baluwatar, responding to the ex-combatants´ demand, had decided to appoint a probe committee to investigate the allegations.
The ongoing UCPN (Maoist) plenum was forced to postpone on Wednesday following a persistent disruption by the ex-combatants to press for their concerns. They had also sought immediate suspension of the commanders involved in financial irregularities.
Two probe committees formed
Meanwhile, the party has formed two separate probe committees to investigate the alleged financial irregularities.
Party Secretary Posta Bahadur Bogati heads a panel, with politburo member Hit Raj Pandey and central committee member Dor Prasad Upadhyay as members, while the other panel is led by Amik Sherchan, with politburo members Lokendra Bista Magar and Nawaraj Subedi as members.
The panels are tasked with getting the financial transactions audited by professional chartered accountants and submit reports within one month.
Stalled plenum resumes
Meanwhile, the closed session of the Maoist plenum has resumed. Representatives at the five-day meet are holding discussion in four separate groups on the political document presented by Chairman Dahal. Though scheduled for 11 am today, the plenum could not meet as leaders were busy holding meetings to address the ex-combatants´ concerns.
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