KATHMANDU, Jan 23: Maoist´s People´s Liberation Army (PLA) has issued strongest warning yet to leaders of other political parties that the peace process will be at serious risk if anti-PLA remarks by the leaders are continued to be given in the public. [break]
In a statement issued Friday evening, PLA Headquarters said "untoward situation" may arise if such statements are given by the leaders of rival parties, apparently referring to public remarks given by senior leader Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) Madhav Kumar Nepal and Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) leader Upendra Yadav.
"We remind that those leaders should be held responsible for any untoward situation that might be the result of conflict, anarchy and instability prompted by the peace process being at difficulty due to such illogical remarks lacking evidence," says the statement signed by "Manjil" of the PLA Headquarters.
The UML hit back instantly, saying PLA, which claims to be a professional army, has no authority to make political statement.
"If the PLA claims to be transforming into professional army and seeks integration, it does not have authority to make such political remarks," said Surendra Pandey, UML´s deputy leader in parliament."
The PLA statement also said the remarks given in the public in Pokhara and Birgunj – that go "against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)" – may jeopardize the peace process altogether. While condemning the remarks, PLA also said such remarks were aimed at "fulfilling their evil political interests".
While accusing the Maoist combatants sequestered in 28 UN-monitored cantonment sites of being involved in criminal activities, UML leader Nepal had said in Pokhara Thursday that the Maoist combatants should be locked inside jails. Likewise, MPRF leader Yadav had said in Birgunj that the combatants should not be integrated in the Nepal Army at any cost.
UML´s Pandey said former general secretary Nepal´s remarks in Pokhara also should be taken in context of flourishing culture of impunity inside the Maoists´ rank and file and their PLA. "Kali Bahadur Kham has been made Central Committee member without independently proving his innocence, so former general secretary might have been linking this incident with recent violent attacks on the Maoist-affiliated students on our students."
PLA has termed remarked like "weapons stored at cantonments should be handed over", "combatants should be dissolved", "they should be jailed", "they should be merged with the Nepal Army by measuring their chest" and "they should be sent abroad for employment" as "lowly" and "irresponsible". "We inform one and all that such remarks being expressed in the public will put the entire peace process at risk," said the statement.
It has also said it agreed to stay inside cantonments under UNMIN´s monitoring, despite difficulties, with firm commitment to lead the peace process to logical conclusion.
It has also reminded the government that the army integration should be conducted in such a way that it is done in a respectable manner and without discrimination, which PLA says is an important thrust of the CPA.
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