KATHMANDU, April 21: A senior leader of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) said Tuesday that “some in the government” have imported huge cache of weapons and explosives in preparation for a war. [break]
K P Sharma Oli, a senior leader of the second largest party in the ruling coalition, indirectly referring to the ruling Maoists said some members in the government are preparing for a war. “I have learned from reliable sources that some members in the government have imported weapons, ammunition and explosives,” said Oli, a vocal critic of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). “This must stop.”
Oli claimed that the party is preparing grounds for a renewed conflict, confrontation and bloodshed. “I request the government not to do so.”
Oli said the government’s seeking clarification from Army chief Rookmangud Katawal is a plot to attack and weaken all government institutions in the Maoist bid to capture state power. That’s why they have been attacking the media, opposition parties, courts and the national army, said Oli.
He also smells a rat in the Maoist intention to change army leadership when the UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal is not in the country. He said neither the UML ministers in the government nor the UML party has been officially informed about the government decision to seek clarification from General Katawal.
Oli said the national army is free not to heed all government orders. However, he said, they have to follow lawful orders. “They (army) should be guided by the law, not orders,” he added, while requesting the government to concentrate on conflict management and not contribute to the conflict.
Official UML view will come out in a day or two after convening its central committee or standing committee meeting.
Oli argued that the government has no right to sack the army chief as he was appointed to the post well before the existing Army Act was made a law. Katawal was appointed army chief on September 10, 2006, while the law was enacted on September 28, 2006.
´Cabinet will put on hold action against Katawal´
Amid growing speculation that the government is going to sack the army chief Oli said the cabinet will put on hold the action initiated against Katawal.
"I have talked to cabinet ministers and have been informed that the cabinet will not be taking any action against Katawal," said Oli. He, however, did not disclose the name of his source in the cabinet.
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