Why is the NC toughening its position on the issue when the Maoists seem to be ready for compromise?
"It is simply because the Maoist-led government has already demoralized the media by promoting impunity for several killings of journalists and by trying to trample on the judiciary," said NC leader Dr Minendra Rijal. "We now know that the army is the last national institution the Maoists want to destabilize to serve their interests."
Rijal argued that the Maoists are acting strategically to control all the state organs -- they want a judiciary that legitimizes their moves, a bureaucracy that implements their orders, and an army that either remains silent or supports their actions.
The NC was unable to stop the massive transfer of civil servants and involuntary retirement of senior police officers, he said. "But now we won´t let that be repeated in the case of the army, for this is linked to the survival of democracy."
The NC has also taken seriously recent comments made by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the draft of the constitution prepared by the Maoist party.
"Just go through the statement made by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal a couple of days ago at Khanna Garment at Satdobato and the draft text of their constitution that proposes a ban on political parties that they deem feudal," Rijal said.
NC leaders seem to have made up their minds not to yield even if the Maoists decide to quit the government.
"We cannot give in to the Maoists´ bargaining tactics. They used enough of that when they were a rebel force. Now it is their turn to address the national problems and reach out to the other parties."
Not only NC leaders who are regarded as vocal critics of the Maoists like Rijal but also those who were sympathetic toward them seem to have lost patience.
"They (Maoists) are planning to split the army vertically and want either to integrate the entire body of PLA combatants into the army or retain them in the cantonments to manipulate the next election," alleged Dr Shekhar Koirala, NC Central Working Committee member, who played a crucial role during the signing of the 12-point understanding.
"If they want to misuse the army like the police, the Maoists should understand why the constitution made the president supreme commander of the Nepal army," said Koirala, adding, "That means the army is the institution to be taken the most seriously and should not be used for partisan interests."
yuvraj@myrepublica.com
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