Forget integration, go for management: GP Koirala

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: In a new twist to the integration of the PLA in Nepal Army, Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala asked to forget the word integration and suggested the ‘management’ of the Maoists combatants and not in Nepal Army.
Koirala charged there’s can’t be integration because Maoists have broken past agreements.
Koirala has lately been singing praises of Nepal Army---an institution he and his party abused during his successful campaign against the royal regime before April 2005.
Koirala now praises the national state army after agreeing in agreements and the constitution to integrate the rebels.
Maoists never defeated Nepal Army on the battle field but demoralized the state army by signing an agreement for integration demoralizing the national army that too on foreign soil.
In the vague ill-defined agreement, Koirala now says the words agreement was used to integrate rebel combatants in ‘security forces‘ of which Nepal Army is one of three separate units. .
But CPN (Maoist) says agreements and the constitution clearly mention integration in Nepal Army.
The cabinet met Monday evening without even discussing integration after the controversy.
Integration will be taken up Tuesday by the cabinet, government spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.
THREAT TO DEMOCRACY
Koirala repeated his new pet theme attempts are on to scuttle democracy.
“I will never compromise with anybody,” Koirala said in the capital after returning from Biratnagar.
But Mahanta Thakur, chief of Tarai Madesh Loktantrik Party, said in Malangawa Monday ‘responsible parties have signed’ agreements and integration of PLA and Nepal Army must be implemented.
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Koirala lashes out against CPN-UML and Kamal Thapa

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala Monday told General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal and his party to refrain from commenting on other parties.
Koirala charged Khanal was himself living in a glass house.
Khanal Sunday made critical comments about Koirala after launching a jihad against CPN (Maoist) after opting to stay in the opposition.
Koirala called Kamal Thapa a ’person without status’ after the RPP President charged the Congress president was responsible for the current mess in national politics.
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Prachanda holds discussions with former panchayat leaders

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Prime Minister Prachanda Monday held separate but extensive discussions with RPP President Pashupati SJB Rana, RP-Nepal Chairman Kamaal Thapa and former royal foreign minister Ramessh Nath Pandey.
Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal and senior leader Mohan Gaidya Kiran assisted the government chief.
Details weren’t available but the meetings took place as Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala started a tirade against Prachanda and CPN (Maoist).
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China hands over hospital to govt.

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: China Monday handed over a Chinese-aided hospital for civil servants and their families built in capital.
Representatives of the two governments signed the handover document at Singha Durbar.
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Denmark assistance

Kathmandu, 27 Oct: Denmark agreed Monday to extend a Rs 2.8 billion assistance for the year 2009.
Nepal must proposed projects to Denmark which will extend grants, finance ministry sources said.
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