‘Maoists want former rebel head as Army Chief’

BY SHIRISH B. PRADHAN

Kathmandu

Oct. 24: Strong objections have been voiced by the Nepalese Opposition over what it alleged was a move to make former rebel commander Pasang as the new Army Chief of the country’s Army.

The Opposition has also raised hackles over a reported move to send non-Army personnel including Pasang for Army training to China.

These serious allegations were raised by a prominent Nepalese Congress legislator and party’s whip in the Constituent Assembly Shobhakar Parajuli. He accused the Maoists of hatching a plot to promote Pasang, who replaced PM Prachanda as the chief of the Maoists Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to head the Nepalese Army. "We suspect that former rebel commander Pasang may be appointed as the Chief of the Nepal Army," Mr Parajuli said.

The Nepalese Congress charges come as differences continue to prevail among the Constituents of the new government over moves to induct former rebels in to the Army.

—PTI