Defence experts warn coup if army is not brought under parliament

Kathmandu, May 8 (UNI) Military experts have warned that the country could face a military coup if the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) is not brought under the control of the House of Representatives, media reports said here today.

'The political parties should workout a tangible step to convert the RNA into a national army', Kantipur quoted military expert Indrajit Rai as saying.

"The RNA would have already been nationalised if the parties had performed their activities as per the people's wish in the past," said Mr Rai.

'The parties should not delay in bringing the Army under the House,' he added.

Dr Sanu Bhai Dangol, who served in the Royal Palace for a long period, said that "due to its grip on the army, the palace frequently hatched conspiracies in the past." "The army played a major role in hatching conspiracies in the royal palace," he stated and added that the people would not be powerful unless the RNA is nationalised.

Criticising the parties for focussing only on the constituent assembly and ignoring the army Mr Rai said "even now the parties are sidelining the issue of the army, focusing only on the constituent assembly." The seven parties alliance is under pressure to bring the army under the control of the parliament, remove royal from the army and striping off the title of supreme commander of the army from the king.

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