Maoists combatant cannot be merged in Nepal Army: Madhesi leader

Kathmandu, June 29 (UNI) At a time when the Maoists are preparing to take control of the country with the formation of new government, chairman of Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Upendra Yadav has said that the Maoist combatants cannot be ''merged'' into the national army.

''Under no circumstances can politically-indoctrinated combatants be integrated into the national army,'' Kantipur quoted Mr Yadav as saying while speaking at a press conference organised in Birgunj.

''A national army should not be influenced by any brand of politics,'' he remarked.

The statement of the leader of the fourth largest party in the CA has come at a time the Maoists are preparing to form a new government with the alliance of UML another leftist party.

The integration of Maoists is one of the contentious issue among the seven-party alliance as the Nepali Congress want the integration on individual basis with ''one weapon one Maoist'' while the Maoists want the integration in group.

The Madhesi parties have also demanded the recruitment of Madhesis in the army. There was no representatin of the Madhesis in the Nepal during the King's rule. There are only about 300 Madhesis in the Nepal army of about 90,000 soldiers, Madhesi leaders claim.

The government formation has not been moving forward even after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala resigned last week as the Madhesi MPs have been demanding the inclusion of ''one Madhes one province'' in the constitution amendment without which Maoists cannot form new government.

There is none to accept the resignation of the Prime Minister without the appointment of the President and the post cannot be filled without constitution amendment and Madhesi want the inclusion of their demand in the constitution.

UNI XC SZ CS1352