PLA integration not mandatory, says Koirala

Kathmandu, Oct 28 Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala has said that integrating the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the Maoists into the Nepal Army (NA) was not mandatory.

Talking to reporters here on Monday, Koirala said, "The interim cabinet shall form a special committee to carry out monitoring, integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants." There is no obligation for PLA integration.

"The integration of the Maoist combatants no longer remained an important issue in the face of what he called was continued violation of "the politics of consensus, cooperation and unity," he added.

He said when the major agreement itself is violated, minor things will obviously be affected."

The integration of Maoist combatants into the national army has remained the most contentious issue among the political parties. The Nepali Congress has been strongly objecting to the idea of integrating politically indoctrinated Maoist combatants into the national army, while the Maoists have been insisting on bulk entry of the former rebels into the Nepali Army.

The UML is in favour of resolving the issue through the proposed four-party special committee which will oversees the integration, while the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, supports the Nepali Congress's stance, Kantipur reported.

ANI