Nepal Maoist dismiss army chief

Kosh Raj Koirala – Asian Tribune Correspondent in Nepal

Kathmandu, 04 May, (Asiantribune.com): Ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Sunday unilaterally sacked Nepal Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal.

A cabinet meeting held on Sunday morning took a decision to this effect despite protest from all coalition partners in the government. The cabinet meeting decided to appoint second-in-command in the army Kul Bahadur Khadka as acting chief of the national army.

Four ruling parties had boycotted the meeting as the meeting called to take decision over sacking chief of army staff General Katawal. They walked away from the meeting expressing dissatisfaction over the government decision to sack army chief.

Talking to media persons, Government Spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that the government sacked the army chief under the existing provision in military act formulated after the success of democratic uprising in April, 2006.

On April 20, the government sought Katawal’s clarification on various three issues, warning him of dismissal if he failed to provide satisfactory response.

The three issues include: the army going ahead with fresh recruitment in the state army despite government orders not to do so, keeping eight Generals at work even after they were retired by the government, and not sending NA players in the events participated by the Maoist’s People’s Liberation Army during the national games held in Kathmandu last month.

Mahara said the decision was taken as the clarifications furnished by Katawal could not be convincing to the government.

During a meeting of five ruling parties held before the cabinet meeting, all four coalition partner in the Maoist-led government had suggested Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal not to take any decision on the fate of army chief as it could derail the ongoing peace process in the country.

However, the Maoists had remained adamant over their stance to sack army chief Katawal—four months before the expiry of his term -- saying that there was no alternative to ousting him.

Following the dismissal of army chief, two allies in the government—CPN-UML and Sadbhwana Party—have announced to pull out of the government, leaving the incumbent government in minority.

Meanwhile, a meeting of 18 of the total 24 political parties representing in the Constituent Assembly have concluded that the Maoist’s decision to unilaterally sack army chief was against Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the then government and former rebel Maoist and the Interim Constitution in the country.

The meeting followed an earlier meeting of the 18 political parties called by the main opposition party Nepali Congress. The meeting had decided to urge the President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to ‘protect’ the constitution.

Meanwhile, the country was riven with rallies, both for and against the sacking, on Sunday in the wake of Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal’s dismissal. Students’ union affiliated to main opposition party Nepali Congress staged protest demonstration in Kathmandu and other parts of the country protesting the Maoist decision to sack army chief.

Maoist’s sister organizations took what they described as ‘victory’ rally after the dismissal of Katawal in Kathmandu and other parts of the country. Reports said Maoist combatants confined in various UN-monitored cantonments celebrated state army chief’s dismissal by smearing vermillion powder with each other.

There is bitter animosity between state-army and the Maoist combatants as the then government mobilized the army to quell Maoist insurgency before they finally came to peace process in 2006. The decade-long civil war claimed over 13,000 lives.

Meanwhile, President Dr Yadav, who is supreme commander of the army, has expressed reservation over the government decision to sack army chief. He also asked in writing the Prime Minister not implement the decision, hinting possible tussle between executive prime minister and constitutional president in the country. It is yet to be seen whether President will take any move against the Maoist’s unilateral move to sack army chief.

There are apprehensions among major political parties including the main opposition Nepali Congress that the Maoist is planning to induct former guerilla in key positions in the state army, by sacking the army chief Katawal, who has been keeping strong stance of the army. They have termed the Maoist move a planned conspiracy to demoralize and weaken the national army, thereby capture the state through the use of force.

- Asian Tribune -