Kathmandu_________
Nepal’s three-year-old peace process and experiment in political partnership between former insurgents and pro-democracy forces today appeared to have been dealt a crippling blow after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, on the diktat of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M), sacked Army chief General Rookmangud Katawal for “insubordination”.
Dahal’s move, which sparked protests from most political parties, including ruling coalition partners, and put a big question mark on the continuance of the government, was rejected by President Rambaran Yadav who, as the Supreme Commander, directed Katawal to continue as Army chief. Yadav even sent a letter to this effect to Dahal but the Prime Minister’s office declined to acknowledge it.
The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) held an emergency meeting after Katawal’s sacking and decided not only to withdraw its ministers from the Cabinet but also move a no-confidence motion to bring down the government. The main Opposition Nepali Congress decided to support the no-confidence motion.
We will explore formation of a new government because the Maoists have gone against the principle of consensus, the basis for our party joining the Cabinet,” said Ishwar Pokharel, general secretary of the UML.
President Yadav stepped in after 17 political parties including the CPN-UML, Madheshi Janadhikar Forum and Nepal Sadbhavna Party — all partners in the Maoist-led coalition — told him that the Prime Minister’s action of dismissing Katawal and appointing Kul Bahadur Khadka as officiating chief of the Nepal Army was illegal, that they were not party to the decision. The 17 parties are considering forming a national government.
Nepal’s three-year-old peace process and experiment in political partnership between former insurgents and pro-democracy forces today appeared to have been dealt a crippling blow after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, on the diktat of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M), sacked Army chief General Rookmangud Katawal for “insubordination”.
Dahal’s move, which sparked protests from most political parties, including ruling coalition partners, and put a big question mark on the continuance of the government, was rejected by President Rambaran Yadav who, as the Supreme Commander, directed Katawal to continue as Army chief. Yadav even sent a letter to this effect to Dahal but the Prime Minister’s office declined to acknowledge it.
The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) held an emergency meeting after Katawal’s sacking and decided not only to withdraw its ministers from the Cabinet but also move a no-confidence motion to bring down the government. The main Opposition Nepali Congress decided to support the no-confidence motion.
We will explore formation of a new government because the Maoists have gone against the principle of consensus, the basis for our party joining the Cabinet,” said Ishwar Pokharel, general secretary of the UML.
President Yadav stepped in after 17 political parties including the CPN-UML, Madheshi Janadhikar Forum and Nepal Sadbhavna Party — all partners in the Maoist-led coalition — told him that the Prime Minister’s action of dismissing Katawal and appointing Kul Bahadur Khadka as officiating chief of the Nepal Army was illegal, that they were not party to the decision. The 17 parties are considering forming a national government.
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