Nepal president dragged into dispute between government and army

Apr 22, 2009, 4:52 GMT

   Kathmandu - Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav was dragged into growing row between the Maoist-led government and the army chief who allegedly disobeyed orders, news reports said Wednesday.

   The government supported a decision by the defence ministry, led by a Maoist politician, two days ago to seek clarification from army chief General Rukmangad Katuwal over allegations that he ignored government orders on recruitment and the sacking of eight senior army generals.

   Katuwal was said to have provided an explanation within the 24-hour deadline given to him by the government.

   The controversy has split political parties, including those in government, and is threatening to derail the peace process.

   The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported the president had formally written to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal not to seek the army chief's resignation as it would create further trouble. Katuwal is to retire in a few months, news reports said.

   The president also advised action on the army chief would be against legal and constitutional provisions, the newspaper said. Since the abolition of Nepal's monarchy, the president acts as supreme commander of the army.

   On Tuesday, the opposition Nepali Congress rallied political parties against the Maoists and met with the president to seek his intervention.

   The Nepali Congress and 16 other smaller political parties also disrupted parliamentary proceedings accusing the Maoists of trying to grab power by demoralizing the army.

   Relations between Nepal's Maoist-led government and the army have been deteriorating since the beginning of the year following an army recruitment drive that the defence ministry tried to stop but was allowed to go ahead by the country's Supreme Court.

   Last month, the defence ministry sent eight brigadier generals into retirement ignoring the army headquarters' recommendation that their terms be extended by another three years.

   The generals challenged the government decision in court which ordered their reinstatement.

   Thee Nepalese army fought the Maoist guerrillas when they tried set up a communist republic in the Himalayan nation in late 2001. The army also refused the integration of former Maoist fighters into its ranks, as dictated by a peace deal.

   Despite the formal end of the conflict two and half years ago, hostilities between the army and the Maoists prevail, political analysts say.

   The Maoists stopped fighting after signing a peace deal with the government in 2006 and emerged as Nepal's largest political party in the 2008 elections.