But the deliberate political interference in the Nepal army now brings back the old fear back among political parties that Maoists are still fixated on power and aim to crush all resistance. According to the military act in Nepal, brigadier generals who have served for four years may get a three year extension. The general practice so far has been the army headquarter’s recommendation on the issue. The prime minister has now taken the stand that denial of extension of services to the eight generals will open enormous opportunities for officers and jawans at lower level, a populist statement that has had positive impact at the lower level. The Maoist propaganda machinery however, been interpreting the issue in a much more radical way, warning political parties, especially the ones supporting the army, that ‘you all would have been in jailed by the King’s army if the Maoists and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had not come to your rescue’. The Maoists are not only justifying the government ‘disowning’ the Nepal army, but also the continued existence of its private army — the PLA — something that has been the subject of concern in international quarters.

The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M) that leads the government after emerging as the single largest party in a democratic election still harps on the fear of takeover by the king’s forces and the ‘Nepal army loyal to it’. The defence minister has shared his ultimate plan to have the Nepal army replaced by the PLA as the national army with many, including India’s Deputy Chief of the Army Staff S.P.H. Dhillon who visited Nepal some three months ago.

... contd.