SSR needs more homework

Security experts have pointed out that merger of People's Liberation Army and Nepal Army is impossible under the current circumstances and stressed the need for democratisation in both the groups.

In an interaction organised by the Maoist party in the capital on Saturday, the experts said that there is need of democratisation in Nepal Army while the PLA needs to be made professional for integration in accordance with the Peace Accord and the Agreement on Management and the Monitoring of the Arms and Armies.

Fred Schreier, a retired Colonel of the General Staff of the Swiss Army, in his presentation of Security Sector Reform (SSR), highlighted the aspects of national security interest, national security policy, protection of population, protection of constitution, foreign and economic policy, information and communications and national and international security cooperation to be taken into consideration during the time of integration.

A retired NA general Chitra Bahadur Gurung expressed doubt over the possibility of integration given the nature of their formation since PLA have come from the political orientation and NA's 240 years long history serving the nation under the monarch's guidance. nepalnews.com ia Oct 14 07