PLA cannot be integrated into any security agencies: Poudel

Peace and reconstruction minister Ram Chandra Poudel. (File photo)

Peace and reconstruction minister Ram Chandra Poudel has said the People Liberation Army (PLA) of CPN (Maoist) cannot be integrated into any national security organs.

Speaking at a programme in the capital Friday, Poudel, who is also the vice-president of the congress party, opined that integration of PLA combatants into security agencies would complicate the overall security situation.

He said even the Maoists might not be safe in the future if the politically indoctrinated PLA men were merged with any of the national security units. "The PLA men should be adjusted in others areas," he added, but didn't elaborating what he meant by other areas.

Stressing the need for political consensus in the present transitional period, the NC leader said the Maoists were going against the tradition of consensus.

"Maoists have failed to implement the past agreements and it's hard to believe they will in future," he added, urging the Maoists to return the properties seized during the insurgency.

They, according to Poudel, are trying to centralise power whereas the need in the current transitional period is of balance of power. nepalnews.com kp Jul 18 08