Tensions in Nepal as prime minister fires army chief

NEPAL’S prime minister fired the army chief yesterday after accusing him of defying government orders, prompting a key party to quit the coalition government and plunging the Himalayan country into a political crisis that could endanger its peace process.

Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets of the capital to demonstrate both for and against the decision by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former Maoist rebel leader.

Tensions have risen for months as Dahal’s ruling Maoists have struggled with the army over its refusal to integrate former rebel units into its ranks as required by a UN-brokered peace agreement. The dismissal of army chief Rookmangud Katawal yesterday is likely further to inflame those tensions and could unravel the coalition government.

The second-largest party in the coalition, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), said it was quitting the government because Dahal had not obtained the coalition partners’ approval before sacking Katawal.

“We decided to withdraw our support to protest the prime minister’s unilateral decision,” party general secretary Ishwar Pokhrel said. The Communist Party has traditionally been part of the political mainstream, while the Maoists until 2006 were a rebel group fighting government troops.

Other parties in the coalition were still deciding whether to remain in the government. Most, however, walked out of the Cabinet meeting Sunday at which the prime minister announced the dismissal.

The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, condemned the sacking and organised street protests.

Police were put on high alert as flag-waving, tire-burning demonstrators took to the streets of the capital. There were no immediate reports of clashes.

“We will protest the government decision both on the streets and in parliament,” said Prakash Sharan Mahat, a Nepali Congress lawmaker.

Thousands of Maoist supporters thronged other parts of Katmandu, waving signature red flags. They called the army chief’s sacking a “victory for people’s rule.”