The integration of the People's Liberation Army of the Maoists into the Nepal Army (NA) continues to remain a contentious issue. While, all the big parties namely the Nepali Congress and the CPN-Unified Marxist Leninist have stressed
Nepal
< class="maroontitle">PLA integration contentious
The integration of the People's Liberation Army of the Maoists into the Nepal Army (NA) continues to remain a contentious issue. While, all the big parties namely the Nepali Congress and the CPN-Unified Marxist Leninist have stressed on the need for adjustment and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants through proper modality before the Maoists party forms the new government. The parties are against the Maoists demand for complete merger of its combatants. Earlier, the seven-party alliance and the Maoists had signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement which talks about the integration of Nepal Army into a national army. Lately, the Chief of the Army Staff of Nepal Army General Rookmangud Katawal added fuel to the issue by saying that the NA won't integrate the politically indoctrinated Maoists combatants in the army. Meanwhile, the Maoists have rejected the idea of dismantling the PLA and also accused the parties of raising the issue unnecessary and creating obstacles in formation of the new government.
Bangladesh
< class="maroontitle">Sheikh Hasina released
Former Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina was released prison and allowed to go abroad for medical treatment. Hasina’s release has raised hopes about the release of the other Begun in Bangladesh politics, former Prime Minister and head of Bangladesh National Party (BNP) in the near future. Both the political leaders have been in prison on several corruption charges which the military caretaker government was keen on pursuing. They were detained, along with about 170 other key political figures, in January 2007. AL and BNP have so far refused to participate in the December elections unless their leaders were released. Although Hasina’s release has given a fresh bout of hope for the keenly awaited elections, the mass arrest of political workers has added more than just a dose of uncertainty in a highly charged atmosphere. More than 24,000 workers have been detained since May 28, provoking concern and criticism from different capitals.
Pakistan
< class="maroontitle">Politics over Musharraf
Battle-lines are drawn in Pakistan over President Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) has bared its fangs over Musharraf with its leader, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif calling for death sentence to the former Army Chief. Though the demand is seen as a personal revenge on the General who had charged Sharif with treason after the 1999 coup, the call galvanized the civil protest against Musharraf. Sharif has cleverly married his political and personal objective with that of the legal community which has come out on the road for the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary. This has left Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its leader Asif Ali Zardari in a jam; Zardari has not been keen on taking on the President but on strengthening his hold over the party and politics, particularly in Punjab where the coalition partner, and rival, PMLN has considerable electoral strength.
Sri Lanka
< class="maroontitle">LTTE fortify Jaffna
Even as Sri Lankan Air Force jets destroyed key LTTE combat-logistic facilities at Venavil, southwest of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaittivu district, the Tamil militant group shored up its defence on the Jaffna front to face a possible ground assault across the frontline. According to the military, LTTE had strengthened the Jaffna frontline anticipating a major assault spearheaded by the recently created Mechanised Infantry Brigade. LTTE’s move followed the heavy air strike on the group’s fortifications at Muhamalai on June 10.
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