General Rookmangud Katawal sacked by Nepal’s Maoist government, coup fears rise

The government of Nepal fired the Nepalese Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Rookmangud Katawal today accusing him of disobeying orders.

Tensions have been rising between the Nepal government and the army chief on account of the Maoist government’s insistence on absorbing Maoist cadres – who had been fighting the Nepal army – into the official army of the country.

Chief of Army Staff General Rookmangud Katawal has been resisting the move, as the Maoist cadres were indoctrinated, and their induction would ruin the impartiality of the army.

General Kawatal was also accused by the Nepal government of disobeying orders to sack eight generals, and hiring 2800 recruits into the army without their consent.

The Nepal army – and Rookmangud Katawal – have refused to accept the order of the government, and have called a meeting – leading to coup fears.

Since 2006, when the peace process saw the Maoists coming to power, there has been distrust between the Army and the government due to their violent history.

General Rookmangud Katawal has refused to accept the official letter sacking him, said some reports.

Government loyalist and second-in-command Kul Bahadur Khadka was appointed by the government as the acting COAS of the Nepal army. However, it is unclear if he really is a government loyalist, and if he would accept the position – especially if General Katawal digs in his heels.

There have been some reports that General Katawal would approach the Nepal Supreme Court – again, no confirmation on the same.

Coup fears are well-justified, and an army-government standoff could lead to conflcits between the Maoist cadre and the army pretty quickly.

The government of Nepal is a democractially elected one. It won the elections after a lengthy peace process, and the Maoist cadres whigh fought the Army are now confined to some UN-monitored camps. The country, despite the popularity of the Maoists, is not a Maoist country as there are other politicial parties which have gained reasonable numbers of seats too. The Prime Minister Mr Prachanda is the ex-rebel chief of Maoists.

Opposition parties in the country have opposed the sakching of General Rookmangud Katawal, and had earlier insisted that actions like the integration of the Maoist cadres into the Nepal army should be taken after a consensus is formed.

Further plans of the Nepal Prime Minister and the General Katawal are unclear at the moment.