KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Pushpa
Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Wednesday admitted that a videotape
which disclosed the real strength of the Maoists' people's liberation
army personal was real. Local media broadcasted a videotape in
which Prachanda revealed the real strength of the Maoists' People's
Liberation Army among other issues. Organising a press conference in
Singhdurbar and flanked by party leaders, Prachanda read out a written
statement which claimed that the video clips were being aired to hatch
conspiracies against the Maoists' move to establish civilian
supremacy. Prachanda said that he resigned from the cabinet after
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav's move which undermined the role of the
civilian government. He said the president's move was also a kind of
'coup'. He flayed President for his unconstitutional move to reinstate
CoAS Rukmangud Katawal. Replying to the queries of journalists,
Prachanda said that the strength of the PLA stated in the videotape
covered only the regular army of the central level. According to
Prachanda there were three layers in the PLA ranks. "Central regular
army, regional army and local militias are part of the PLA," he said.
He also added that those statements should be seen in the context  of
that period when CA elections were not certain. He said that lot of
water had flown down the Bagmati and those views do not hold water
now. Prachanda further said that his party never supported the
foreign interference in the internal matter of the nation but was also
committed to keep friendly relations with neighbouring countries
and international community.  Prachanda also said that he instructed
its cadres not to attack the opponents. "The cadres who threatened the
NC and UML cadres to leave districts are acting against the party
policy," he added. Prachanda also said that the party was investigating
the source of the leak of the tape but added that he not was perturbed
by the fact that it had now come out in public.