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| India-Pakistan |
| Nepal's new govt set to take control of army |
| 2006-05-15 |
| Nepal's new government is set to wrest control of the 100,000-strong army away from the king, analysts say, in a move which would dramatically alter the balance of power in the Himalayan kingdom. Under Nepal's 1990 constitution the army is controlled by the security council, which comprises the king, the prime minister and the defense minister. In practice though, and in name, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has close ties to the 250-year-old Shah dynasty, especially the senior officer corps, many of whom have been trained at elite academies such as Sandhurst in Britain. However, observers say that Nepal's 84-year-old Premier Girija Prasad Koirala, who is also the defense minister, will order civilian control over the military. The move would end royal control of the military and the government may also remove the 'royal' from the army's name. "There are some within the army who want a role in politics, but the army will follow a civilian government," said a military analyst who asked to remain anonymous. |
| Posted by:Fred |