Kathmandu, September 8:

Outgoing Chief of the Army Staff Gen Pyar Jung Thapa today denied mobilising the army for suppressing people during the Jana Andolan-II.

Stating that the “army was mobilised as per the request made by the local administration as the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force could not bring the situation under control,” Thapa, presenting his written affidavit to the Supreme Court, said “I did not mobilise the army to suppress the people during the Jana Andolan-II.” “We tried to restore peace through a minimal use of force,” he added.

Thapa had presented two affidavits in response to writ petitions filed against him by a group of lawyers, including Baburam Giri, and leaders of the student wing of the CPN (Maoist), ANNISU-R, Lekhnath Neupane, Bina Magar and Himal Sharma.

“During the movement, the army tried to control the Maoists’ terrorist and disruptive activities. Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were mobilised to maintain law and order in the country,” he said.

Responding to the writ filed by the Maoists student leaders, Thapa claimed that the army did nothing to suppress them and that the basic rights of the leaders were not infringed upon. “I did not issue directives to infringe upon their rights. I tried to respect their rights ensured by several international rights instruments,” Thapa said.

Claiming that the army had respect the student leaders’ right to life and legal service, Thapa urged the apex court to nullify the writ petitions.