Army has changed with changes, Lt Gen Katwal tells lawmakers

Kathmandu, August 24 :

Acting Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Rukmangat Katwal, today presented a report on Nepali Army in the presence of members of the Parliamentary State Affairs Committee at the Nepali Army’s Headquarters.

According to the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) of the Nepali Army, Acting COAS Katwal assured the MPs that the Nepali Army had adopted a policy as per the changed political environment within the country and concepts of a new world order and the Rule of Law.

“Special training programmes on how to ensure citizens’ human rights are being conducted, the rights violation cases are being investigated with priority, and those proven guilty are being punished as per the existing law,” the DPR quoted Katwal as saying.

Chiefs of various departments of the Nepali Army also briefed the members, who are also Members of Parliament (MPs), on the respective departmental structure and function.

“The briefing followed by the question-answer session was organised to eliminate mistrust between the civilian leadership and the army,” a top general, who was present at the meeting, told The Himalayan Times.

He said the interaction had been helpful in “clarifying many issues in the context of the changed political environment.

The briefing was like the one given to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala recently.”