Gulmi, April 13

Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ today said the process of rehabilitation and integration of People’s Liberation Army had reached its final stage and could end by mid-July.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of second republican district council at Tamghas, Thapa said the defence ministry and the government were strong enough not to be startled by the chief of Nepali Army.

“The task of the NA is to stay inside the barracks and follow government’s order,” he said, adding, “The relation between the government and the NA should not be like the one during the monarchy.”

Thapa added that the government was bringing a new national security policy to improve the relations between the government and the Nepali Army.

He also said the size, shape and security mechanism of the NA, the Nepal Police and

the Armed Police Force were matters for consideration in the present context.