Maoists' army begins recruitment

The Nepal Maoists on Tuesday began a process for fresh recruitment to its guerrilla force to counter the move of the national army to fill vacancies, a decision that threatens to derail the fragile peace process in the Himalayan nation.

The People's Liberation Army of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist party announced vacancies for over 12,000 soldiers on Monday, inviting applications from "healthy, interested and able Napalese youth over 18 years of age and who are filled with a sense of sacrifice".

PLA chief Nanda Kishor Pun 'Pasang' called on all the qualified Nepalese to apply for the vacancies in the guerrilla force.

"As the Nepal army has violated the peace agreement by recruiting 3,000 new soldiers in the name of filling vacancies, we are also following suit to fill the vacancies," Pasang said in a statement.

The main opposition party, the Nepali Congress, has raised serious objection to the Maoists plan to recruit 12,000 new soldiers that was a violation of the landmark Comprehensive Peace Agreement, saying that it exposes the former rebels mentality to wage new war.

The recent call of the commander of the Maoists Peoples Liberation Army to recruit new soldiers is objectionable and undisciplined act of the Maoists and it shows the Maoists attitude to engage in new war, said Nepali Congress in a statement on Tuesday.