Kathmandu, April 27:

The main ruling UCPN-Maoist has brought together the former members of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) under a new organization as it declared Association of Ex-PLA (AEP) on Friday.

"You should continue to work for social transformation by getting involved in constructive and productive works in the society," Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said inaugurating the first national assembly of the AEP in the capital.

According to personal secretariat of the Maoist chief, the assembly was participated by around a thousand state committee level members of the ex-PLA, both who took voluntary retirement and those who were not verified by the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) and the YCL, Maoist youth wing.

The first national assembly of the AEP formed a 151-member central working committee under the coordination of PLA deputy commander Nanda Kishor Pun Pasang. PLA spokesperson Chandra Prakash Khanal Baladev has been designated as the spokesperson for the AEP.

Besides chairman Prachanda, the assembly was addressed by Maoist-vice chairman and Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, another vice-chairman and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, party secretary and Energy Minister Posta Bahdur Bogati, party standing committee member Krishna Bahadur Mahara and another standing committee member and Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun.

"This organization will struggle for institutionalizing the political achievements made so far and against any conspiracy against peace and constitution writing process," AEP spokesperson Baladev informed the reporters after the assembly.

The assembly was held two days after the Maoist dissenting faction declared central committee of People’s Volunteers. No leaders of the dissenting faction were present in the AEP national assembly.