The tussle between the Nepal Army and the government headed by the UCPN (Maoist) really seems grim. After smaller tiffs between the NA and the Defense Ministry, the matter took a serious turn when none less than the Army Chief Rukmangud Katwal wasby the government on Monday and was told to submit an official explanation for several decisions that he or rather the Army had taken in the recent past. He did so on Tuesday morning, but instead of submitting the explanation letter at the Defense Ministry, the letter was registered at the PM’s Office.
“It is unsure what the government decision will be, but whatever it is, it can lead to further strain in the relations between the government and the military, which is not good for the ongoing peace process and also the shaky democracy that has virtually been rammed down the throat of the Nepalis by the Maoists and also foreigners,” said a retired Major General, who did not want to be named.
He informed that there was huge dissatisfaction in the Nepal Army, not only by the bullying style of functioning of the Maoist leaders, but also because of the several decisions, including the decision of the Defense Minister, to retire eight senior Brigadiers in one go. “I cannot say whether the Army officers will retaliate, but it is certain the politicization process of the institution that is supposed to guard the sovereignty and independence of the nation has begun,” he further said.
In a meeting of the Maoist Secretariat on Tuesday morning at PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s official residence in Baluwatar, a decision was taken to oust the Army Chief if his explanation was not satisfactory.
On the other hand, the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML), the latter a partner in the government, have strongly objected to the Maoist decision to even ask for an explanation with the Army Chief in this manner.
A delegation of senior NC leaders went to meet President Ram Baran Yadav and the party’s spokesperson Arjun Narsingh K.C. after the meeting said that the President had promised them he would not allow anyone to politicize the military. Similarly, tough speaking UML leader K.P. Oli also met president Yadav and he told media people that the UML would never support this sort of a decision of the Maoists. On Monday, PM Dahal also had met the President.
Giving a completely new angle to the present stand-off, a senior journalist, who is considered one of the most objective political analyst in the country, was of the opinion that maybe some conspiracy is being hatched to bring to a head on collision between the present government and the Nepal Army. “The Maoists and other political parties are being abetted to either demoralize the army or incite it to retaliate,” he explained.
On the same day that this decision was made public, how serious the situation had become, was manifested by the emergency meeting held by top Nepali Congress leaders on that very evening, to discuss the government’s decision to summon the army Chief.
In an interview right after this crucial meeting, NC leader and former Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said that his party was strongly against the decision of the Maoists to politicize the army and demoralize its soldiers.
“It is sure India is also involved in egging on the Maoists, but as far as the tough stance taken by the Nepal Army, it could be professional integrity or maybe they also have the backing of some Western countries, mainly the United States,” said Khil Dhoj Thapa, a senior journalist and a influential member of an alliance of small parties in the present Constituent Assembly.
Thapa explained that India always had the intention of doing away with the Monarchy and also weakening the Nepal Army, so that it could play a dominant role in Nepal. It has been highly successful in this policy. “The Maoists and other parties are merely tools for India to implement its designs,” he pointed out.
Many independent observers had continuously said in the past that constitutional monarchy and the Nepal Army were instrumental in keeping united the multi-ethnic Nepal and also in ensuring its sovereignty, but one of the institutions has already been dismantled and the other is also being slowly eroded.
But still, the most serious issue is whether there will be a direct confrontation between the government and the biggest and most well armed security force in the country. What will happen if this happens? Will Nepal be torn apart by civil war or will it be another military state like so many other countries, in this region and also other places? Both the outlooks do not bode well for the Nepalese.
“Here, we must blame the government and specially the Maoist leaders for trying to provoke an otherwise ‘sleeping’ army, which has been confined to the barracks under the comprehensive peace agreement,” said Khil Dhoj Thapa.
Agreeing on this, the retired Major General also expressed the opinion that the Army, which had remained quite aloof from politics till now, was unnecessarily being pulled into controversies and perhaps even provoked to stage a power show. “Till now, the Nepal Army does not have a legacy of staging coups, but if its hands are forced, it can’t be said it will not react to constant provocation,” he stated.
It is not surprising that both the Maoist leaders and also officers of the Nepal Army are highly suspicious of each other, as till just three years back, they were engaged in a fierce battle to finish off each other. Therefore, the strained relations are understandable. But it is irresponsible on the part of the Maoist led government to try and demoralize this force, even when it has shown through words and deeds that it is ready to abide by the decisions of a civilian government. The professional attitude of the Nepal Army must not be taken as a weakness. This could be highly counter-productive.
If the Maoist leaders don’t show more vision and intelligence in dealing with their former enemy, the country could once more be pushed into another conflict and again it would be the Nepalese