Nepal Army’s unpopularity on their own soil
Posted by yrol on July 30th, 2006
There is no doubt that the Nepal Army (NA), still loyal to the Palace, is full of “power thirsty” people and to rise above the rank of colonel you need to be connected to the Shahs and Ranas either by birth, or marriage or a proven track record of loyalty that goes back several generations.
The NA has, for the most part, been run like a family-owned business by a closely-knit inner circle of mostly Ranas and Shahas. The army has for generations provided the Shahs and Ranas of Nepal with an elevated social status and clout and associated benefits - monetory and othewise. If you belong to one of these ruling clans you can be assured of a job in the army even if your IQ is barely 50.
However, if you just happen to be an ordinary Nepali lad eager to see yourself in uniform, chances are you’ll not be let in unless you happen to know, personally or through a link, at least an officer not below the rank of colonel or somehow cough up a few hundred thousand rupees even for the lowly job of a private “recruit”. If you’re taken in, you’ll end up at the house of the officer who helped you get selected, doing his chores and running errands for him as his domestic helper.
It’s not just military plans and strategies that are kept secret inside the NA, the civilian population and, to a lesser extent the government of the day, has practically no information about the NA’s sources of revenue (other than the regular budgetary allocation), expenditure, criteria for promotions, contracts, and virtually everything else the NA is engaged in. We don’t know how they are spending our money and how much UN pays to NA for its peacekeeping operations. Where does the money they charge for securing their own country’s infrastructure like communications towers and power plants (almost exclusively hydel) go?
Bootlicking is the dominant culture inside NA - the more you shine your senior officer’s boots, the better are your chances of getting a promotion. Although the term “Royal” has been severed from the NA’s official name, the spirit lives on - the NA may not be “royal” in name, but in deed it is still every inch so.
That probably explains why some NA officers tend to think that ordinary Nepalis do not matter. How would one otherwise explain the unprovoked and unwarranted killing of 11 villagers at Nagarkot and 6 more at Belbari?
The recent kidnapping and thrashing of three police officers at the NA’s Bhairabnath Battalion HQ has once again reinforced the popular perception of the NA as an institution that refuses to reform itself. Those who run the NA are still above the law, and they can apprehend and torture, or even kill anyone at anytime with impunity, so noone dares question or interfere with their modus operandi, legal or illegal.
According to the police, some three-dozen armed soldiers from Bhairabnath Battalion, on the command of Captain Rabindra Bikram Rana, surrounded the Durbarmmarg Ward Police Post situated at the heart of the city and issued threats to the police officers. “We will destroy the office and shoot all of you if you don’t hand Bista over to us.”
Bikendra Singh Bista was arrested at Thamel on Saturday night for beating a police officer.
Soldiers entered the office and took Bista along with Inspector Ram Bahadur KC, ASI Dharmendra Roy and Constable Dilli Ram Tamang to Bhairabnath Battalion and tortured them at the barracks for about two hours.
This is not the first time that Captain Rana has sought to settle a score through the barrel of the gun. Because of blessings from someone higher up in the chain of command, Rana is only too eager to settle an issue in his own terms.
And as in the past, the government and the NA have set up separate “high-level independent probe committee” and “General Military Court”, but as usual, the culprits will be allowed to go scot free. Just as in the Nagarkot and Belbari incidents some “small fish” will be thrown out from the institution while it’s going to be business as usual for the “big fish”.
As Rana has been suspended by PM Girija Prasad Koirala’s direct order, he is now outside the jurisdiction of a military court and should therefore be tried in a civil court of justice. It’s time the “big fish” was finally tossed out of the lake and housed in a man-made tank called a prison cell.
July 30th, 2006 at 8:51 am
Army bullying the police isn’t new, but at a time like this, well they did have some guts! If the government and the civil court (jury) wants to put an end to these kinds of acts, it must act boldly by giving harsh punishments to the culprits. Let this be a lesson to the remaining Ranas (in the military) and their chamchas (possibly Thapas, Singhs, Karkis, Aryals, … and others).
There’s an old chinese proverb: It’s easier to move the mountains than to change a person’s behavior.
July 30th, 2006 at 7:56 pm
I neither have simpathy for the Police nor the Army, both spread their wings showing their prowess unconditionally and unprofessionally. I wish these bugs had to fight on the real war-zone.
The wrong is in the institution itself the wrong is in how they are trained. The wrong is in the teachers who teach them and the parents who feed them.
On the other hand I wonder why Nepal needs an Army!
“Its difficult to tame an adult than a child.”
and… a child can be taught by loving but an adult can ONLY be taught by kicking their brains out…
July 31st, 2006 at 5:48 am
king, army or public whoever it is ,if ther are not abiding law just kick them out!this is a simple answer.we have seen too much lawlessness in our country past years. i have no malafied intention with particular cast or clan nor with security intitution but they must act according to state law.
July 31st, 2006 at 8:08 pm
** Litmus Test for Nepal Government **
It is now the defining moment to show who is in control of (Royal) Nepal Army. The army chief had bowed down to civilian government by taking the oath of office in the presence of the speaker of HoR. Will Nepal Army be under the control of and responsible to an elected civilian government ?
By just bringing Nepal Army under the control of Nepal Government will not change its corrupt culture and attitude of disrespect to civilian. It is absolutely corrupt establishment which needs restructuring by eliminating all monarchists from the army organization which so far Nepal Government is not able to execute yet. The army chief and senior army officials have openly defied the summon orders of the high-level judicial commission. It is now a big challenge for the Government.
If Nepal Government is not in control of Nepal Army then what will happen to peace process ?
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:55 am
First of all I agree that using power to overcome the weak is totally out of the line. But we have to see the scenario of our countries situation right now. Army is one of most powerful force of our nation but they have continuously criticized for their wrong doing. Can you imagine how worse it would be to have the army under the control of leaders like Girija. The Maoist wants the army to give up their arms in order for them to give up theirs. Just imagine what would happen if the Maoist government comes to power and the army would be under their control. Army personal who conducts their duty in a wrong manner should be punished and fired and the media should blame the individual rather than the whole system.
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:59 pm
kay ho bahunsssssssss haru? matthi logo ma chai ” FREEDOM 2 EXPRESS” cha ani you deleted my comments. i don’t think i wrote or said anything bad in my last comment. atleast not as bad i am doing right now.