Inside: Nepal Army: swearing of allegiance
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Yes, after the Parliament Proclamation, the Royal Nepal Army is now Nepal Army and the king is no longer the Supreme Commander of the military. But only in paper. The transition hasn’t started yet.
By Shobhakar Budhathoki
Nepal’s military has always played a primary role in dismantling the democratic system and in establishing an authoritarian royal regime in the country. Although the Nepalese military has demonstrated a relatively good performance record in UN peacekeeping missions, it has maintained an exceedingly destructive identity domestically and has maintained its loyalty only to the monarchy and has engaged in actions to suppress the people’s aspirations for democracy both with its involvement in the 1960 coup and again in 2005.
During the 30 years of the autocratic panchayat regime (1960-1990), the military was used to carry out repressive measures against democratic forces and was responsible for disappearances and killings of political party activists. After the restoration of democracy in 1990, the military was, in theory, placed under the National Security Council headed by the Prime Minister. In practice, the King, as the supreme commander of the army continues to exercise authority over military deployment and the daily business of the army through the military secretariat located inside the palace. In principle, Nepal’s military was not created for encounters within the country or for internal affairs, and in fact was not deployed for the first five years of the insurgency launched by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists). The army even often refused to assist in emergency operations to rescue the Nepal Police during the insurgency. (article continues after the box)
Nepal Army: swearing of allegiance
By Nepali BaiA fierce battle is raging in army headquarters and in the Palace Army Secretariat. To whom will the Nepal Army swear allegiance? Every officer in the army, like every other citizen of Nepal, is contemplating his or her future. At this moment in Nepal’s history, only the army can reverse the gains of the Andolan and only at a terrible cost in more innocent Nepali lives and only for a very brief period. Any attempted military coup will be a colossal blunder!
Who will obey orders and from whom? Who will renounce fealty to monarchy and swear loyalty to their nation–to a sovereign and democratic Nepal? The king could summon his generals and his palace guard to the Tundikhel, and in the presence of the country’s elected representatives, lead the swearing of allegiance to the nation. The king could hand over the baton to the Prime Minister, resign his commission as commander in chief of the army, salute the new commander in chief as appointed by the House of representatives, and return to the palace. Had the king of Nepal any sense of honor, any understanding of duty, any true affection for the people of Nepal, any foresight, this is what he would do. This will not happen.
Amongst the generals, loyalties to the house of Gorkha dating back to the original Gorkha conquest of Nepal are being challenged. Many of the generals are generals by inheritance and expect to pass on to their sons their position. Class, caste, and hereditary privilege has created an army incapable of suppressing a popular uprising and has no place in a modern army. Those officers who refuse to swear allegiance to the Nepal House of Representatives must honorably resign their commissions and retire from the army. Many must expect that not only their military but financial records will be minutely scrutinized, and for every violation of Nepali and international law they will be vigorously prosecuted.
Those generals who step forward and swear allegiance to the nation will command the loyalty of every professional soldier in the army. Amongst those in the lower ranks who have served honorably and bravely, and demonstrated their skills of leadership and command, there exists no possibility, under the existing system of promotion, that they can rise to the top of the chain of command, and they know it. They know that only a democratic government can create an army where ability and service will provide an equal opportunity for every soldier to rise through the ranks with the very best reaching the highest levels of the officer corps. Those soldiers of every rank who step forward gladly to swear allegiance to the Nepal House of Representatives and to protect and defend a free and democratic Nepal will earn the gratitude of the Nation.
As King Gyanendra took the throne after the mysterious royal massacre in June 2001 (that killed a total of 10 royal family members including the whole family of King Birendra), the military suddenly became enthusiastic to play a proactive role in internal issues, including the custom offices of the Nepal- India borders and ongoing violent conflict. The army has carried out the instructions of the palace and ignored those of the prime minister by refusing to engage during the emergency situation mentioned above, carrying out security operations during the 2001 ceasefire and dialogue period, and refusing to return to their previous non-engagement status after the 2001 “state of emergency” thereby continuing their deployment without legal authority. The military has also acted as the private army of the king when they provided full support of the King’s assumption of all executive powers in October 2002.
The army also played a provocative and offensive role aimed at disrupting the peace process in 2003. The army, and armed police under the “unified command,” played the lead role in planning and executing the King’s February 2005 coup that established an authoritarian and dictatorial regime. The military also carried out numerous brutal operations and indiscriminate killings during the 2005/06 Maoist unilateral ceasefire including the Nagarkot massacre, and the Palpa and Morang killings. Last, but not least, the military was aggressively deployed against the people’s nonviolent movement that reached its peak in April 2006, and are responsible for injuring thousands, killing nearly two-dozen peaceful protestors, and for systematically committing some of the most egregious human rights abuses.
During the King’s direct rule (February 2005–April 2006), the military led the unified command (comprised of the armed police and regular police) and carried out numerous brutal acts of suppression of the democratic movement and killed innocent civilians in the name of eliminating the Maoists throughout the country.
The military came to the street to suppress peaceful demonstrations in April 2006 and indiscriminately fired on crowds in different parts of the country that killed at least 21 Nepali citizens and injured more than five thousand peaceful agitators, that resulted in hundreds being permanently disabled. Before the nonviolent demonstrations, and even prior to the 2005 coup, the military was responsible for disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and using torture, all on a systematic level.
The Army has never demonstrated its commitment toward the people and instead has blindly supported the King’s autocratic steps. The institution of the military has neither practiced democratic principles, nor made any attempt to detach itself from the picket of the monarchy. Instead, the military has acted only to please the monarchy and carried out actions as the monarchy’s personal army.
The structure, system, and methods of the army are in themselves autocratic and feudal. Only royal relatives or those among the privileged elite may be among the top-ranking officers and advisers to the palace. Therefore, the army, in order to serve a democratic nation and terminate the practices that are illegal (torture, disappearances, etc…) it must face a restructuring and transform from a “Royal Army” to having a loyalty to the people’s institutions such as parliament, and to an army who respects and abides by the rule of law. Despite the promises of the new government to put the military under the parliament, whereby respecting the people’s aspirations during the movement, the act of doing so has not materialized properly and in a timely manner. Even if the legal changes are made by the new government the genuine conversion of loyalty from the monarchy to the citizens of Nepal will not be achieved, and as long as the army remains under the command of the King, legally or not, democracy and its institutions in Nepal are under threat.
Therefore, some essential steps must be immediately taken to compel the military to be accountable to the people. The following actions are also recommended to complement the new government’s attempts to restructure the military and increase international support to achieve this noble mission of the people’s government to create an actual Nepali people’s army.
1. Call on the international community to continue the suspension of all military aid, whether financial, trainings, or weaponry, until the full transition of the army.
2. Immediately address the atrocities occurred during the peaceful movement and expel those responsible for abuse and acts of excessive force.
3. Conduct an investigation of systematic human rights abuses committed by the military that are outlawed and publicly punishable and include systematic abuses such as rape, torture, disappearances, arbitrary detention in military barracks, and extrajudicial killings.
4. Expel the Chief of Army Staff, as the government suspended a total of nine senior officers of Nepal Police and Armed Police, including three heads of the security forces on the charge of their involvement in suppressing democratic movement.
5. Immediately terminate the military secretariat located inside the palace as part of the process of creating a Nepal Army.
6. Seize the passports of all military commanders throughout the country who prepared strategies and issued orders to field commanders, and field commanders who were deployed to suppress the peaceful movement and carried out atrocities in the name of controlling the insurgency, until they can be fully investigated and charged and tried in order to prevent their efforts to flee prosecution.
7. Terminate all services rendered by the state to former military senior officers, such as private protection and other state privileges.
8. Suspend field commanders who were personally involved in suppressing the peaceful demonstrations either by issuing orders, or being complicit in the actions of his unit (many can be identified according to their deployment in areas where serious incidences occurred), until they can be tried for their actions.
9. Freeze the bank accounts of high-ranking officers of the security forces, while the military has been identified as one of the most corrupt institutions by the Auditor General’s office. This will assist in preventing them fleeing prosecution for either human rights abuses, abuse of power, or misuse of funds.
10. Call on the international community to refuse entry into their countries of human rights abusers, including military officers and those being investigated, and to make public the international bank accounts of those perpetrators.
11. Urge the UN Security Council and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to immediately suspend the Nepali military’s participation in peacekeeping operations and establish a pre-condition of resumption only after the complete democratization of the military, including its demonstration of loyalty toward the citizenry.
12. Request the international community to deny all types of short-term or long-term jobs to Nepal’s current or former military officers because of their involvement of carrying out atrocities and human rights abuses.
13. Work with the human rights community to determine the strategy for efforts to hold perpetrators to account after the initial judicial commission’s report and set up a separate tribunal.
14. Announce incentives programs for the military’s pro-democratic officials, who support the investigation process, as well as incentive programs set up by the people’s government to assist lower ranking soldiers and gain their loyalty. These incentives can include promotion, education, home loans, technical skills and professional opportunities, etc.
15. Establish a panel of military and government officials, and civil society members to oversee the functions and restructuring process of the military, and appoint the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
16. Invite international retired senior military officers to hold interactive sessions with Nepali military officers about the essence of human rights, democracy and rule of law, as well as explore the importance of political parties and nation’s army.
(UWB received both articles in email)
United We Blog 
Comments
89 responses to “Nepal Army: Transition and Swear Allegiance”
Both articles are totally ‘BIASED’!
I really dont understand why everybody is floating on the surface of the problem?
If you really want to solve the present problem, bring back the long lasting peace & stability and create a better Armed Force – MERGE NEPAL ARMY AND MAOIST GUERILLA FORCE BEFORE THE ELECTIONS FOR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.
FOREIGN/INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION IS A SUICIDAL IDEA!
Don’t let foreign military boots on the Nepali soil!
It is our own problem : Lets solve among ourselves!
Nepali Bai:
You need to come out of your shell/cave. Don’t read a fews pages here and there and talk like you are an expert and know what to do.
The Doramba massacre comes to mind. Unforgivable.
Looks like there were a couple of items omitted from the list of action items the author prescribes:
1. Expel all army men from their jobs and replace them with Maoist militia who have fought hard to give Nepal so much.
2. Pass another “democratic” decree from parliament to ban any word of support towards the Army
3. Appoint Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal (no relations to Pyar Jung Thapa) as the next extremely-supreme-commander-in-chief of the Army.
4. To erase any reference to monarchy in the Ary or in Nepal, ban all publications, stories, books and other references with the words “raja” or “shahi” or “rani” or anything remotely royal.
5. Imprison Shahs, Ranas, Shahis and other people with royal-sounding names.
6. And, to make sure the conspirators do not take this decree as another “excuse” for protests, imprison anyone who opposes such “democratic” measures.
Come on people we want democracy and nothing should ever stop form achieving it.
Love Nepal – Support Democracy!!!
Gurung:
Before merging the army, we need to make sure that such things don’t happen ever. I saw this news on CNN, and I shudder to even think if something like this can happen to Nepal.
The alleged perpetrators are men in uniform, part of the Congolese army. These troops are a compilation of various militia groups that had been fighting each other for years until a truce was reached two years ago.
Source
Source
As a Nepali citizen, don’t try to stop the UN peacekeeping of nepali army. These two articles are biased. They want to ruin Nepal Army and the internal politics of Nepal. They have very good reputation of Nepalese abroad. before the 2’th of April you can understand because king was violating the human rights. Now Army has cole under the parliament, why to stop going in the UN peace-keeping.
A lot of foreign currency is coming inside the country and many people are surviving particularly the families of the soldiers.
a far cry, how on earth we can think of implementing such steps as present interim govt cannot dare to fire PJT..well we can imagine and talk big.
No need to drag king every now and then in every topic. if u keep on mentioning him then people might get disillusioned by the acheievement of janandolan II.
let’s forget king and his past role in army,after all what is the use of remembering as he is destined to be a fossil ( less than few years from now )
we should now think of inculcating the zeal and enthuasism needed to form a patriotic army for the nation ( Nepal ), who are ready to die for the sake of country and not to a particular person of questionable character.
the maoist should be enlisted into the nepal army to take advantage of their skill they had acquired in the jungles. some of them might have better skill to equip for deadly wars.
In some regards, Gurkha Ex Serviceman of India, British, Brunei Army and Singapore Police would be a helping hand.
what do u think ?
Everybody knows everything in Nepal whether it is history lessons, military expertise, administrative and other reforms, anything one can think under the sun. Nepal is in really safe hands.
There has never been a better time to tackle the issue of reform of the Nepal Army. The eyes of the world are looking at Nepal. Once the UN observation team comes in then the Govt. should boldly go about reforming the Nepal Army so that it’s allegiance is with the people and the parliament and not the palace. The fact that the Army has always supported the palace is undisputable and unacceptable. Please don’t be foolish and pretend everything is okay with the army. This is the biggest weapon that the Royalists have at their hands and it must be taken away from them before they get tempted to use it.
Oh I do expect some idiots to say ‘reform the Royal Nepal Army so that it becomes a tool of the politicians?’ Well steps must also be taken to avoid over politization of the army. When there is change there is always a risk-it is inherent-but the element of risk should not paralyze us from accepting the need for change.
Go ahead an attack this idealistic statement, but it must happen for us to survive as a nation: The Nepal Army must swear allegiance to the people of Nepal, and the people of Nepal must swear support to the Nepal Army that will fight and die for their freedom.
“A lot of foreign currency is coming inside the country and many people are surviving particularly the families of the soldiers.” (# 6)
Layman… let me break up the sentence first. “A lot of foreign currency is coming inside the country…” Yes, yes, you are damn right. Really a lost of foreign currency is coming inside the country because of the peace keeping mission.
But when you said “many people are surviving particularly the families of the soldiers” you exposed yourself. No the families of soldiers my pal but the families of generals and Shahs and Ranas who are in real control of the army. Have you heard something like Army Welfare Fund? Kalyankari Kosh? My God, all money goes there, Layman, do you know who is in charge of that fund? Royal Palace, my friend. All expenditure unaccounted and far from transparency. That money really belongs to those soldiers who go to the peace mission. But they never get that money and can’t even protest because of the fear of being court marshaled.
So when army is stopped from participating in the peace keeping mission, biggest losers would be the biggest looters. But I think instead of stopping the army from going to such mission, the government should launch a thorough investigation of the Welfare Fund and make all of its dealings transparent.
You are old, father William,” the young man said,
“And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head —
Do you think, at your age, it is right?
“In my youth,” father William replied to his son,
“I feared it might injure the brain;
But, now that I’m perfectly sure I have none,
Why, I do it again and again.”
That was damn interesting, hell_below! Very well said!!
All this for the army, and what about the maoists? This is like punishing your own son for a problem created by the neighbours son, and giving the neighbours son chocolate as well.
ck2,
Who is worried about Maoists? From the article and the postings above, the root of all ills of this country lie with the Nepalese Army. So everyone wants to slay ‘feudalist’ and ‘autocratic’ character of the Nepalsese Army to make it responsible to the ‘people’ represented by the Parliament. And the ‘reforms’ will be ‘automatic’ in the case of the Maoists.
ck2 post in # 16 is the type of moronic posts we get everytime issue of change comes around. When someone rightly suggests that the Nepal Army should be reformed so that it becomes an army that swears allegiance to the people and not the palace, right on cue like a parrot they will say-what about the Maoists?
Yes,- What about the maoists? I say it again, and let me repeat it like parrot – “What about the maoists?” Just incase it does not get through your thick skull.
I agree with ck2. Why should the army be dealt with so swiftly, while the maoists are allowed to take their own sweet lullaby of a time?
tt, don’t join the bandwagon. The Army must be dealt with swiftly so that if the Maoists betray the peace talks the Army can be used to bring them back to the table for talks. In it’s present form this is not possible thus the need for a swift reform.
House Insider,
I partly agree with what you said about the money utilised by kalyankari, srimati sangh etc. Now when we have loktantra, then why to stop going to UN peacekeeping. Eventhough some significant chunk of the total money is utilised by the Generals and the Palace, still soldiers are bringing some money with them for their families. There is no doubt that there must be a thoruogh investigation on this matter, not only present status but also of history of corruption in relation to the earnings through UN peacekeeping. A separate Commission of Investigation can have a full time job.
All these things go on right track till maoist are poisitive….
Army should not be touched, at all. C’mon, lay it on me. People talk about reform as if it is a magic. People berate Army and clan of people as if they know inside out. Who are the top generals in Army now? is it Ranas and Shahs and Thapas, get your fact right, before you speak evil. Unless it in your nature do so, naturally. Heresay, uninformed and biased assumption is the main culprits in Nepalese circle.
Rather than going only after Army, why not do the same with Maoist. They are not even hinting of laying down their arms before the election, and thats ok? Where do they get their funds- beside ” a necessity” forced extortion- India, Japan, US or sympathizers who are so eloquent in their attack of Army but leisurely on Maoist.
Unfortunately Kirat the bandwagon is the place you are in. Tackling the real issue is difficult, but who says the right thing to do is easy as well. All this softly softly appraoch with the maoists will only backfire in the end, so it is imperative that the govt. lay down some ground rules now and stop beating around the bush, to make it clear to the maoists what the bottom line of the government and the people is. I’m sure the citizens of this country would like the government to give the maoists a bottom line, so that the maoists can tell us if they will agree to it and then we will know their real intentions. I am sure you will agree that the bottom line that all democratic citizens of this nation wants is the laying down of arms by the maoists for one. Why is that so difficult for people to grasp here?
tt seems to be out of his senses while suggesting People’s Liberation Army to lay down its arms with no real achievements at hand! It must remain strong until our goal of establishing Republic is attained. It is the most effective deterrent against the feudal Shah-Rana forces!!
Why army should not be touched ? Today’s report of UN Office in Kathmandu on Human rights says that Army shot 47 people in Shivpuri putting them in line. Army should go total refurbish and reform.
tt, don’t argue for the sake of it. Without a proper professional army is it possible to tackle an insurgency like the Maoist movement? I understand you want the Maoist issue to be resolved but how the heck do you go about resolving the armed Maoist issue without a proper professional army backing you? You think the Maoists are just going to drop their weapons because the HOR asks them to?
Read more regarding this report in http://www.nepalnews.com
Megahertz,
The maists have already achieved their botom line that is election to CA. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Or maybe you can if this govt. does not know what a negotiation is.
You and your maoists took up arms because noone listened to them. Now we have been listening to you for over a decade with your guns. I am sure every citizen in Nepal has heard what you have to say. So is’nt it time to test if the citizens of this country really agree with you as well? We will never know what the people really think until the guns have been laid down.
Maoists fear that laying down guns will make them vurenable, but if your leaders are part of the interim government what is their to fear except perhaps the peoples verdict on your comrades.
How can anyone go into a CA elections whatever your stance with guns? Many people who do not want to will end up supporting you out of fear for their lives. When the CA happens no other party will have the advantage of guns, why the hell should the maoists?
Maoists have had enough time to drill their propoganda into the people, now it is time to see if the people agree. After all is’nt the peoples wish the ultimate agenda?
I agree with tt. I vouch for what he has to say.
Mhz,
What do you mean the maoists have not achieved anything. I don’t think there is any one in the world who has achieved so much so fast and without asking the people.
Look at the list;
1.CA elections
2. Secular state
3. No more kingdom of Nepal and royal anything
4. King has been stripped of his powers and facilities
5. Army is brought under parliament
6.All maoists have been freed
7. Red corner notice removed
8. Terrorist notice removed
Many more on the pipeline.
What has the maoists given besides a token 3 month cesefire;
1. Extortion
2. Guns everywhere
3. The notion that nothing the govt. does is enough
4. Recruitment of more people in to the maoist army
Basically you all have done less then nothing at all.
And the request of laying down of arms which is universal is not in your agenda. Why should anyone trust you and why should we give you anything more when all you have given is a big hollow negative ZERO?
tt,
You’re right on the button. How can anyone have a environment of trust when the maoists have guns? Agreed the army needs reforms, and it seems to have begun, but how long will that take? In 3 months (now 2 months) if the maoists break their ceasefire, will the army have been reformed by then so we can tackle the situation efficiently? Or, if we touch the army too hastiliy, in 2 months if the maoists break the ceasefire will the army be in any position to fight or will they have the will to fight? No, I think as we tackle the reforms in the army so too must the question of laying down of arms by the maoists be tackled.
tt. I hope you realise with your post #30 the need for a strong, professional army with it’s allegiance to the people via their elected reps. The present army is a joke and needs to be revamped asap.
ck2 reforming the army does not mean making it less effective you idiot, the process should start now!
I think as friends have suggested here, the maoists have to be told to agree to lay down arms at a certain point in time before they join the interim govt. Otherwise, the govt. has to say, if not then these negotiations are headed nowhere. Being firm on this point now will prevent more misundertanding and chaos later.
tt, i don’t agree with your vary first sentence. Have they really got that???
Kirat you bafoon,
Do you think reforms happen overnight? When any organisation or nation is going through reforms, the initial stages will be vulnerable. This creates confusion and insecurity in the organisation. For example you nit wit the state of our coiuntry right now. We are going through this reform phase and things are very delicate.
ck2 the army are a bunch of jokers right now who can even match a bunch of villagers with stolen guns how much worse can it get? Idiots like you will cite a hundred reasons for not getting the job started.
sorry read ‘who can’t’
I agree ck2,
Look at the police. They have been subject to a lot of transfers and firings etc leave alone an overhaul, and the result at the moment is when a crowd of 100 gather you do not get policemen raising a finger because of a lack of morale and fear of the future with regard to their actions. This is the same police who were taking on a crowd of half a million people one month ago, now they stay far away from a crowd of 50 people.
Yeah, leave this army alone-they have been fighting the Maoists for over four years and the result? The Maoists have emerged stronger. Great! Carry on.
Kirat,
How can I put this to you so you listen to what I am trying to say. Let me again state it:
With my post #30 my intention was to make people realise that the maoists have to lay down their arms if they want to be a party that has come overground from being underground and intends to be our future lawmakers. If they want to govern, then by god they should behave like they do.
tt, yeah do you think the present army can deal with Maoists if they decide to go violent again?
Kirat,
Armies follow orders. Unfortunately the orders come from civilians calling themselves leaders and people like Gyanendra calling themselves King. We have a leadership problem. These are the same bafoons not unlike you, who are leading the govt. negotiation team. And I guess that sits well with you?
Megahertz,
The CA election has not yet happened but everyone has agreed to it and the whole world knows that everyone has agreed. Thats a far far better thing then what the maoists have agreed to do at least in word – Absolutely Nothing.
Kirat,
The army we have now is in a lot better position to deal with these worries than one where the very foundation will be shaken leaving a bunch of demoralised soldiers who may decide to not lift a finger. I think the top brass have to go now. But a full reform should be on the waiting list until the maoists have lain down their arms. They can start the theoritical process, but the practical implementation should come when the government is in a more confident position.
I thought this is a discussion forum where people listen to and discuss with one another, not caste labels like ‘idiots’ or ‘bunch of jokers’ just because one does not agree with another.
If the maoists lay down their arms, the army won’t even be in the picture. Then we can do whatever reforms etc. But if the army is touched now, the future is not sure. Therefore, the first suggestion is obviously better because the result is certain.
Maoists lay down their arms – Peace.
Army is touched without the maoists being touched – Uncertainity.
The choice is obvious, even a monkey would get this one right.
ck2, I as said before risk is inherent in change, but it should not paralyze you from changing for better.