Papers Burnt:
We’ve learnt that some miscreants, suspected supporters and relatives of brat Captain Rabindra Bikram Rana, have burnt copies of Kantipur and Kathmandu Post, newspapers that extensively carry reports about the incident, in Chahabil. This again shows the schooling and mentality of army and their elite family.
Gundagardi by army personnel at Durbarmarg
Over 3 dozen soldiers capture police office, torture officers
BY Kosh Raj Koirala
KATHMANDU, July 29- In brazen display of indiscipline, some three dozen armed soldiers from the Nepal Army’s Bhairabnath Battalion seized the Durbarmmarg Ward Police Post at gun-point in the wee hours of Saturday and forcibly took away three police personnel to ‘punish’ them for ‘asking’ an army captain to follow traffic rules.
The soldiers then subjected Police Inspector Ram Bahadur KC, Assistant Sub Inspector Dharmendra Roy and Constable Dilli Ram Tamang to severe torture for two hours at the battalion barracks at Maharajgunj before releasing them.Incident blow-by-blow
At 1 a.m. Saturday, army captain Rabindra Bikram Rana, who was in civvies came out of Go Go Bar at Thamel with his friend Bikendra Singh Bista after heavy drinking, according to Gorakh Bahadur Thapa, a security guard at Himalayan Bank. While emerging from the bar, they got into a quarrel with the bar bouncers. They thrashed one bouncer and got into Rana’s red Gypsy.
continue reading the article in the Kathmandu Post
This incident is yet another example of how our army has become violent and blood thirsty over the years. Army officers and soldiers are increasingly becoming killing machine and torturing equipment. Impunity is at its peak and insane soldiers like Captain Rana think that they can do whatever they want to do. Nepal Army needs serious reform to prevent it from turning into a club of mad people where no one is predictable and anyone will act indiscriminately for no good reason. There must be some problem with the schooling. The impression, which is quite true, is that soldiers are trained in such a way that they never think of good about democracy and human rights. [Captain Rana blamed democracy for traffic action against him when his vehicle was disturbing the flow on the road.) It seems that they are trained to behave against human dignity.
This is not an entirely new incident of army men beating policemen. Even before the army was mobilized against the Maoists, I used to hear numerous incidents in which soldiers would secretely come out of the barracks and beat ‘danthes’ (the one with lathis) and go back to the barracks escaping any action against them. And senior officers in the barracks would save their brat soldiers saying that they were inside the barracks in that particular time of the day (or night) to save themselves from embarrassment.
As reported in the newspapers, this particular incident has raised serious concerns about the effectieness of the chain of command in Nepal Army. Has that been collapsed completely? If not, how could an drunken officer who was on leave go back to the barrack and come out with three dozens of armed soldiers along with two vehicles and go on rampage in a police office? How can the army leadership assure us, the Nepali people, that no frustrated officer would revolt against the command and sabotage the peace process? This is not the first incident of serious failure in army chain of command by the way. We have already seen the worst consequence of failure in chain of command in the form of Nagarkot a few months ago.
Pyar Jung Thapa Ignores Commission
Just as the army gundagardi came to the knowledge of the public, Pyar Jung Thapa, the chief of Nepal Army, has blatantly ignored a summon by High Level Investigation Commission that is looking into the suppression of Jana Andolan II. Thapa was to appear to day in the judicial commission but he went to Pokhara today sending a letter to the commission on the last minute in which he has said that he is going to Pokhara in a pre-scheduled program.
Hell with that pre-scheduled program. This is an open challenge by the army chief, who was recommended to be suspended by the commission but the government didn’t, to the commission constituted by the government formed after the Peoples’ Movement. People of Nepal have gone through enough humiliation when they saw parliament, instead of suspending Thapa, administering oath to him. Now is the time the government should decide something concrete on Thapa. If Thapa has gut, he should go for a coup (and Nepali people will do whatever is needed to do) or obey the orders of the peoples’ government. The status quo can’t continue.
More on atrocities committed inside Bhairabnath Battalion, captain Rans’s battalion:
United We Blog 
Comments
173 responses to “Army Gundagardi. Nepal Army Becoming Rascals Club”
The RNA is turning out to be the biggest joke. I blame the RNA for the rise of the Maoists-both with their incompetence and their abuse of the Nepali people.
The only choice for SPA is to suspend the culprits of NA within the boundry of “rule of law”. Because they do not trust another arm forces of PLA to replace it. Neither they like to mixed-up those forces.
I’d like to see these culprits court martialled. The Army must be pro-active in dealing with elements like these. Why should outside forces be needed to put pressure on them? Such a requirement would mean that Army is deeply flawed (which I believe it is anyway). If the Army cannot enforce discipline within it’s ranks it will be a pretty worthless one. Sad.
Well, i think if we keep calling someone bad and evil for a long period of time well, they will turn out to be bad. We have been calling NA as an institution an evil organization. Yes, some of them have committed crimes but there are many who have given their lives for merely rs.5000 and yet they are not even called martyrs. I have nothing to say to thos who say the whole institution is rotten and there is not a patriotic soul in NA because obviously they are biased. If we demotivate all our institutions then we might as well cease to even exist. Our government offices are inefficient, corrupt and cause a lot of problems for the general public so why not close them down. Our whole parliament is full or thieves, and looters why not get rid of them aswell. No matter which profession you talk about we are inefficient and bad at it. Be it engineers, doctors, judges or whatever. We need to think of what is in the interest of the nation not what our subjective mind declares as right of wrong. Of course, the culprits should be punished but to give the entire institution a bad name is not the solution.
If we can forgive the Maoists of all their attrocities and killings and so on why not everyone else. Why not forgive all the armies, all the murderers. On what grounds can this government realease all the maoist murderers but still imprison the petty thieves and so on. We have forgiven Maoists for all the murders. We have forgiven all our leaders for all their imcompetence, corruption and other crimes (which is the main reason for the maoist boom). So why not forgive everyone and start a fresh. Even now, none of the Maoist killings (even if it breaks the cease fire code of conduct) are said to be prosecuted against. It is almost like they have the license to kill and no matter how many they kill they can simply get away with it by calling it an accident.
b, I am going to keep on calling you a moron. I guess you will turn into one. You should be ashamed-you can’t even recognize and admit what is good and what is bad! The Maoists are terrorists what can you expect from them? But the state Army behaving like this? This is unacceptable. Period.
Recent army atrocities as reported by Kathmandu Post and other dailies :-
April 2006 : Rape and subsequent killing of six locals in Belbari in indiscrimate firing.
December 2005 : Killing of 11 locals in indiscriminate firing in Nagarkot.
The above were major incidents. Less serious but equally disturbing incidents are reported every week. When is enough going to be enough? Stop making excuses and admit that there is a problem!
Demilitarize Nepal now!
These people are simply following their leaders. Remember the top hooligan in Nepal is the son of the king. He is the major example for these uncontrolled criminals.
The army is actively blocking change in Nepal, as they have to give up the privilege of ruling the country with the help of the barrel of their guns. The disobedient chief of the RNA has to be taken in custody and produced infront of the comission, before being degraded.
Nepal’s democracy movement must identify the democratically minded officers and start rebuilding a new army. The RNA has always lived in an unholy partnership with the PLA, both prospering as long as they kept fighting each other.
It is like this everywhere on the world, if the general people are fed up with war and killing, it is the people in arms, who finally try to prolong the state of civil war by all means, as they are living better from war than from peace.
Demilitarize Nepal now, scrap the Army to the minimum and build up a truely capacitated Police force, which is obedient to the democratic state.
AHIMSA knows: Armies believe in the power out of the barrel of the gun!
Well i did say the perpetrators should be punished. But what are you going to do more than that, get rid of the army. You can reform it, but not by calling it a gang of murderers. But then we need to reform the politicians as well. After all, the problems started with the politicians not doing enough for the country and doing too much for themselves. What do you think, a new constitution will miraculously tranform all our evil leaders into saints. No. What we need is a system that holds all perpetrators responsible. We need better judicial system. and of course, we need better deciplined army. By just calling names nothing is going to change. We need our leaders to have that political will to change things. It should not be SPA vs NA but instead they should be working together. However, the possibility seem to getting further away from reality. We need some one who thinks in the interest of the nation. If our NA is not good enough then invite the Indian or the US army may they will be more humane towards us poor Nepalis. Army is always the last resort no matter which country you talk about, and it is simply because of the same reasons. There are going to be some rotten apples but they need to be punished. Now that the NA is under the parliament, it is this unelected and unconstitutional parliament that needs to find and show the political will to punish those idiots in NA. It is not only the army that is torturing innocent Nepali people, it is the police officers as well. We are not professional no matter which profession you talk about. We need a social reform.
And as far as the maoists are concerned, i thought your beloved SPA had taken away their terrorist tag. Or are you simply saying that, you decide what is what and who is who. Like you declared me a moron and then said i will be turning into one aswell. Well, it seems like you have ready made tags for everyone. The army, the maoists and the SPA. Well, it is easy to complain and be critical but do you have any solution other than proper reform? Do your beloved SPA have the political and moral will to do what is required? Or you and the SPA simply going to blame the army, king perpetually for all your inefficiencies and incompetence? However, i think you have inviting foreign military intervention as a solution more than proper reform of the Army.
And why forgive the Maoists, sorry? because they are terrorists? that is your logic. They are terrorists and hence murders and attrocities are expected of them and so we will forgive them? Look we can not get a brand new army overnight and we have to deal with what we have. But it is upto the SPA to show their spine. Well, may be if it was upto you, you would send the army back to barracks and arm the police. May be that will solve the problem. Our army need to be like the US army or the Indian army in Kashmir? What is your solution?
Hey whats happening with my comments. I did not write anything nasty. What is the problem. How can you call the UWB for democracy and screen views like mine, just because it does not serve your vested interest. There was no obscenity in my comments.
UWB: Your comment has been published without a change.
b, that’s how the system works. Just re-prhase what you wrote and post it again. Imagine how the police felt yesterday. It looks like they did nothing wrong as well but got beaten up for it!
Kirat,
Well i admitt that there is a problem. Wait, there are problems. I at no point suggested that everything is normal. But the thing is, change should start from the leaders. They need to show what they are made of. after all, the NA is currently under the parliament is it not? Well, you may say that the NA does not listen to parliament and is still loyal to the palace but it is the parliaments responsibility to get it under control.
kirat,
the police are not saints. They have been bashing and torturing innocent civilians way before army started it. Look, i am not the one to sympathise with the police department. They do not even know how they need to talk to thepublic. I have been their victim so i know. I donot feel sorry for them at all. I have seen them kicking and swearing at taxi drivers just because they would not give them a free ride. I can imagine how those police might have felt and i am happy
b, true. If only our so called leaders were real leaders. Still something like what happened last night should be a catalyst for us all to realise how bad things are and how change must come soon. We must all condemn what happened last night and not make any excuses. Similarly all Maoists atrocities/excesses must be condemned too.
kirat,
well i did say the perpetrators should be punished. But what are you going to do more than that, get rid of the army. You can reform it, but not by calling it a gang of murderers. But then we need to reform the politicians as well. After all, the problems started with the politicians not doing enough for the country and doing too much for themselves. What do you think, a new constitution will miraculously tranform all our evil leaders into saints. No. What we need is a system that holds all perpetrators responsible.
We need better judicial system. and of course, we need better deciplined army. By just calling names nothing is going to change. We need our leaders to have that political will to change things. It should not be SPA vs NA but instead they should be working together. However, the possibility seem to getting further away from reality.
We need some one who thinks in the interest of the nation. If our NA is not good enough then invite the Indian or the US army may they will be more humane towards us poor Nepalis. Army is always the last resort no matter which country you talk about, and it is simply because of the same reasons. There are going to be some rotten apples but they need to be punished. Now that the NA is under the parliament, it is this unelected and unconstitutional parliament that needs to find and show the political will to punish those idiots in NA. It is not only the army that is torturing innocent Nepali people, it is the police officers as well. We are not professional no matter which profession you talk about. We need a social reform.
And as far as the maoists are concerned, i thought your beloved SPA had taken away their terrorist tag. Or are you simply saying that, you decide what is what and who is who. Like you declared me a moron and then said i will be turning into one aswell. Well, it seems like you have ready made tags for everyone. The army, the maoists and the SPA. Well, it is easy to complain and be critical but do you have any solution other than proper reform? Do your beloved SPA have the political and moral will to do what is required? Or you and the SPA simply going to blame the army, king perpetually for all your inefficiencies and incompetence? However, i think you have inviting foreign military intervention as a solution more than proper reform of the Army.
And why forgive the Maoists, sorry? because they are terrorists? that is your logic. They are terrorists and hence murders and attrocities are expected of them and so we will forgive them? Look we can not get a brand new army overnight and we have to deal with what we have. But it is upto the SPA to show their spine. Well, may be if it was upto you, you would send the army back to barracks and arm the police. May be that will solve the problem. Our army need to be like the US army or the Indian army in Kashmir? What is your solution?
Now that the NA is under the parliament, it is this unelected and unconstitutional parliament that needs to find and show the political will to punish those idiots in NA. It is not only the army but the police are just as bad and have been doing it for a long time.We are not professional no matter which profession you talk about. We need a social reform.
And as far as the maoists are concerned, i thought your beloved SPA had taken away their terrorist tag. Or are you simply saying that, you decide what is what and who is who. Like you declared me a moron and then said i will be turning into one aswell. Well, it seems like you have ready made tags for everyone. The army, the maoists and the SPA. Well, it is easy to complain and be critical but do you have any solution other than proper reform? Do your beloved SPA have the political and moral will to do what is required? Or you and the SPA simply going to blame the army, king perpetually for all your inefficiencies and incompetence? However, i think you have inviting foreign military intervention as a solution more than proper reform of the Army.
And why forgive the Maoists, sorry? because they are terrorists? that is your logic. They are terrorists and hence murders and attrocities are expected of them and so we will forgive them? Look we can not get a brand new army overnight and we have to deal with what we have. But it is upto the SPA to show their spine. Well, may be if it was upto you, you would send the army back to barracks and arm the police. May be that will solve the problem. Our army need to be like the US army or the Indian army in Kashmir? What is your solution?
Well the army official involved should be condemned, i agree. What about prosecution though? Should these people be prosecuted as well? what about prosecuting the maoists?
b, that’s the attitude I don’t like. The Maoists are terrorists. The Army is a state institution. Notice the difference? Also the attitude of why should the Army be punished if the Maoists get away scot free is very self defeating. If the Army culprits are punished and made an example of and the system of handling the weapons is improved who benefits? The Army. You want to withhold improving our army because the Maoists are even worse? That make no sense!
And please I have never ever stated that the Army should be gotten rid of or disbanded. Reform of the Army does not mean that.
Girija direct order of supension (in holiday)for those culprits without written documents from all sides potrays that he is heading toward autocracy. This I feel bad signal to “rule of law” in the democracy.
Well I hope the Army gives harsher punishment to these guys. It should set an example to deter such behaviour in the future. Afer all they have shamed the Army no end by their foolish drunken actions.
Also a review of the Army’s weapons management must be ordered. Imagine what damage this guy could have done!
Individual armies are becoming mad these days and they are being out-of-control and needs some psychological treatments as well.
It will be utter shame for all the Nepalese if these brats are not punished severely and set example to other would-be brats of the army.
People must rise against these. General Pyarjung by ignoring the summon is ignoring the might of Nepali people. He should realise what he is playing against.
hello Kantipur !
Write about the madheshess gundas burining kantipur and others.
Remember: India doesnot want army in Nepal
Catch them, try them, court marshall them. Treat them the same as any other miscreant. Begin with these guys and it will set an example for the rest of these sort of people whether they are in the army, maobadi or any other power based hoodlum group.
Going through the comments, I must say there should be no room in the army for such brattish and dangarous behaviour. We need disciplined professionals. It may be so that most of the army deserve our thanks but it is hell raisers like these who give the institution a bad name. The army itself should not tolerate such indiscipline.
I can understand people getting frustrated at what seems like targetting the army only, but if we are to argue to the world and at home for treating the army as representing our country and the maoists as an illegal entity widely unaccepted, and thereby calling for a decommisssioning of the maoist arms and not that of the army, then we better pull up our socks and make our army behave like “our” army and accept only the highest standards in discipline and professionalism. There is no room for gung ho cow boyism.
Can’t agree with you more ck2. The army belongs to the nation, and people like these put a stain on the institution. Maybe they are frustrated at the moment, but it should be up to the leadership in the army to motivate their boys and girls and tell them to hold on to their horses. The maoists are a different story, we have given the benefit of the doubt for a while now, they should now give up their arms, otherwise I am sure not many will be sorry if they are pursued with a vengence from all forces within and outside of this country. It is their last chance to dance. I am sure the likes of Prachanda understands this clear as crystal.
Regarding the deferrence by Pyar Jung – I’m afraid it is well within his right to defer the hearing. Infact the commisssion also informs them that if you would like to reschedule please let us know by such and such time. After all let’s face it the commission is turning out to be a fiasco anyway, and it is the right of anyone to defer their hearing especially if they have prior engagements. Further, the commission is not a judiciary and definitely not the Supreme court, they are just an investigation commisssion. Let me remind the media not long ago GP Koirala had absolutely refused to appear before the Supreme Court (no less) when he was summoned for charges against him – I forget whether it was regarding the riot during the killing of the Nepalis in Iraq or a corruption case. And now he is the PM again and all corruption cases against the man and prior summons were conveniently dropped. What gives?
I’d like this idiot Thapa sacked. Do we really need a commission to see how incompetent he is? The Army follows his image I guess. I heard that the moron is an alcoholic-probably true!
Surely there must somebody within the Army who can be promoted and who is capable of running it in a more professional manner!
Surely.
The world seems to focus on managing Maoist arms, including now Japan. Is anyone concerned about the RNA? Is this armed force all right for government but not the Maoists? Why? Please can someone give a coherent defence of why Maoists must be demobilised and disarmed but not the RNA?
“Is this armed force all right for government but not the Maoists?”
Yes.
“Why?”
Because the Nepal Army represents the established government of Nepal. The Maoists represent factions which COULD NOT WIN in an election and took to terrorism to usurp power where they could not achieve it by legitimate means.
“I’d like this idiot Thapa sacked.”
The SPA claims control of the Nepal Army. It would be a good test of that claim if they were to sack a General. I agree that the Army needs change. That would be a good start: replace the Generals. If there is still no improvement, replace them again. Finally we should get something resembling competent leadership. SPA: ball in your court.
Will the army miscreant officer be punished?
I hardly believe because the behaviour of a miscreant army officer is not an individual act of undiscipline but an accepted phenomenon in (R)NA structure.The feudal system of monarchy is duplicated in officer rank of NA too not by official position but by feudal status of birth. After the royal families come Ranas and follow Naxale Thapas. After them come Kathmanduite Thakuris and other Chhetris related to them by marriage, first Jharras and then Khatris. Fowllow them other non-Kathmanduite Chhetris and only then Bahuns, if there are, and Janjatis. Instead of informing his superior the incident of capture of an army officer by police and trying to releases
him through proper chanel and method, he acted in gangster style as he was cocksure that his action was legal and accepted by army code otherwise nobody would have released more than three dozens of well-armed army personels in midnight to attack a police post. He was sure that a Thapa, may he be a CNC, can not take action against a Rana and even if tries to do so he will ne prevented by well placed Ranas or by their relations. And this logic is equally true now as it was last year. So to change the army to a democracy loving institution, the feudal structure of army should be broken or this army should dismantled and set a new one.
KANTIPUR NEEDS to be BURNT QUITE OFTEN…It is a stooge of Catholics, Muslims and Leftists….
The Army doesn’t represent the established government. It represents the King.
Or does the name change have you confused?
If the Maoists are too lay down their weapons there must be some sort of quid pro quo by the Army. Otherwise why would the Maoists be so stupid as to expose themselves to a Royalist Army? The Maoists may be a lot of things but they are not stupid.
bideshi, the SPA leadership is pretty gutless. That moron of COAS should have been sacked months ago. With this sort of Army it is a wonder that the Maoists did not overwhelm them already.
What happened yesterday was not an isolated incident but a systematic problem with the Army.
This Girija Koirala is a curse on our country. I hope that vulture dies asap. The ten years of so called democracy we previously had was ruined under his leadership. He is now going to ruin this one chance we have of consigning the palace idiots to the rubbish bin of history. It seems Girija is bent on prolonging this country’s misery.
Fire COAS and disband the infamous Bhairbnath battalion.
POLICE EVERYWHERE IN NEPAL is politicised (remember Timilsna?? who beat up an OLD MAN..then KANTIPUR was GLOATING)…THIS POLICE DOES NOT MIND GETTING A BEATING FROM MAOBADI…but wants to try its strength with Army because of having political support….
KANTIPUR REPORTS “There was Rs 10,000 in a wallet belonging to Tamang” which it reports the Army took away..
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN HOW A MERE CONSTABLE TAMANG HAD Rs 10,000 when ON DUTY??
Obviously either KANTIPUR is lying or TAMANG had BRIBE MONEY…..SUCH POLITICIANS in the POLICE NEED TO BE STRAIGHTENED BY THE ARMY…
Kirat,
You behave like a Know-all about attacking Army..What qualifies you to speculate “Surely there must somebody within the Army who can be promoted and who is capable of running it in a more professional manner!”
hello shanti
you ask–
‘CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN HOW A MERE CONSTABLE TAMANG HAD Rs 10,000 when ON DUTY??’
i will try to answer that
may be someone owed him that money and the debtor decided to pay him back that day,
may be he wants to buy a gold neckles to his wife the next day
may be he wants to pay hospital for his hernia operation
or may be he extort it from the street pimps, drug peddlers or local business….
could have been anything…..
but, my friend, someday you might be walking in the KTM streets with 10,000 Rs in your pocket, and i can ask you the same QUESTION…where the hell did ‘this guy’ that is you, the MERE denizen of KTM, get that kind of money..must be bribe money, must be by selling dope in street corner or selling yourself…..
isn’t being judgemental the easiest thing to do?
cioa
Kirat.. mr. know it all. u just suck man.
Shanti:
I am sorry to constantly attack you. But let’s call a spade a spade. You cannot possibly think the NA does not need any reform.
It has always been the playground of Rana/Shah aristocracy. Well that was all good since the NA didn’t really have anything to do expect eat imported Kahsi and run some UN missions but with the Maoist insurgency we have all come to see that they are not all that could be.
Now for the story above I don’t know what to say. If this officer was off duty and he beat up some bouncer at a bar you can’t go after then entire NA. But irrespective the NA defiently needs an overhaul.
Of course our impotant political leaders don’t help the situation. They still have this “Noockar” mentality.
until the royal army remains under control of one family, the shah and ranas, nothing we can expect from it. yes there are alots of sons of poor nepalis but they are nothing more than to say ‘yes sir, or hoooos saaaaaab. if they dont obey they will be killed. FEW percentage of army top brass who are loyal to one family, royal family, are rulling whole country with atrocities.
why ppl here seemed to have wrong concept, they are focused in disarming of PLA? what the royal army will do another day if the PLA is disarmed, indeed the PLA is the indirect arm force of this governemnt. how come? if there was no PLA the achievement from jana andolona was impossible. dont ever try to make immatured comment. its time to upgrade knowledge. need to know the ground reality of the nation.
i have visited village , how royal army terrorize the villagers and wen PLA comes , the villagers are comfortable.
the PLA with nepali people and for nepali people but the RNA is always for royal palace. it cant be our army.
we dont need RNA.
SHANTI,
I SURPRIZE WHY U R SUPPORTING THAT CURRUPTED ARMY IN ANY COST.
IS THAT MAN OUT OF WHO WERE SUSPENDED UR FREN OR EX FREN OR CAN BE SOMETHING RELATIVES?
DONT TRY TO BLAME KANTIPUR FOR REPORTING IT. SEE UR IMAGE BEFORE BLAMING ANYONE.
Ok BK UK
Don’t wet your pants just yet.
We all know the NA needs reform and there are many things wrong with the NA. But don’t go over board and make outragerously moronic claims that the PLA is any better. The PLA is also nothing more than a bunch of barbaric misguided militants. Unfortunetly the NA is just so impotent and it backed by a useless political force.