Except for those who were euphorically optimistic, no one thought Nepal’s peace process and its transition from a monarchy to a republic would be smooth. But even the sceptics hadn’t expected the changeover to be this badly managed. The latest hurdle in the peace process is the Maoists’ demand that their fighters be integrated into the national army. The army is upset, and predictably so. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Rookmangad Katawal had recently said that the Nepal Army must be kept above any ‘isms’ and that politically motivated and indoctrinated cadres should have no place in it. Gen Katawal was reacting to Maoist chief Prachanda’s assertion that his cadres would soon find a place in the army. A report by the United Nations Mission to Nepal said there are about 19,600 ‘recognised combatants’ in the Maoist army. Plus, many of their soldiers are supposed to have been loaned to the Young Communist League, which runs a parallel policing system and holds kangaroo courts. The interim constitution simply states that ‘integration’ will take place according to the recommendation of a special committee of the cabinet after the election to the constituent assembly, but doesn’t say that the cadres will be absorbed into the Nepal Army. Prime Minister G.P. Koirala, who is also in charge of the defence portfolio, has not taken any public stand on the matter but appears to have said different things to the Nepal Army and the Maoists — separately endorsing their respective positions. But at least two senior leaders of the ruling alliance — Madhav Kumar Nepal and Khadga Oli — have told both Prachanda and the prime minister that the army should not be politicised by inducting Maoist cadres. Similarly, Govindaraj Joshi, a prominent central committee member of the Congress party, has also opposed the integration. But there is intense speculation over why the Maoists are raising the integration issue now, when the election process for the constituent assembly has begun. Is it because they want to use it as an excuse to get out of the poll process once their cadres are paid as per the understanding reached with the ruling alliance on December 23? As part of the deal, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists will be entitled to nearly Rs two billion from the state exchequer by mid-February — all this ostensibly to ensure that the Maoists do not backtrack from the poll process that is due in April. No one is disputing that the Nepal Army desperately needs a makeover. Until a few years ago, its top officers were all descendants of soldiers who fought for Prithvinarayan Shah, the 10th forefather of King Gyanendra. The army is itself in transition — the reforms that began three decades back are still on. Yet, the induction of the Maoist cadres before ‘de-indoctrinating’ them was nowhere on the agenda. For now, Prachanda’s demand has only served to ruffle feathers. During a seven-party meeting last week, Prachanda took on army chief Katawal for his stand against the integration. The Nepal Army reacted angrily but is apparently also furious with the prime minister for his silence on Prachanda’s remarks. Senior officers want the army chief to tell Koirala that the “army will be forced to speak in its defence if its political masters refuse to”. Prachanda and the army have never been on good terms. In June 2006, while addressing a press conference at the prime minister’s residence, Prachanda had said in the presence of the home minister that the Nepal Army is made up of a “bunch of rapists” and “corrupt officials”. Even those calling for the army to be reformed and democratised are not comfortable with Prachanda’s remarks. An army provoked and pushed to the wall may react and that is something Nepal doesn’t want at this stage. Prachanda said in a press conference on January 18 that Nepal might soon witness a mix of Pakistan and Bangladesh — that some political assassinations might take place in the country and the army might use that as an excuse to come to the “rescue of democracy”. Nepal is already grappling with a government that has failed to deliver and has been unable to secure legitimacy through elections. Any provocation to the army at this juncture will only be counter-productive. ghimire.yubaraj@gmail.com
