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Kathmandu,Monday May 01, 2000 Baishakh 19, 2057.
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Think seriously about NDC
From day one since he took over, Prime Girija
Prasad Koirala has been talking about activating the National Defence Council (NDC). He
has however failed to convincingly justify its rationale and necessity. It is nevertheless
quite obvious that this move is primarily motivated by the desire to quell the insurgency
through the creation of a paramilitary force. Apparently, he realises that unless the
force is mobilised, the problem of insurgency will not be resolved. But will activating
the NDC place him in a better position to provide a quick-fix solution? And what will such
a solution—if there is one—cost? It is likely that things may not go the way he
wants since the mobilisation of such a force has not really been efficacious in putting an
end to insurgency elsewhere in the world. At a time when the opposition too has stood
against activating the NDC, the PM should stand better advised
to mull over his move. Or else, he should take the opposition into confidence.
One month ago, Home Minister Govind Raj Joshi
proposed the formation of a paramilitary force with the aim of fighting Maoist insurgents.
He had then outlined the strength of the force and the money that would be needed to raise
and maintain it. The amount was indeed so much that the government would have to allocate
its annual budget more to fighting insurgency than to development works. The costs are
indeed prohibitive and therefore it may not be a good idea to go ahead with. Apart from
this, it may be difficult to sustain such a force in the long run, and two, it may not
achieve its objective. Although the government has outlined what it expects the
paramilitary force to do after the Maoist problem is resolved, unless these duties such as
patrolling the border among others, is really done in earnest, the NDC could prove to be a
big drain on scarce resources, Therefore, the government has to think very seriously about
creating this force.
The government has yet to explain its new measures
clearly. The daunting challenge that needs to be overcome is, no doubt, the growing Maoist
insurgency. Unfortunately, successive governments have failed to recognise the root-causes
that have bred many anti-social elements since the re-establishment of democracy. It
should therefore be understood that the activation of NDC may not be the answer to the
existing socio-economic ills that have, in the first place, created the Maoist problem.
The Prime Minister has to explain his ideas on
activating NDC to the people as it may prove too adventurous an undertaking which could,
in turn, draw the establishment into further complications. The evils afflicting the
country are growing poverty, rampant illiteracy and corruption in public life. These
problems may have to await the completion of a paramilitary solution. That would be very
sad indeed.
There is therefore a need on the part of both the
Home Ministry and the Prime Minister’s office to do thorough homework before taking
any major decision that could further worsen the situation.
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