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Kathmandu Thursday December 27, 2001 Paush 12, 2058.
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Leave
the King alone
Ihave been alarmed and
distressed to read recent reports in the press of criticism of His
Majesty the King by certain politicians. In particular the report that they have had the
effrontery to question the right of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Nepal Army to
visit his own headquarters. Whether His Majesty, in his role as C-in-C, should invite
politicians to his headquarters or not is a matter entirely up to him.
Similarly, criticism of
the Chief of the Army Staff is unfounded and counterproductive. For the first time on
record the professional head of the Royal Nepal Army has given an open and transparent
interview to the national media. Such transparency should be welcomed, not criticised.
At the same time, I
have to disagree, as a former soldier, with the intellectuals who wish to separate
development and social works from the military involvement in the current crisis. As a
student at the British Army Staff College in Camberley I conducted an in-depth study of
counterinsurgency, drawing on the experiences of the British in Malaya and Kenya, American
experience in Vietnam and focusing on the "Sendero Luminoso", or "Shining
Path" movement in Peru. (A movement with which the CPN-Maoists have closely
associated themselves). From this study it is apparent to me that the two are intimately
linked. We are currently involved in a battle not to kill the Maoists, but to win back the
hearts and minds of the population.
It is most unfortunate
that Nepal’s experience of democracy has given birth to such a culture of selfishness
and corruption amongst our politicians that the Maoists should feel that they have no
option but to resort to violence. They should be brought back to the negotiating table as
quickly as possible without preconditions to stop the bloodshed.
Professional soldiers
know that there can be no military solution to insurgency. The ultimate solution has to be
political. The role of the military has to be in support of the civil authority. When the
civil authority has clearly demonstrated its inability to govern through reasons of
self-interest and corruption, thank God that we are blessed with an apolitical Head of
State in the form of the King. In such a situation it is the duty of all citizens,
regardless of political affiliations, to come to the aid of the King and country. Those
who have given rise to this situation should be arrested and brought to justice. May God
bless the King!
Ishwor Gurung
Kathmandu |
