FIFTH COLUMN

Forces

-By C K Lal

Prime Minister Bhattarai has been receiving considerable flak for his rank admission that our forces wouldn’t stand even for three days in front of the might of either Indians or Chinese. He is the Prime Minister, hence he should not have said that in so many words. We expect our leaders to be hypocrites. The trouble with our Prime Minister is that he is brutally frank.

Consider the facts. First, the nature and character of our army is far from representative. Ours is merely a royal army. Even at the most charitable, it is nothing more than a racial army. By no stretch of imagination can one call it a national army for the simple reason that nearly half of the national population does not find any place in its composition, even though they too pay for its up keep. Ever heard of a Tharu, Yadav or a Sherpa General?

Secondly, at least for nearly a century, the royal army hasn’t faced a national enemy even once. Whenever it has fired a shot, the aim has been invariably a fellow Nepali. It was the ruthless tool of Rana repression, and later, a willing instrument of Panchayat to suppress democratic aspirations of the people.

Thirdly, our army still resides in the past. It does not seem to realise that the wars of the future will be fought on the fronts of media, public support and international public opinion. Waving Khukuris for display is all very well, but how does that counter the frontal attack launched by Zee TV? What ever the apologists of the forces may say, the sad reality remains that our army does not even have a media-sense, let alone be media-savvy.

Fourth, the feudal set-up of the army and the lavish life-style of the brasses cause envy, not admiration. Agreed that our brasses appear paupers in comparison to their Pakistani counter-parts, but just look at the mess they have over there.

Fifth, and perhaps the most important, our army brasses are still nursing the hang-over of their dictatorial days when young lieutenants lorded over Ministers and Zonal Commissioners in the name of the Supreme Commander. How can an Army Chief ask for an all-party consensus, and with what right? Is he above the laws of the land? But we had army’s apologists trying to justify even such a sacrilege! If laws are not respected by all, it’s doubtful whether guns alone will ensure compliance for ever.

Finally, it’s the people who fight wars, army is just an extension of their will. Our army has to learn to identify with the masses, and the sooner the better. Then only they can last for more than three days, or even three decades. If Prime Minister’s blunt comments have inspired such a realisation, then perhaps I has served its purpose, even though by default.