NATIONAL7Spotlight Weekly)]

Chief speaks

For the first time Chief of the Army Staff of Royal Nepalese Army talks about the need to activate National Defence Council

By KESHAB POUDEL

It has been long since Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had stopped talking about activating the National Defence Council (NDC). But the issue has once again hit the headlines with RNA chief Prajwalla SJB Rana publicly calling for activating the NDC.

"Whichever political party may hold power, the NDC should creatively be activated in broad national interest," said Rana addressing the staff course at the Royal Nepalese Army College in Tokha.

At a time when the overall condition of security in the country is deteriorating all the time particularly vis-a-vis the Maoist activity, an urgent need has been felt to ensure protection of common citizens.

"It may seem that maintaining security is the direct responsibility of the security forces but the interest of every instrument of national power -- all political parties, various organizations and civil society should be involved in national security," said chief Rana.

Army Chief Rana : Meaningful comment

While the leaders of the ruling party particularly Prime Minister Koirala were earlier ridiculed for talking about activating the NDC, the opinions from the powerful army chief has injected a new dimension to the whole issue. While the politicians had raised the issue in relation to controlling Maoist activities the army chief has clearly emphasised the overall security concern.

The chief's comment is particularly interesting as it comes at a time when top army brass of neighboring countries in South Asia have demanded their distinct role in national security.

There are, however, some quarters who say that the involvement of army can not succeed in checking insurgency. They opine that the mobilization of army to control internal insurgency could even become suicidal.

"Generally, one of the basic objectives of national security is to preserve the overall values of nations from internal and external aggression," said the chief.

One of the important highlights of the chief's statement was the mention of both internal as well as external challenges faced by the nation.

"The so called Maoist activities are one of the serious and sensitive threats to national security. In the five years, the Maoist activities have been gradually harming the country. In such a situation, it is the need of the hour to expand and develop apolitical institutions like RNA," said Rana.

Although politicians and leaders have been raising myopic views regarding national security, the RNA chief for the first time spoke on the comprehensive security arrangement and its challenges.

At a time when different political parties are defining the country's national security apparatus to suit their interest, the professional remark sof the RNA Chief are very much an eye opener.

The army chief's statement also refuted all those who think that the RNA is not alert or concerned with the deteriorating security situation and its implications on the national development.

As the only non-controversial organized institution, RNA must keep its image intact to protect and promote the national interest.

When the politicians are themselves confused about the role of the army to quell insurgency, sufficient consideration has to applied to activity involve the army in finding a satisfactory solution.