NATIONAL 2 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Steady Success

The state of emergency and the mobilization of the army have helped to boost public confidence

By A CORRESSPONDENT

Despite lack of cooperation from various mainstream political parties, the Royal Nepalese Army has been making an all-out effort to contain the Maoist terrorism, following the declaration of the state of emergency three months ago.

Although security personnel were mobilized to protect the party workers and leaders, politicians of major political parties have expressed a hostile attitude towards the forces. During the anti-terrorism operations, more than five dozen security personnel, including army and police, have laid down their lives in the defense of democracy. Political leaders, however, have not bothered to express words of condolence.

Street violence : Lack of social discipline

This attitude on the part of senior leaders is seen by many as a hindrance to the fight against terrorism. "Had the political leaders fully cooperated with us, the law-and-order situation would have be much better," says a retired army general on condition of anonymity. "How can any rational political leader think that the mobilization of about 45,000 army and 60,000 police would be enough to contain the Maoists in such difficult terrain and hostile atmosphere?" he ask.

In the last 10 years, the Royal Nepalese Army has not received adequate budgetary funding to modernize its equipment and train its manpower. The army is relying on weapons and logistic equipment that are at least a decade old. The army has some modern guns and other arms, but it needs more advanced weapons and equipment to be able to meet current challenges.

Unfortunately, political leaders, whose irresponsible remarks and acts have push Nepal into a state of anarchy, are still trying to discredit the hard work being done by army. Recent statements by Nepali Congress leaders Sushil Koirala, Govinda Raj Joshi and Shailaja Acharya and UML leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and K.P. Sharma Oli underscore the irresponsible posture politicians are taking during a time of national crisis.

The political leaders criticizing the actions of security personnel have hardly ventured beyond the district headquarters? No political leader, according to newspaper reports, has been able to visit insurgency-affected villages for the last one year.

Moreover, local cadres of mainstream political parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN-ML, have been found engaged in intimidation of the people, ostensibly taking the side of the Maoists. "I have received informal reports that there are Maoists in every party," says the former army general.

Although the Maoists continue to terrorize large parts of rural areas, killing and attacking teachers and the common people, the army is gradually pushing the rebels on the defensive. The recovery of huge amounts of arms and ammunition shows that the army is in an offensive mode to disarm the terrorists.

According to a three-month evaluation report published by the Nepali Congress, the Royal Nepalese Army and police have seized 2,379 kg of explosives, 620 bombs, 160,837 home-made guns, 5,252 detonators, 2,038

fuse-wire, 27 revolvers and recovered 20 3x3 rifles, communication sets and other equipment.

During the first two months of the emergency, the army spent most of its time in restoring the confidence of the people and isolating the terrorists. However, political leaders are trying to discredit the success of the operations by issuing irresponsible statements.

Security operations are not an issue of public debate in most democratic countries. Moreover, political parties in those countries are always seen backing the operations. Even in neighboring India, all political parties are solidly behind the security operations conducted in different parts of the country. Unfortunately, Nepalese political leaders are ignoring the important contributions of the security forces. After all, backing security operations ordered by the government under constitutional provisions does not mean supporting an individual or political party. It means supporting the national cause.