NATIONAL 4 - (Spotlight Weekly)

‘Political Parties Must Boost The Morale Of Security Forces'

—DIPTA PRAKASH SHAHA

A former brigadier-general of the Royal Nepalese Army DIPTA PRAKASH JUNG SHAHA is a renowned expert of international law. Nominated by the King to the Upper House, Shaha has been actively participating in various facets of national life. He spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various security-related issues following last week's Maoist attack on Achham district headquarters. Excerpts:

How do you see the massive attacks on Achham district headquarters and the army and police posts?

I don't think it happened as surprisingly as the attack in Dang. The attack in Dang was a surprise because the army did not think they would come under assault from the Maoists. The case of Achham district was different, as the army was there to quell the insurgency. Everybody, including the administration and politicians, reportedly knew the Maoist was preparing an assault. It is said that the possibility of such an attack was even reported to Kathmandu. Two weeks before the assault, concerned officials were said to have requested additional army personnel.

Why did the army fail to repulse the Maoists?

One cannot expect everything from a small army unit. How can one expect a small group of soldiers with inadequate weapons to fight a large number of insurgents? Fifty or 60 armymen with limited weapons cannot fight to four thousand to five thousand insurgents. I don't agree that this was a failure on the part of the army. Actually, they were attacked from the back. If the soldiers had the opportunity to fight, the result would have different.

If government agencies had in fact been alerted, what stopped them from making proper preparations?

Some of my colleagues in parliament said that intelligence and civil administration had been tipped off about a possible assault in the district headquarters. A delegation from Achham, which visited the capital, reportedly informed officials about the growing activities of Maoists and a possible assault. Even nine or ten days ago, there were rumors in Dailekh district that Maoists were gathering there. Dailekh and Achham are separated by Karnali river. According to the rumors, more than five to six thousands Maoists had assembled in Dailekh. Unfortunately, we couldn't prevent the assault.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the Maoists were said to have used sophisticated weapons in the Achham attack. How do you look at this?

This is the government's version. One cannot say anything without verifying the facts. A ballistics examination needs to be conducted. After the post mortem of the bodies and examination of bullets, the truth will appear. Some defense experts say the Maoists used a rocket launcher. But no rocket launcher was looted from the Dang barracks. I cannot say based on speculation what types of weapons were used. We need evidence to prove such statement.

What needs to be done now?

The Ministry of Defense and the Royal Nepalese Army has order a court of inquiry on whether the weapons were looted from Dang or not. The ministry is silent on the issue. The weapon might have been imported from across the northern or southern border, or it might have been brought from other sources. If a court of inquiry is held, the truth will come out. I am surprised why the government is silent on the matter. It was reported that most of the weapons looted from Dang were not fully assembled for use. The Ministry of Defense cannot escape by saying that the Maoists used the weapons looted from Dang.

Then why did the ministry issue the statement?

I don't know how they could say the weapons were those looted from Dang. Who does the Ministry of Defense want to protect? The truth will come out after the post mortem of bodies and examination of the bullets. One cannot say what kinds of weapons were used on the basis of speculation.

Are our soldiers capable of controlling the insurgency?

Our soldiers are fully capable of controlling the Maoist insurgency. Morale is very important for the army. Concerned parties should encourage solders who are fighting for the country. Every soldier takes an oath to lay down his life for the country, people and king. The Royal Nepalese Army has shown its capabilities in three months by recovering huge amounts of explosives and weapons. They have also disarmed a large number of insurgents and injected a sense of confidence in the people.

How do you see the role of political parties?

There is nothing to be satisfied about. Political leaders seem to have forgotten the role of army. At a time when political parties are involved in petty interests and major political parties are trying to play their own games, even to the extent of accusing the army for not taking effective steps, how can the army feel they have strong moral backing from political forces to fight terrorism?

Why have not the army's actions been as effective as expected?

Fighting a war and fighting an insurgency are two different things. The army can win the war because they have a target to finish. The army needs a target to launch effective actions. If the army is asked to capture a fixed enemy target, it will easily do it. But there is a no target in an insurgency. No one is certain when they would attack and how. The Royal Nepalese Army is mobilized under constitution by the government. We must understand that this is not martial law. When the government asked the army to go and camp in Achham, they left without sufficient weapons.

How have the Maoists been able to control so many areas even three months after the emergency was imposed?

The time has now come to think about regularizing the border, if not controlling it. Without stopping the supply line, it will be very difficult to control the insurgency. There must have been certain logistics. We must see where the supply line is. The Maoists do not have access to the sea in the way Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers do. Our two neighbors India and China have already expressed their support to the government's move to quell the Maoists. When our northern and southern neighbors are against the insurgency, how can the Maoists continue to get weapons and logistic support? If you see the case of dacoits, they, too, are getting support from others.

You mean the supply line needs to be blocked?

Yes, we need to stop the supply line. If we fail to check the supply line at the border, it will be very difficult to control the insurgency. The other important factor is that the government is not doing anything to reveal the hideouts of top Maoist leaders. The government must disclose where they are hiding. Are they inside the country or outside? Finally, the rebel leaders should be brought to justice. The government must say whether it can arrest the Maoist leaders or not. The leaders who plan and execute the attack must be brought to book. Arresting small fish cannot stop assaults. There is no meaning in fighting with the small fish and killing them. The government must inform the people where the headquarters of the insurgents is located and where their leaders are living. If we don't have the capability to smash them out, we must admit it.

What lessons should security officials learn from the assault in Achham?

We have to understand the importance of consensus among political parties in quelling the Maoists. There also is a need to strengthen the security situation in the district headquarters and to develop effective intelligence back-up. If the government wants to deploy the army, it must be given adequate equipment and manpower according to military doctrine. It is true that the ruling party has completely failed. But the main opposition cannot escape responsibility. If the ruling party bears 75 percent responsibility,the main opposition has to take the other 25 percent. According to parliamentary practice, ruling and opposition parties are two wheels of a chariot. There need to develop a culture in accordance with parliamentary practice. At a time when security forces are fighting to quell the Maoists, political parties have to support the security forces and to boost their morale. I have not seen such encouragement from political parties. The ruling and opposition parties have to encourage their workers to fight against terrorism. Unfortunately, political workers of the main political parties are living in the capital after fleeing their home in villages. This is a system run by the people. So political parties must support the security forces.

How effective were the security forces during the Panchayat days in containing insurgencies?

During the early days of the Panchayat system, the Royal Nepalese army was very small. But it was capable of quelling the insurgency. In 1962, when we had about 15,000 soldiers, the army quelled the insurgency. At that time, the people were behind the army personnel who fought against the insurgents. In 1971 in Jhapa and 1984 again, the army successfully quashed the insurgency. Now people are gradually losing faith in the government. People are not fed up with the multiparty system per se, but they are angry with political leaders. The power of the army is always temporary. The country requires long-term political power. The government must give strong leadership to the army. The Royal Nepal Army also needs support from all other major political parties. Reforms in politics and administration are also needed. The government must act against corrupt politicians. If political parties do not start their activities, one cannot find lasting peace.

Are you confident the army would be able to quell the Maoists?

Provided it gets strong political support, the army will be able to quell the Maoists within a short span of time. The army has already proved that it is effective, strong and courageous in safeguarding the nation and national interest.