|
Sacrifice With A Cause Despite facing all kinds of difficulties, Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) is fighting a war protecting the common citizens
By A CORRESPONDENT
Nepalese security forces have proved that they can launch all kinds of operations successfully provided political backing and availability of limited number of weapons. Although security forces are mobilized to defend the common citizens and workers of different political parties, nobody is there to stand by their cause.
Mobilized under the provisions of the Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990, Royal Nepal Army and other security forces have been trying best to protect the country’s infrastructures, common citizens from menace of violence.
In the last ten years, the army was mobilized by three different forms of government including elected governments accountable to the House of Representatives, the governments appointed by the King and the King-led government.
Whatever the forms of governments, RNA was not backed by any popular political forces as if it had not been mobilized to defend the common people. Strangely, political leaders who move under the protection of security forces do not shed any tear for the sacrifice made by them.
When army was mobilized under the approval from the parliament, leaders of main opposition parties and factions of ruling parties did not spare any time to criticize the army who were fighting in remote parts of the country. They opposed moves to modernize the army.
Despite their hard works and strong commitment to maintain the law and order, Nepalese security forces are yet to be applauded by country’s major political parties – which ruled the country in the last 14 years in different periods of time.
Following the imposition of state of emergency by King Gyanendra on February 1, RNA is able to penetrate inside the insurgency-infected regions of mid-west and far-west.
“In the last three months, the RNA has made major successes in its operation against the Maoist terrorists. Maoists terrorists have already been uprooted from their own so called base in Rukum and Rolpa” said Deepak Gurung, spokesman of the Royal Nepalese Army. Brigadier General Gurung also revealed that television journalist of Nepal 1 Channel, an Indian based television, worked as Maoist informer in last August when Maoist killed three army personnel in cold blood. “We have all the documents and information how the reporter of Nepal 1 Channel informed the Maoist about the mobility of Royal Nepalese Army.”
Last August, Nepal 1 channel had broadcast the battle between RNA and Maoists in Krishna Bhir, 80 miles west of capital through its satellite links. “The reporter of that channel directed Maoists and informed the movement of Army’s vehicle when three of RNA solders were inhumanly killed after their arrests by the Maoists.”
As the security forces are concentrating their war against the insurgents and making certain successes, the country’s seven major political parties have announced a joint agitation.
According to RNA, from September 11 to April 25, Maoists killed 96 common people and abducted 11,268. The Maoists bombed 104 houses and robbed houses 54 times. In that period, Maoists called general strike for 27 times and amputated 24 civilians.
Since the breakdown of ceasefire in August 2002, 4045 terrorists were killed and additional 757 were estimated to have died while 346 were injured. According to RNA, 432 soldiers were killed during that period.
“Royal Nepalese Army is committed to make ultimate sacrifice for the protection of country, crown and democracy,” said Gurung.
Had leaders of country’s major political parties – who were strangely critical over the role of RNA for their work defending their party workers - whole heartedly backed the RNA like the leaders of other countries, the country would not have to face the situation like this. Instead of defending RNA, the stable and oldest institution, political leaders are treating it as a pariah.
|
