Kanchul wrote:

>remember baburams's shit article during royal masacare

 Baburam’s that article was poorly written for sure (Communists use very limited jargon to describe things, so even when they are describing real things their writings often look coarse and weird). However, his message was that the massacre has ended the traditional monarchy and essentially ‘established’ republic in Nepal. I don’t think this was a ‘shit’ conclusion.

 >..but i again do not belive katwal has the balls..

 The problem with Katawal is that he comes with ‘baggage’ of the past which basically compromises his credibility for critical decisions. Had there been a person with clean history (no involvement in the decisions related to HR violations or loyalty to king/monarchy or that kind of stuff), he could easily stand against Maoist’s self-serving political invasion or take any professionally reasonable decisions in NA’s interest.

 So Katawal is a baggage rather than an asset to NA particularly since Jana-andolan-II.

 On a related note, the same can be said about what GP Koirala has been for NC. All Congressis view Koirala as an asset of NC. However, the reality is the opposite. It if Koirala and the baggage he carries that has made NC a poor player in the games being played since Jana-andolan-II.

 If Koirala and his dynasty continues to provide leadership to NC, NC is doomed to become an once-upon-a-time party like Praja Parishad and other vintage parties of the past.

 The responsibility to today’s precarious situation goes to Koirala’s foolish gamble that missed a real opportunity to decommission PLA. At the beginning of the negotiation for peace accord between government and Maoist, Prachanda has offered to ‘decommission’ PLA in return for an immediate declaration of ‘republic’. Koirala was in his dhoon to save monarchy somehow and anyhow (constitutional, ceremonial, baby-king, any), so he refused. I do not think he refused because NA wound not accept republic. As for NA, it had left monarchy to be on it’s own on the eve of today 3 years ago. Gyanendra and his dynasty had nothing (charisma and mystic of the old monarchs) to offer to NA for it’s traditional loyalty.

 The current immediate cause for this crisis became Supreme Court’s lethargic hearing. The law on the issue (the right of the government to issue ‘abakas’ to the retiring army officer is so CLEAR, it does not make sense to prolong the hearings. Prompt decision was possible and actually needed as we are now seeing the consequences.

 And the final responsibility goes to Maoist. It should have let the thing take it’s own course after it took decision to issue ‘abakas’ to the retiring officers. It’s continued invasive follow-up, with clear self-serving intention, messed things up.

 Maoist should know and act accordingly that people support only the decisions that are necessary and good for the country, not the decisions that are good for Maoist only. Maoists have taken several steps in this episode that serve Maoist only. That is a bad thing and we all should warn Maoist not to do that.

 From common people’s perspective, there is no reason to demoralize Nepal army at this moment. Monarchy is gone and the issue of HR violation is pending until ‘Truth & Reconciliation Commission’ start to work. What remains is our national army. If reform (making more professional) is sought, it should be done systemically. Provocation or clash of ego (that’s what is happening) is no reform.

 As for ‘integration’ issue, it is a long and complicated issue involving many complicated things like psychology, professional standard, history of human right violations and so on. HR violation is the most complicated issue. Basically, there should be no place for war criminals and HR violators in the ‘integrated national army’. And we would not know who are and who are not war criminals and HR violators until ‘Truth & Reconciliation Commission’ presents it’s report. Still a long way to go.

 In my view, the technical part of the ‘integration’ can and should be worked out right now. But the actual integration should wait until ‘Truth & Reconciliation Commission’ presents its report. Until then, PLA and NA should remain separate but work together to develop bond, trust, respect and love (don’t laugh) for each other. That will basically depend on how much PLA can demonstrate that it is not a Maoist army (both ideologically and emotionally) but a Nepali National Army.

 Nepal Army has already de-indoctinated it by getting rid of “Royal” title in words and as well as in thoughts. I do not see reason for suspecting Nepal Army for still being loyal to king and monarchy.

 However, PLA is yet to go though the de-indoctrination and loyalty-shifting process. I think working together of PLA and NA might help that. But I may be wrong. I do not know which is horse and which is cart. May they are both half-horse and half-cart.

 In any case, the bottomline is this: We need a national army that is modern, professional, affordable and ideology-free. Anything less is not acceptable. And the way things are moving, we are making very little progress.

 Nepe