EDITORIAL
The government deployed security personnel from its four security organs – Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and National Investigation Department — for conducting the local elections peacefully. The government said that the Nepal Police personnel deployed for conducting local elections will not get different allowances that were provided in the previous elections. Moreover, the government was unable to provide necessary arms and the walkie talkie to the Nepal Police personnel. The Nepal Police personnel were compelled to borrow arms from the Nepal Army and instead of walkie talkies, they were asked to use the mobile phone.
All four important security organs are demanding arms and other facilities including increasing the existing number of security personnel. The Nepal Army is the force to safeguard national territory, nation’s sovereignty and independence. The total number of the Nepal Army is less than one hundred thousand. Besides, they are unable to get sophisticated arms.
The government has given the responsibility to the Armed Police Force for the protection of civilians, disaster management, border security, safeguarding the borders, industrial security and curbing the illegal activities. Similarly, the government has given the responsibility to the Nepal Police for maintaining law and order, prevention of crime and crime investigation within the jurisdiction determined by the Constitution. However, the government is unable to provide the necessary equipment and facilities for these organs.
Nepal’s geopolitical location is very sensitive. More than that, there is an open border between Nepal and India. Due to the absence of our security personnel on the Nepal-India border, the Indian side is continuously encroaching on Nepali territory. Of late, the global security scenario has polarized. The Western military alliance against Russia and China has intensified. The Russian-Ukraine war seems to be escalating further. In such a global development, Nepal, a tiny nation between the two powerful and huge countries, should think and do the necessary homework on protecting and safeguarding national territory, national sovereignty and independence. Can we safeguard the nation with less than one hundred thousand army personnel that too without arms, can we safeguard the nation with a fluctuating foreign policy, these are the burning questions! It is not a question of size, if our army is equipped with sophisticated arms they can fight with the enemies. It is the subject of empowering our security organs with the necessary number and sophisticated equipment. Of course, there won’t always be war. During the peace period, the government should use the national security personnel for infrastructural development. We can learn a lot from the Israel model as well. Also, in many countries, the security organs, which are regarded as disciplined forces, have been assigned in running different industries strategically important for the nation. In the same way, we can also give some business assignments to the security forces so that they could provide revenue and profit to the government. Also, even after retirement, those trained security personnel can serve the nation. In this regard, providing some facilities, the government may develop a mechanism for using and receiving service from those ex-security personnel. Along with democracy, military strength is also important to save the nation. The government, thus, needs to become serious about empowering our security organizations.
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