Army's proposal raises oppon's eyebrows
Different theories in circulation about its origin
KATHMANDU, FEB 17 - Following controversy over the alleged agreement between the UCPN (Maoist) and the Nepal Army over the integration of combatants, there has been conflicting claims from the key stakeholders over the new 'flexibility' of the Army.
There are two schools of thought on a convergence of minds between the Maoists and the Army regarding the action plan for integration process. First, the reported consensus is a trial balloon thrown by the Maoists and a segment of the Army to see other parties' reaction and the second is that the deal is real give-and-take between the Maoists and the NA leadership.
Earlier this week, Army Chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung had briefed the prime minister that the Army was ready to integrate 6,500 combatants. He had also pledged that the Army was ready to provide concession on the duration of the bridging course and training.
"I cannot believe in what I have read in newspapers. If the Army's recommendation is true, this is highly objectionable," said Nepali Congress leader and Special Committee member Ram Sharan Mahat. "The Nepal Army has no authority to determine the number of combatants to be integrated. It should limit itself to define the norms of entry and test combatants' eligibility for serving the national army."
"Awarding of total numbers and ranks before testing the combatants' eligibility is like putting the cart before the horse," added Mahat. He said concession on training is against the spirit of the November-1 deal that calls for relaxation only on age, marital status and education.
NA sources claim there is a sharp division inside the Army Headquarters over the recent recommendation made by Gen Gurung. It has been learnt that second-in-command Lt Gen Gaurav Shumsher Rana was not taken into confidence while preparing the recommendations.
The flexibility is the result of Gen Gurung's desire to see the completion of the peace process within his tenure, argued a general close to the Army chief.
"The proposal upholds the bottom line that none of the combatants to be integrated into the Army would get a rank beyond major. We are flexible to shorten training period because many of the combatants have already gained some basic skills," said a general.
The Directorate General of Military Operations led by Maj Gen Daman Ghale drafted the plan to execute integration. Gen Gurung has opted for a flexible stand on combatants to ensure the elevation of Ghale (his brother-in-law) to the rank of lieutenant general, claimed another general.
Gen Gurung's proposal to create two additional positions of lieutenant general is pending at the Defence Ministry. Sources claimed the Army leadership is negotiating with the Maoists to create two additional top ranks within March.
Gen Ghale will be the contender for the rank of lieutenant general after Major General Pradip Jung Thapa retires on March 12. "The creation of additional positions of lieutenant general would be unfortunate. That will breach the line of succession of the military leadership and weaken the Army," said a hard-line general.
Gen Rana will replace Gurung after his retirement. He was a key person to negotiate the post-UNMIN monitoring arrangement and was taken into confidence while submitting an integration roadmap during the tenure of former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Posted on: 2012-02-17 01:00
source:
http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/02/17/editors-pick/armys-proposal-raises-oppons-eyebrows/349054.html
दिन खुल्दा देखिने सुन्दर हिमालहरू र डाँडामाथिबाट हेर्दा हुस्सुले ढाकेका बस्ती हाइकिङ्का विशेष आकर्षण हुन् यतिबेला। त्यसबाहेक स्थानीय संस्कृतिको अवलोकन गर्दै गोरेटो, भञ्ज्याङ र दुवैतर्फबाट पहाडले घेरएिका साँघुरा बाटामा हिँड्नु झनै रोचक हुन्छ। र, त्यसका लागि काठमाडौँबाट लामो बिदा लिएर निस्कनु वा धेरै खर्च जुटाइरहनु पनि पर्दैन। आफूसँग भएको समयकै अनुपातमा कस्तो रुटमा हाइकिङ् जाने भन्नेमा धेरै विकल्पहरू भेटिन्छन्। काठमाडौँ छेउछाउ सामान्यतः एक दिनदेखि पाँच दिनसम्म लाग्ने हाइकिङ् रुटहरू छन्।
तय गरे पनि उही ठाउँमा पुग्नु । माओवादीभित्र पनि यो एउटा अनौठो प्रवृत्ति छ । अर्थात् त्यहाँभित्र आफूलाई सबैभन्दा क्रान्तिकारी ठान्ने व्यक्तिहरूको एउटा अचम्मलाग्दो सिक्री छ । त्यो सिक्री एकअर्कोलाई समात्दै गोलाकार पंक्तिमा छ । मोहन वैद्य क्रान्तिकारी पंक्तिका मुख्य नेता हुन् । उनको राजनीतिक हातले देव गुरुङको हात समातेको छ । देव गुरुङको संगठनात्मक हात नेत्रविक्रम चन्दको हातमा छ । चन्दले रामबहादुर थापालाई समातेका छन् । थापाको हात नारायणकाजी श्रेष्ठको हातमा छ । यता श्रेष्ठको दाहिने हात प्रचण्डको हातमा छ । यसरी क्रान्तिकारी सिक्री पूरा हुन्छ । अनि, वैद्य समूह प्रचण्डसँगै पुग्छ र विद्रोह सुक्छ । यो रोचक सिक्रीले क्रान्तिकारी आवाज निकाल्दै जाँदा क्रमशः मधुरो हुँदै नारायणकाजी श्रेष्ठसम्म पुग्दा पूरै आवाज बन्द हुन्छ । अनि, प्रचण्डकहाँ पुग्दा पार्टीभित्र भूमिकाको मोलमोलाइ मात्र बाँकी रहन्छ । क्रान्तिकारी सिक्रीको यस समीकरणले विद्रोहको विप्लवकारी आवाजलाई नारायणकाजीजस्ता श्रेष्ठ अनुवादकद्वारा मोलमोलाइमा अनुवाद गरििदन्छ । विद्रोह घुम्दैफिर्दै रुम्जाटार पुग्छ । वैद्य समूहको रुम्जाटार भनेकै अध्यक्ष प्रचण्ड निवास हो ।
अर्को दक्षताको पाटो हो । तर, शास्त्रीय माक्र्सवादलाई तात्कालिक राजनीतिक मार्गचित्रका रूपमा अनुवाद गर्न उनी सक्तैनन् । त्यसकारण उनका सैद्धान्तिक मान्यता माक्र्सवादसंगत भए पनि त्यसको कार्यान्वयन असम्भवप्रायः बन्छ । वैद्यको यो राजनीतिक सीमाले गर्दा पार्टीभित्र उनलाई जडसूत्रवादीको आरोप लाग्छ । र, उनी अन्ततः आफ्नो सुदूर सैद्धान्तिक लहरोलाई खुम्च्याउँदै अध्यक्ष प्रचण्ड वा भट्टराईसम्म आइपुग्छन् । माओवादीभित्रको वैद्य विशेषता सतत चलिरहेको पुरानो मुद्दा हो ।
स्वामीजस्ता लाग्छन् । उनले बोलेपछि त्यसको कार्यान्वयनको पक्ष कहिल्यै पनि उनको प्राथमिकतामा पर्दैन । त्यसकारण उनले भनेको कुरालाई कसैले गम्भीरतापूर्वक लिँदा पनि लिँदैन । ऋषिमुनिहरू भक्तहरूलाई जम्मा पारेर अर्ती, उपदेश र दीक्षा दिन्छन् । भट्टराईले पनि आफ्नो नेतृत्व क्षमतालाई ऋषिमुनिकै विधिमा रूपान्तरण गरेका छन् । उनको कार्यकर्ता दुर्गम पहाडी जिल्लाबाट भेट्न आयो भने उनी भरपूर विचार दिन्छन् । तर, र्फकनका लागि गाडीभाडा दिँदैनन् । जब कार्यकर्ता घर र्फकन्छ, त्यतिबेला बसको कन्डक्टरलाई भट्टराईको विचार होइन, भाडा नै चाहिन्छ । कार्यकर्ताले 'मसँग भट्टराईजस्तो विद्वान् व्यक्तिले दिएको विचार छ' भनेर बस सञ्चालकले मान्ने कुरा पनि भएन । त्यहीँबाट भट्टराई र कार्यकर्ताको सम्बन्ध छुट्टन्िछ ।
