The Army Issue Has To Be Discussed In The Parliament

• MJF Is For Republic, Land Reform, Dalit, Muslim, Janajati, Mahila Rights, And Small Or No Army
• No To Terrorism: Terai Army Is A Criminal Outfit
• 3 Layers, 15 States, No Army, 100,000 Bureaucrats Total, Much FDI
• The Army Is Going To Stay Out Of This
• Deciding Now On Monarchy And Army
• Gurung Not Katawal For Army Chief
• Interim Monarchy, Interim Army, Interim Parliament
• Interim Army: You Can Walk And Chew Gum At The Same Time
• International Sanctions On Nepal Army Have To Continue
• Abolish The Monarchy, Abolish The Army
• Monarchy, Army, Federalism
• Shobhakar Budhathoki: Transitioning The “Royal” Nepal Army
• Army Under Parliament, Now
• The Police, The Army Need To Stop Following Illegitimate Orders
• The Army Rank And File Need To Be For The People And Democracy
• The King, The Army, The Ceasefire

That was always the best way to do it. That was always the best idea. Now I am glad the Maoists are trying to get the duly elected parliament to talk about the army.

The president's decision to not recognize an out of process decision by Prachanda to sack Katuwal is under review by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's decision will be final. The parliament may not undo that, except if two thirds of the parliament decides to impeach the president which I don't see happening.

So the Maoists are going to have to make peace with the idea that they do not have the option to undo the president's decision through the parliament.

What the Maoists should instead do is introduce a Security Sector Reform bill. The parliament would hold broad discussions on the topic.

1. Should or should not Nepal have an army at all?
2. If yes, how big should that army be? 20,000? 30,000? I'd go for 20,000.
3. What should be the ethnic and gender composition of that army? 40% female? Proportionate ethnic composition?
   
4. How much should the future Nepal Army draw from the existing Nepal Army and the Maoist Army? 20,000 NA? 3,000 PLA? 7,000 from elsewhere?
5. What to do with the other 80,000 NA soldiers and 17,000 PLA soldiers? Retrain them for private sector jobs? Send them off on scholarships to college? Give them loans to start businesses? Give them preference for foreign employment opportunities? Train them to be teachers and health care workers?
   
6. Democratize the Nepal Army, bring it completely under the parliament.

A bill passed by a parliamentary majority to address all these issues would be the best, perhaps the only way to integrate the two armies.

In The News

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Nepal's address on Tuesday
Big four to invite Gachchhadar into govt
Madhesi parties demand equal status in cabinet with NC, UML categorize the ministries in three groups and share them among the NC, UML and Madhesi parties.
Madhesi parties claim 9 ministries
MPRF opts at last to join UML-led govt
MPRF leaders pressured not to split "All the 10 to 12 members speaking at the meeting have stressed the need for strong unity in the party," said party spokesperson Jitendra Dev. ...... "We joined this party with a view to making the party a national party while focusing on Madhes issues," said Dr Rawal. "So the party must maintain its unity." ...... Most of the members spoke in similar vein and cautioned the leaders not to split the party ..... The members, however, were still divided on whether the party should join the government. They suggested the party leadership join the government after taking a formal decision.
UML wants to keep Home, Finance “It would be unacceptable for us if members of the party are sent into government without the approval of the CWC.” ...... Another general secretary of the party, Bimalendra Nidhi, argued in the CWC that it was the duty of the party to join the government.
CMP, power sharing delays cabinet expansion The MPRF still looks deeply divided on who should lead the party in the government. Sensing the division in the leading Madhesi party Koirala told Gachchhadar that he would hold separate discussion with MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav. ..... some dissenting voice within the NC regarding who should represent the party in the government.

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