DPR

The Maoists have turned 'civilian supremacy' into a political slogan. Ironic to say the least, considering it is in truth a party that regards 'military supremacy' as its credo.

By this time in our peace process the demilitarisation and demobilisation of the Maoist army should have already happened. It is clear that the political stalemate is being used by interested parties to delay integration and/or rehabilitation of combatants.

Regardless of how the controversy over the president's move to reinstate the army chief plays out in the coming weeks, it is disingenuous for a political party that still commands a standing army to talk about civilian supremacy. If the events on the night of 3 May had turned out differently, by now we'd be living in a totalitarian people's republic.

Having said that, the peace process shouldn't be taken by the Nepal Army brass as an excuse for triumphalism. The generals must be answerable to elected democratic institutions if we are to avoid the fate of countries with chronic coups.

Security sector reform means strengthening the Ministry of Defense, which theoretically should act as a bridge between the military and their civilian masters. There is a danger that civilian command will mean politicisation of the army. And this being Nepal, that is going to happen whether we like it or not. But the Nepal Army has hopefully outgrown its feudal past and will be able to withstand and ignore efforts by politicians to patronise favourite jarsaps. The new army chief would do well to keep the political ambitions of some of his generals in check.

Nepal doesn't need and can't afford such a bloated army. What we need is a lean operation that can be rapidly mobilised for natural disasters like the floods in western Nepal on Wednesday night. In a rugged country like this, this means a decentralised air support structure equipped with heavy-lift helicopters.

The other activity in which the Nepal Army has historically excelled and earned well-deserved praise for is international peacekeeping operations. Some dirty stuff in procurement and lack of transparency in the Welfare Fund needs to be cleaned up, but by and large our Blue Berets have done the nation proud.

Which is why it is exceedingly important for politicians not to coddle brass tainted by past human rights violations. Protecting and promoting officers involved in war crimes could jeopardise Nepal's role in future peacekeeping operations.

But the army needs to stay clean and professional not just so our soldiers can stop war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but to sustain the peace process here at home.

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