Nepal: Who was not loyal to the Royal family and King in the past?

Rukmangad Katawal

Former CoAS, Nepal

Q1: How you have taken the scheme that has begun in the process of making Nepal Army an inclusive one? How would you analyze the entire procedure being acquired?

Katawal: We could see to it from different angles. The frame of mind observed in some political parties is such that they even as of today take the Nepal Army as an establishment being run under the command of the King. They are in the sheer delusion in that they still take the Army as an institution that is loyal to the Nepali Royalty. It appears to me that the present scheme of things being practiced in the country in the name of democratization and inclusion is aimed simply at damaging the loyalty and the very credentials of the Army to the nation at any cost; and also to damage the entire efforts made by the National Army in the past for the preservation of Nepal and its territorial integrity and Sovereignty. Such plays are in vogue. Similarly, other similar sorts of permanent institutions, including the Nepal Army, are being calculatedly smashed. While we are in the search of a prosperous and pulsating Nepal but in the name of creating a “New Nepal” some are trying to demolish even whatever we have had by making self suicidal attempts. Is it possible to create a new Nepal by damaging its old distinctive institutions? Instead, if those institutions are consolidated then at best we can create some good things for the country. Let’s look into it, what you have asked, and the same sad circumstances that are prevailing at the moment.

Q2: How come the talks of inclusion become a superfluous affair when the country has already entered into the Republican era?

Katawal: Have we preferred such mayhem and commotion to prevail in the name of having a republican order? Do we want to disintegrate Nepal ultimately and damage it? Is it that we have preferred to bifurcate Nepal in the name of having federalism, adopting inclusive model, having proportional system and secularism? Is it that we the Nepalese want to kill the other set of the same Nepalese? Or are we trying to disseminate among the population across the country that we are the Nepalese first and also were a part of the national mainstream beginning from Himal to Terai and stretching from Mechi to Mahakali? All should remember that we are Nepali first prior to taking any steps being undertaken in the name of inclusion. We are Nepalese first.

Q3: Do you mean to say that when the National Army is made an inclusive institution, it may be taken as some steps taken aimed at disintegrating the nation-state?

Katawal: What were the basic fundamentals and the very tenets associated with the Democratization process? This is my counter question to you Sir!

Q4: It was taken prior to the last movement that the Nepal Army ran under the instructions of Nepali Royalty. Now the Army has to abide by the command of the prevailing rules and the regulations of the nation instead toeing to the dictates of one especial man or family. Isn’t it that so?

Katawal: Mind it that the Nepal Army has always functioned remaining under the laws of the land and the constitution in force at any particular time. Army must run as per the laws and the regulations that are in force. Had the Nepal Army created any problems when the country had a new constitution after the movement? I have been talking to various parliamentary committees during the course of interrogation or say discussion as to tell me and give me just one single example wherein the Nepal Army may have violated the laws of the land? Where the NA has breached the laws? Where has the Army exceeded its constitutional limits? Can anyone make authentic claims that the NA has discriminated any Nepali citizen? Can someone forward me the dependable proof?

Q5: Talks have also surfaced of HR violations by the Nepal Army? What say you?

Katawal: As and when such issues have surfaced, the Nepal Army has concurrently taken penal actions as well. Will it be an act of wisdom to summarily censure the Nepal Army if an opposing group or some interested quarters forward such claims which may have been aimed at maligning the Nepal Army itself? Can one take penal actions which may have come just to damage the Army’s credentials citing some false and flimsy pretexts?

Q6: Is it that you have been talking so because once upon a time you used to have remained excessively loyal to the Nepali Royalty?

Katawal: Who was not loyal to the Nepali Royal family in the past? Which personalities used to ignore the former Royalty? Who have had not intimate relations with the former Royal Palace? Have you forgotten of the events such as saluting the King by throwing coins in his feet at time of the crowning ceremony? Have you forgotten the leaders who used to send “applications” to the King seeking country’s Premiership? How can one single out Rukmangad Katawal then? Were the former Royal institution and the Royal Palace for him only in the past? All nonsense.

Q7: Should this then mean that you still revere the Royal Institution?

Katawal: It is not only me whose loyalty should count. The fact is that the “people” should prefer the Royal institution. How the talks of having a ceremonial King surfaced? Why there was the rumor of having a “Baby King”? Who made such proposals? Why not such things are being investigated? It is neither logical nor desirable to dub a single personality as to have been a staunch supporter of the former Royalty. It would just be an unfair act.

Q8: Does this mean that at the last minute you cheated the Nepali Royalty?

Katawal: How to take it as a cheat? That time, the Nepali Army had no other suitable alternative. Who cheated who could well be discussed for upcoming two decades? What the hell the so called Royalist did when there was the story of having a Baby King? Why not they could exploit this opportune moment and the situation then? Nepali Army had no options. NA remains ever in favor of a change and is always with the people because it is the Army of the people. The Army is not to kill the people instead to save it.

Let me narrate you one story.

When I was one of the Commanders of a Brigade in far western region, I asked the then CoAS as to what to do with the Rebels? He gave me with his clear cut instruction like answer. “The rebels too were sons of the Nepali soil and thus they must not be killed instead you manage to bring them all to negotiations”.

It is this perhaps which encouraged the Maoists to declare after ten years of struggle that finally they were for negotiations with the Army.

Q9: Is it that the Nepali Army being transformed into a community based Army?

Katawal: To me it appears that it is not being transformed into a community based Army instead into the sister organization of parties.

Q10: Will the National Army accept such eventualities ultimately?

Katawal: I said you that the National Army must forward its serious objections to any such proposals which go against the spirit of the laws of the land and that of the constitution. The Army must collect the courage to tell the government in a straight manner that these were some of the reasons which we are unable to accept. The NA will abide by and should but those orders and instructions should be a legal one backed by the prevailing laws of the land and as per the spirit of the constitution. For example, tomorrow we may have some other government led by a different party which may also act in a similar manner in order to provide longevity to its government. It may also impose other loads upon the Army institution. What to do then? That’s why the NA should proceed with care abiding by certain permanent and stipulated guidelines. What you need? A national army which is revered by the entire Nepali population or a bunch of militia which remains loyal to a particular religion, community or of a region?

Q11: Some put blame on you that you are prejudiced towards the Maoists? Is it so?

Katawal: Talking of blames, just recall how a washer man blamed Lord Rama of the Treta age then this is the Kaliyug wherein anyone can launch blame onto the heads of the other. It was me who had suggested to the all powerful Prime Minister Koirala that if the Maoists win the CA elections and exhibit their majority then you have to handover the power to the Maoists. When I said so then how the Maoists can take me as a prejudiced person?

Q12: How then are your relations today with Comrade Prachanda?

Katawal: It is just what a Nepali has or should have with another Nepali. That’s it.

Q13: It is talked that he is once again trying his best to become the Prime Minister? How you see to it?

Katawal: Why should I feel headache when all unite and make him the Prime Minister? I will be prompt in congratulating him if that does happen. But yet I wish that he should work for the country and its people if he becomes the Prime Minister. This would be my special request to him.

Q14: It is being talked that the Maoists wish to weaken the Nepal Army. Is that correct?

Katawal: No! I would refrain from blaming the Maoists for this. I had told a gathering in Birgunj some two and a half years back that the Maoists were befooling the Nepalese leaders belonging to other set of political parties. Assess yourself whether my utterances made then have become applicable and logical at the moment or not? First read the Maoists manifesto and then observe their attitude and current behaviors and follow then their activities inside the parliament and just take into account as to what sort of their ministers were in the cabinet? And watch as to what they have been doing?

Q15: But the peace process will not see its completion if one were to tease the Maoists?

Katawal: It is because of this the national Army with a heavy heart is making such serious efforts.

Excerpts only with permission. Text courtesy: The Ghatana Ra Bichar Weekly dated December 28, 2011. Thanks.

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Comments

Posted on - 2012-01-10 by rakesh
kahele bata yo raches ati biduwan vayo ? bihari le seema michda sutera basyo ,raja janda sapana dekhdai basyo , sampati sabai canada udayo ani sadhu vayera biduwan jastai arti dindai cha bhatmara.

Posted on - 2012-01-06 by vikrant
ya everything is good... but general two generation cant be let down by putting a baby king as a negotiable table. ya that was the situation that time but as time comes putting king i its place and showing its loyalty of modern nepal creator by showing these koiralas and other hastis that are enjoying,, waiting for right time.. jai hos