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KATHMANDU, Feb 21: Chief of the Army Staff General Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana has said that the physical and moral integration of the (Maoist) combatants into the Nepal Army (NA) can be ensured by imbibing in them enduring core values and preserving NA´s apolitical and non-partisan character.
“I would not be wrong in saying that the fate of the peace process and the future of the nation hinges on the success of this endeavor,” General Rana said, while addressing the graduation ceremony of command and staff course-19 on Wednesday.
Today our nation is going through a historic period of complex political, social, economic and psychological change, Rana said, adding that this prolonged transition phase is moving ahead relentlessly. “Against all conventional wisdom peace has prevailed.”
“For Nepalis who have experienced the winds of change and who have a long-term stake in the well-being of their country and people, it is imperative to arrive at well-thought-out long-term solutions, amicably,” Rana further said. “This needs time, patience, tolerance, determination, understanding and compromise and most importantly a realistic home grown approach.”
Shedding light on his tenure as CoAS, Rana said that in rapidly changing national and global circumstances, NA must be competent and capable of constantly delivering on the demands of the government and the people.
Saying that the Army Headquarters has charted out a vision of transformation accompanied by a supportive ten-year plan, Rana added that it is a collectively shared vision of an apolitical, non-partisan, disciplined, professionally competent, ready and relevant organization.
“As our current organizational structure is still based on a traditional understanding of security and conflict, it needs some redesigning to accommodate new realities without damaging our intrinsic strengths, traditions and core values,” he said.
“The new organizational structure so created must reflect our changed priorities, address our real needs, and ensure an efficient command and staff organization, tailored to achieve any given mission effectively and in time.”
Military force is only one decisive element and instrument of national power available to the state to exercise its authority but it usually does not achieve the intended consequences, Rana said.
“Military power can contribute significantly to resolving some political problems and sometimes may be essential in doing so, but it never operates in a political vacuum,” he added. “Therefore, for total harmony among the Trinity; the People, the Government and the Army, any other attempt to promote national security will be futile.”
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