Citizens' role in security policy making

25 Dec 2005. Nepal police inaugurated the Post Graduate Diploma in Police Science course today. In fact this is a basic training course designed for fresh inspectors which has been recently endorsed by Tribhuvan University for Diploma level certificate. It could be successful only after some years of efforts on our parts and cooperation of the University family. With the notion that we need to educate citizens in the issues of crime and security management, Nepal police had taken initiatives (proposal for Master’s Degree in Police Science was forwarded to ministry of home through police headquarters by National Police Academy—at that time I was the Director) in 2058 BS (2001AD) to establish a center where matters of crime and security management could be dealt institutionally. In countries where major decisions pertaining to crime and security management—at the level of personal or national-- are prominently dominated by security agencies, such programs are necessary to involve citizen’s participation in policy making and cooperation in implementation. I am of the view that this program should be open for outsiders also. This will have multiple impacts— at individual, institutional and national level. I also dream of having a Police University in coming years—like they have in other countries.

Dedication for mankind

14.12.2005. I attended the marriage ceremony of one of the orphan girls nursed, brought up, educated and solemnized as bride by Indira Rana Magar, Chair person of Prisoners Assistance Nepal. This girl was abandoned by her parents. This organization has been rescuing innocent children from prisons who had to live inside the jails with their convicted parents with out their own faults. Indira had established this organization five years ago. PA Nepal’s mission is to rid prisoners of unnecessary suffering and hardship, in particular the suffering experienced by innocent children and prisoners who are poor and disadvantaged. It wants to help transform prisons into places that work to help prisoners build worthwhile and rewarding futures.

There are fifty five children in her home at present. She is the mother of all these children. Indira was recently awarded Ashoka Fellowship for her dedication and devotion to her love and care for helpless children. She was also awarded Top Fifty Women of Nepal Award. She is also running a primary school for poor and orphan children. Her organization is entirely dependent on the donations of friends and supporters- not on any INGO. Looking at her determination, hard work and dedication, I felt myself very much selfish and petite in front of this great lady who has sacrificed her happiness and whole life for the sake of poor and needy children. My regards and best wishes to such a leader.

Sani Sherpa committed suicide

13 Nov. 2005. Sani Sherpa, 27 years old woman, committed suicide few hours ago here in Kathmandu. She committed suicide out of utter poverty and frustration. She had two children, one two year old girl and the other one a five days old boy baby. Now the baby is sent to the hospital and the girl child is with the police. Her husband had apparently abandoned her with her fate. She was looked after by her neighbors. It is unfortunate that despite of many social organizations to help poor woman like Sani, such incidents keep on happening.

Looking for talents in the streets

28 Oct. 2005. The seven party coalitions have called for “Valley Bandha” (Valley Closedown) today in protest of the government’s law on media. On the eve of the general strike the police radios and walkie-talkies were already blaring harsh instructions to “arrest street children in as many number as possible” in a bid to foil their participation in today’s rallies. Street children quite often suffer most in such events.

Contrary to this, Sadak Pratibha Sarokar Nepal (Street Children Concern Nepal), a NGO of street children, organized a closing ceremony to mark the end of the six month long skill development training. Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare was the chief guest. Ms Komal Oli, a noted singer, and me were some of the guests. On this occasion, the shooting of the first take of the tele film “Aawaaj”(Voices of street) was also inaugurated. The Save the Children, Norway is assisting this organization’s activities.

The problems are—why we can’t stop bullying children? And why we can’t stop children landing up in the street? A more proactive role is required instead of taking reactive ones.

Prerequisites of elections

18 Oct 2005. The local municipality elections are scheduled to be held in Magh of this year and the general election for parliament has been slated by the end of next year i.e. end of Chaitra 2063. Sounds good! But the pertinent questions are: will these elections solve all the current political problems? Are we not going to resolve down imminent things before these elections? Two key issues remain to be addressed before these elections--the re-establishment of peace by prevailing law and order, and restructuring of the political system. What about the inclusive type of political system that we have been talking lately? And what about the proportionate representative election system associated with these issues? Don’t you think that these are prerequisites to any elections if we really wish to settle things once for all?

First peace then election

The main objective of having elections is to elect a representative or a political leader for the government in a free and fair manner. When there are no freedom to choose, when there are no good candidates or parties, and when there are no voters to vote then such election is no election; it is a folly. The basic prerequisites for election are the conducive situation prevailed by law and order, majority of voters, and candidates or the political parties. Therefore the first thing we need to do is to fulfill these preconditions. Let us have first peace then elections.

Towards peace

The Maoist insurgents have declared unilateral ceasefire on 3rd September 2005. But the government has not done so yet. The government has failed to recognize the demand of the people for peace. In this way the government has politically failed to grab the advantage of the opportunity of re-establishing its faith and image inside and outside the country. The government should have welcomed Maoist’s move and further appealed for everlasting peace by calling and preparing for talks and negotiations.

Media and security

7 Oct 2005. Attended an interaction program in between the media persons and security forces. It was organized by Conflict Afflicted Media Persons(CAMP) and Media Services International(MSI) with an objective of improving the relationship between media and security forces. Many editors of major dailies and weeklies were attending. Senior army and police officials were also there. The interaction started gently. It sometime took a rough ride with the passage of time. Both sides were almost offending and defending one another. But overall the interaction ended amicably.

We all understand the value of information. I realize the tremendous degree of hazards and risks that the media persons have to undertake while seeking out for news, in fact they are in more dangerous situation than the security persons find themselves. I appreciate and thank them for the contributions despites of the dangers. I feel sorry for the losses that they have incurred in the process. I understand that the information is power. But this power should not be misused. Power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I think three things are dominating our relationship-- the situation, the attitude and the behavior. The situation is abnormal therefore the attitude towards one another is suspicious. There are extreme accusations on security forces that they are bent upon uprooting the democracy. On the other hand media persons are accused of glorifying the terrorists and terrorism. This type of attitude is prompting completely unfriendly behavior amongst them which is unfortunate.

The relationship is the result of the actions and reactions of both sides. Therefore we need to improve our actions and reactions. We know that there have been breach of law and code of ethics from both sides. Therefore the first thing we need to do is to correct our actions. All actions must be lawful and according to the code of ethics. These will make us disciplined; thus free from accusations of violations. We need to usher in the improvements in our faulty system. We must institutionalize good practices. And there is a need for creating a special task force to charting out a new code of ethics for both sides, at least for some time as long as the politics do not improve.

New data on trafficking

3 Oct 2005. Attended the report launching program on “Media activism for support to prevention of trafficking in women and girls in Nepal” organized by Asmita Women’s Publication House, Media, and Resources Organization. Two researchers, Ms. Anju Chhetri and Ms. Manju Thapa presented the report of the study conducted on the state of trafficking in Nepal India. According to their study the total numbers of Nepali sex workers in India are 14352.

According to the report the numbers of sexual workers in various cities of India were as under:
Kolkata- 1302
Delhi- 300
Mumbai- 12350
Pune- 500
Total- 14352

The report further estimates the total numbers of sex workers in other parts of India to be roughly 10000. Thus the Nepali sex workers in all over India are near 25000. This report is very much different from the earlier reports on the number of Nepali sex workers in India. I personally feel that the two researchers are very confident on their estimates and it looks very close to the fact since they have physically visited the field. However, it will certainly generate new discussions.

Pili attack and after

Why did Maoist attack on Pili?

Maoist attacked on Pili, an army base camp on 7 Aug 2005. A short analysis of the incident might be interesting.

Wrong analysis that Maoist has become weak and therefore unable to attack big army barracks.
They will not attack on army which is constructing highway.
Diversion of attention that they will attack on Kolti.
Mistake on part of army to take position with ill preparation but with large number of weapons.
Poorly defended position.
Maoist wanted to consolidate repeated loss in the past.
They wanted to white wash that there is any internal conflict between the Maoist leaders.
They also wanted to show the outside world that they still have power to attack and thus possess bargaining power.

What now?

There are two options for army-either let Maoist and the political parties hold peace talks or take sterner offensive actions. The probability of opting for second course of action is high.
The Pili attack is significant in the view that the military wing has strong hold than the political wing inside Maoist. The statement of Prabhakar (Commander of Military Wing) rather than of Dev Gurung (In charge of Political Wing) indicates this reality.
Now the military commanders of East, Ananta, and Central region, Pasang, will try to attack in their respective regions to compete with the Western region commander Prabhakar. Therefore there are chances of attacks in both regions in near future.
The political parties have two options-either gets Maoist into their politics or boycotts Maoist call.
The government may be in a position to buy arms in the name of Maoist insurgency.

Destiny catastrophe

I had the opportunity to attend a musical evening on 13 Aug 2005. The Indian Embassy had organized this program on the occasion of 59th Independence Day of India. Pundit Mukesh Sharma and Anupriya were the two guest artists. Mukesh played Sarod while Anupriya played Violine. In the second half of the evening, four Nepali artists also joined them with Sitar, Tabla, Bansuri and Sarangi. All of them played quite harmoniously. It looked like they were practicing together for many years. Then suddenly the reflection of the present political, socio-economic situation of our country came to my mind. I wonder why not we can just work in unison for the peace and prosperity of the country like these artists. I am very sorry to admit the fact that all of us have failed in our duties. The political forces, the security forces, the actors of criminal justice administration, the bureaucrats, the economists, the educationists, the medias, the civil society, and the rebels- all have failed miserably. Unfortunately we are still heading for terrible catastrophe.

Considering the current situation in Nepal no one should say, “Politics is not my business and I am least interested in it.” If good people do not join in politics then it would mean we agree to be tortured, bullied, swayed away, governed, and doomed by the egocentric acts of bad politicians. We should not forget that all of us are traveling in the same boat. We can not live in isolation; we are the part of the fateful jaunt. We should punish any one trying to burrow the hole in the boat and get it quickly refurbished. We can not hang around to see others drowning because we might be the first one to go down. When the boat is capsized into the abyss, it will be too late to apprehension. The immediate need is to pull ourselves out of the storm. For that, coalition, not collision, is the need of the hour.

People's system

There is an adage in Nepali society-Sandey ko judaima bachhako michain- meaning the young calf suffers most while bulls fight. People appear to have lost loyalty, confidence and interest in the political forces-political parties, king and Maoist-of Nepal. These forces are bent upon to thwart each other consequently pushing people into more and more risks and misfortunes. A poor man is not interested in any of these political systems—monarchy, constitutional monarchy, multiparty democracy, republic, socialist republic, communist. His needs at the village are peace and freedom. Having experienced the exhilarating zeal and hopes out of promises, and nervousness out of threats, people are seeking out for an alternative system— alternative system sans these political forces. Is there any such blueprint to fit people’s wish? A people's system.

Armed Conflict and Trafficking

The discriminations in thoughts and deeds towards women and girl children in our society are breeding ground to several crimes and violence against them. The armed conflict has worsened the life of women and children. It dominates the situation by terrorism, deaths, and destructions. There is all-round insensitivity to the psychological trauma of a victim, of parents and guardians. Acute state of social insecurity and erosion of law is giving birth to gun totting culture and impunity.

The human dignity, human values, and social norms are in the shadows of war and everything is governed by the rule of war and hammer and anvil like tools in such time. As the natures of family violence, sexual violence, and trafficking are clandestine, unnoticeable, and most under reported in our society, these crimes have increased during the past few years. Today, on 1 July 2005, several real and heart touching case studies ranging from abductions, rapes to murders by Maoist, Army, and police were shared in a half day seminar organized by National Networking Against Girls Trafficking (NNAGT). The key speakers were Durga Ghimire, President of NNAGT, Ms. Laxmi Pokharel from ABC Nepal, Ms. Irada Gautam of AAWAJ, Ms. Sarita Aryal of Sukhi Sansar, Ms Kanta Rijal of SACPEW, Ms. Pinki Singh Rana of SAMANATA/SAATHI, Dr. Madhavi Singh of Rahat, Mr. Tirtha Khanal of Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Welfare, and myself.

But how can we prevent, and control these crimes, and how can we prosecute criminals when there is no access of police and any state agency in the villages? is a pertinent question. One spontaneous answer, probably the best one, is—we stop war and do politics for Peace and Prosperity. Peace will reinstate rule of law in the country.

Otherwise we could adopt three major strategies for the solutions. Firstly, we re-engineer--review the existing infrastructure of institutions and remodel new or revise infrastructures and amend laws and policies accordingly. Secondly, we educate and empower all potential victims through community approach. We sensitize police, army, and even Maoists to pay respect to humanity, human dignity, human rights, and humanitarian laws. Thirdly, we need to seek a great deal of cooperation and coordination of civic society and community at large to enforce laws and bring criminals to the court.

Total Recorded Crime in Nepal Police

Total Recorded Crime in Nepal Police--Crime Recorded in BS (AD)

2027/28(mid July 1970/mid July 71) = 3243

2028/29(mid July 1971/mid July 72) = 3873

2029/30(mid July 1972/mid July 73) = 3830

2030/31(mid July 1973/mid July 74) = 4010

2031/32(mid July 1974/mid July 75) = 3429

2032/33(mid July 1975/mid July 76) = 2974

2033/34(mid July 1976/mid July 77) = 2719

2034/35(mid July 1977/mid July 78) = 2885

2035/36(mid July 1978/mid July 79) = 5084

2036/37(mid July 1979/mid July 80) = 5008

2037/38(mid July 1980/mid July 81) = 4645

2038/39(mid July 1981/mid July 82) = 4430

2039/40(mid July 1982/mid July 83) = 5032

2040/41(mid July 1983/mid July 84) = 4308

2041/42(mid July 1984/mid July 85) = 4103

2042/43(mid July 1985/mid July 86) = 3942

2043/44(mid July 1986/mid July 87) = 4042

2044/45(mid July 1987/mid July 88) = 4698

2045/46(mid July 1988/mid July 89) = 4963

2046/47(mid July 1989/mid July 90) = 4893

2047/48(mid July 1990/mid July 91) = 6130

2048/49(mid July 1991/mid July 92) = 7297

2049/50(mid July 1992/mid July 93) = 7854

2050/51(mid July 1993/mid July 94) = 8751

2051/52(mid July 1994/mid July 95) = 9100

2052/53(mid July 1995/mid July 96) = 9432

2053/54(mid July 1996/mid July 97) = 9326

2054/55(mid July 1997/mid July 98) = 10324

2055/56(mid July 1998/mid July 99) = 10504

2056/57(mid July 1999/mid July 00) = 10584

2057/58(mid July 2000/mid July 01) = 9897

2058/59(mid July 2001/mid July 02) = 9033

2059/60(mid July 2002/mid July 03) = 9507

2060/61(mid July 2003/mid July 04) = 8622

Maoism and Maoists of Nepal

Dear Jyotiji,

I do not posses knowledge on Communism and People’s Revolutionary War because ‘the only person who really understands communism is the communist who understands it too late’. Since I have not studied Mao-Tse-tung and Vo Nguyen Giap, my answers to your questions cannot be therefore conclusive. The communism received its impetus only in twenties in Southeast Asia from China. Mao’s Communist revolution is world famous, which was greatly influenced by Sun Tzu’s Art of War written sometime in 500 BC. But why does it still appeal to Maoists of Nepal?

The best source to find the answer would be to look into the Communist Party of Nepal’s (Maoist) manifesto. The Nepalese Communist Party was established in 1949 only. That party was established at a ‘time when the great Chinese revolution had been won and socialism was developing in the USSR.’ The adoption of Chinese style revolution, although today the Chinese diplomat denies of any relationship with Maoist except with the name of Mao, is based upon the principle of Mao’s successful revolution in China. Maoists consider ‘the victory of Chinese revolution as a big factor in the establishment of Communist Party in Nepal.’ Prachanda further justifies the need of ‘this war to break the shackles of thousands of years of slavery and to establish a New Democratic state’ which in understanding is ‘the path of people’s liberation and a great and bright future.’ The Maoist documents further reveal the goals of people’s war ‘to overthrow the bureaucrat-capitalist class and state system, which are dependent on and serve imperialism; uproot semi-feudalism; and drive out imperialism.’

The doctrines of insurgency are important factors in the sense that these are determinant in the successful sustainability of the insurgency. There are generally two doctrines--offensive and defensive. Maoists of Nepal are adopting the doctrine of offensive action or the emphasis on armed action rather than on the doctrine of mobilization of masses. Castro, Che Guevara, and Sendero Luminoso in Cuba and Peru also chose this course. In Nepal, the most notable development in the last one decade is--the populations at large condemn Maoists’ terrorism. The situation is slipping out of their hands. This is going to be fatal for Maoists, ultimately culminating into total stop of terrorism in the country.

The state designs and operates Counterinsurgency Operation to neutralize the insurgency. Many abortive insurgencies are defeated by military and police actions alone. But, if an insurgency has tapped into serious grievances and has mobilized a significant portion of the population, the task becomes more difficult. It becomes more cumbersome when there is political instability. The best and surest way of controlling the insurgency is to win the people’s heart and mind. Winning heart and mind would require taking serious actions to reform. Reforms are inevitable in order to avoid grievances, to isolate Maoists from mass population. Use of security forces are only one such alternatives. The State response must be multifaceted and coordinated. This the security forces cannot do alone. All political forces need to consolidate and stand fast against terrorism. The insurgency problem would not prolong if there is consensus among Nepali people and political forces.

Dr. Govind Prasad Thapa, 18 June 2005

Passenger bus ambushed and bombed

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has again undraped its real face by electronically ambushing a commuters’ bus and bombing more than hundred passengers. Thirty nine people, including several children, died; more than seventy severely injured. This incident took place in Bandrekhola-Madi of Chitwan district on 6 June 2005. It shows their real face behind the coat of a political party. It is a most inhuman and barbarous act of terrorism in which innocent people were targeted. Maoists have committed such crimes many times before. The folly is that they have been claiming to fight for the cause of people. The party has shed crocodile tears for the gross mistake.

Community policing

The government can not accomplish everything single-handedly. Community mobilization is one of the most effective ways of achieving goals. With this theory, the government is gradually transferring the responsibilities to the community accordingly making them powerful. Community forests and schools are some of its examples. The management of some forests and schools are transferred to the community. And things have improved with the participation of community in these sectors. The conflict in between the community and forest officials are no more heard; the affiliation has altered into pleasant and beneficial.

Crime is a complex issue. With the advancement of science and technology, and the growth of population, it has become more untamable. Law making is not the ultimate solution; rather it is the beginning of our efforts. The real success lies in the proper enforcement of laws. The police can not do all the jobs without help. And for this purpose, we must be able to congregate community cooperation. For that reason community policing is one choice; because it means policing crimes by the help of citizens. Community approach of policing is a policy of people, for the people, and by the people. Therefore, we can say that citizens are police without uniforms.

The core idea behind community mobilization is to build an environment for sustainable development and/or service programs. People’s consultation, consent, cooperation, and participation make the tasks of the government much easier. It also harnesses local resources for meaningful purposes. There grows a feeling of ownership among the people. Today, 4 June 2005, I had the opportunity to address, as a guest, one of the annual functions of Community Services and Development Society of Koteswor, Kathmandu. It is a society formed jointly, in cooperation of local people and local police, which aims to build up the locality into an idyllic residential area. Up-to-day there are more than one hundred such centers all over the country with the aims and objectives of liberating the locality from crimes, rendering social services, and initiating development works at local level. Some of them are really good; while some are trying hard to uphold. I believe the government must help refurbishing these types of centers which eventually make the government’s job easier.

Consolidation for peace and prosperity

The terrorism germinates and grows in the environment of unequal opportunities, acute poverty, gross marginalization, illiteracy, unemployment, rampant corruption, criminalization of politics, unresponsive executive and judiciary, and easy access to means of terrorism. For many frustrated youths, violence is the sure means of quick solutions; there are thousands such youths vulnerable for exploitation. If we continue fighting and killing each others; one day there will be no Nepali left, for this reason no Nepal. It will be lose- lose state of affairs. No one will win. Terrorism does not pay. It does not win hearts and minds. There are other better alternatives to politics than terrorism. We have already wasted valuable lives and times in the past. Now there is no time to waste. No resources left. If we really are dedicated to people then let us all be clear that people want peace and prosperity. My understanding is that we are all traveling in the same boat. So no one can keep him/herself aloof. Terrorism spares none. Let us all row the boat to safety first; not fight with each other. National interests come first always and everywhere, then the group and individual interests. Surely we would not like our country to become another Sierra Leone, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Peru, Sri Lanka etc.Let our conscience rule over our ego.

Fighting terrorism is not a matter of interest, not a matter of choice, but a matter of utmost necessity, a matter of high importance, and a matter of urgency. What is required is action--not just sit satisfied in tacit connivance only. Watching others facing the brunt of terrorism, waiting for one’s turn, shutting doors to the gross scene of violence, murders, rape, and closing nostrils to the rotten smell of dead bodies are acts of cowardice. We must have courage to stand against these. If we do not, then we simply wait in the queue for our turn; and it is destined to come sooner or later - because terrorism spares none. Raising awareness and education among the leaders, cadres, and communities against the futility of such terrorism to attain political solution or usher social change, and providing economic activities for many jobless young people, and create good political environment which is more conducive and inclusive than conservative are sure steps towards ending violence. An effective response to the Maoist threat should therefore encompass larger issues of development, leadership, and good governance.

Anyone can be a very good guru and preacher of modern democracy and good governance. One should respect their knowledge. But at the same time we should also not forget the ground realities of our land. Westerners have already gone through the phases of learning by mistakes. We are only entering into it now. It is always easy to demand than give. It is easy to preach than practice. For the successful practice of democracy we need to have discipline; without it, democracy will turn into lawlessness, mobocracy, chhadatantra, autocracy, and mockery. Democracy can survive when the rights and duties of citizen are properly balanced. There is no place in the world where there are no laws, where there are no restrictions to criminal acts, where there are no punishments for corruptions. Democracy means respecting the law of the country. In our case, Grouchi Marx’s saying “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies” perfectly matches. In the name of democracy the social norms and values have been dismantled. Therefore let us all consolidate for peace and prosperity.

Animal rights

The shrill shriek of pigs facing deaths tears my eardrums and then the heart. There are several pork meat shops nearby my house. These are famous for ‘Dharane Kalo Sungur’(Dharan’s Black Pigs). I can hear the poor animals shrieking for help when the sharp steel blades pierce into their hearts. At times when there are people dying without mercy; who cares of these animals. But after all how long will all these things keep going? How long should we allow them to continue? Should not be there be mankind to stop them? Should not there be a law to stop these types of cruelty and end these everlasting pain before deaths? Le us arise and stop them from today onwards, right from today.

nation building

Recently I had been to a round trip inspection tour of several districts. In this connection I also visited the Bandipur of Siraha district where Maoist had attacked on one unified security base camp, police station, and army battalion HQ. Three policemen, one army soldier, and six local people, and many Maoists died in this incident. Few security personnel are taken as hostage by Maoist. The dead bodies of many ‘guerillas’ were strewn around the incident site. Looking at the bodies of these ‘guerillas’; I felt very bad. They were of very young age, looked innocent and ignorant of any politics of Maoism giving impetus to totalitarianism. Most of them appeared to belong to indigenous group, the Janajatis. Their poor dress and gear indicated that they lacked resources and had very poor preparations. It appeared that they were committing suicidal attacks on such well fortified camps manned by well trained soldiers with superior fire arms. We should be actively doing something, not only show tacit connivance, to stop these types of killings of one Nepali by another Nepali. We can do few things like—raising awareness and education among the communities against the futility of such terrorism means to achieve any political power or social change; provide economic activities for many jobless young people; and create good political environment which is more accommodative and inclusive than conservative. An effective response to the Maoist threat should encompass larger issues of development, leadership, and good governance. And only expanded economic and social infrastructures and opportunities for all to rise to their full potential will make a new Nepal-a peaceful, developed, beautiful, and a great Nepal.

policing crimes

How do you find your police in your country? Although it is mostly based on person to person experience; the majority of the answer would be “not good”. Yes. This is the type of response that we generally come across. Then what should be done? Avoid or reform police? If we avoid them the problem will continue to be there and it will rather increase. Therefore we should include the “troublemaker” in our development or reform program. If we correct the police there will be no more trouble in future. It is so simple. When we consider police as a part of our social life then we would certainly like that our police are professional.
The philosophy of modern policing call for client oriented policing; community based policing, proactive policing. What is this then?
Community policing is:
l Designed to make crime control a collaborative effort/Multi disciplinary approach
l Taping community resources to share crime control efforts.
l Seeking to enhance crime control by engaging more powerful social control mechanism.
l A philosophy of client-oriented service delivery aimed at improving accountability and effectiveness by focusing on problem solving.
l A style of policing crimes with the help of citizens. Generating a feeling of, “All police are citizens with uniforms: All citizens are police without uniforms.”
l A policing system of the citizens, for the citizens, and by the citizens.
Yes it is systems which inculcate for the sense of belongingness, the sense of ownership, the feeling of “weness”. But it does not call for a new organization, new laws, new budgets, and new people. It requires only the change in the style of policing. So simple! If we consider people’s participation in policing; not only in policing but also in other State machineries, our jobs would become very easy, effective, and cost effective. We have experienced this result in the forestry. The conflicts in between the forest officials and community members are gone, and the forests have become denser.
Although many senior police officers still do not believe in this philosophy Nepal police is inching towards cultivating this kind of culture. I was happy to deliver a talk on “Policing crimes through community participation” to the students of Centre for Development Studies, National College, in Kathmandu today. I had had the similar opportunity of delivering lecture to the LLM students of Kathmandu School of Law on the issue of “Crimes against women and children” on 10 Apr 2005.
What I feel is there is a need for a Centre for education on the issues of crime and criminals, community safety and security, national security, business security, industrial security, bank security, personal security etc etc. If we establish such institutions the safety and security of the citizen and country will be more effective.

People opt for Peace, Peace, and Peace

Dear Jyotiji,
Thanks for forwarding the article.I take this opportunity to circulate it among my colleagues. Many email addresses are suppressed on recipients' request.

What is more important for a common Nepali today-Democracy or Peace? 'Peace!' would be the impulsive answer. Today the people's first option is PEACE, PEACE AND PEACE. The populace would not opt for the DEMOCRACY if it means TERRORISM, poverty, hunger, suffering, lawlessness, indiscipline, corruption, murders, rapes, robberies, kidnappings, and destructions. The common people have realized the fact that the 'political leaders'[?] have swindled them in
the name of democracy and politics. What is more annoying is the treacherous acts of some 'political leaders'[?] busy in malicious designing against motherland from overseas land. They have in fact proved many people's belief and anticipation to be true in the sense that they will go next door and spit venom. When there are owls sitting on every branch; how can a garden flourish? When we have such 'neta haru' how can our motherland prosper? The current emergency is the stride for restoration of law and order- for reconstruction and rebuilding of state machinery- for revitalizing the dying verve of society, re-institutionalizing social norms and values. Although I have due respect and high regards for the ideals of democracy and human rights upon which the governance should stand-yet for the time being let us all get united against the terrorism. King has also expressed his commitment to the democracy time and again. He has firm belief on the democracy as the best political system of modern age.
He has very firmly put that “the terrorism can not be the alternative to democracy; the alternative to democracy is DEMOCRACY itself.” Once the insurgency problem is rooted out, we can do some politics later on. The politics can wait for sometime. But we can not wait and see people dying everyday. With best regards.
Dr. Govind Prasad Thapa, 5 Apr 2005
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--- Jyoti Mathur wrote:
Kanak Mani Dixit's article-an analysis Random thoughts captured in 18 points By Raj Pal Singh via email

Kanak is at it again trying to drum up some business. I will not waste as much ink (and time). My 18 points (legal voting age) is in an outline format so that Mr. Dixit and his readers can easily extrapolate - as they please - while scratching some of that - the grey matter.
1) February 1 is not about the King or the political parties. It is about how best to handle ongoing Maoist insurgency.(See Krishna Gautam's piece on "I thought I was not the humourist"). The king just happens to be one of the entity who can exercise few elements of the constitution.
2) Article 27 (3) is not unconsitutional - it is in the constitution itself. If you don't like it then ammend it with 2/3 votes in the parliment. While you are at it change your party's by-laws as well so one ethnic group can't hijack the whole country in the name of democracy. And get more people from the other ethnic groups in the media and civic society so it becomes more of a people's voice - not just yours and your kind.
3) 2005 is not 1960 (see Jan Sharma's "2005 is not 1960" piece). The time limit is maximum 36 months - now 34 to go. In the mean time let s put "constructive pressure" collectively so peace, liberty and reedom (the pillars of democracy) are brought back on track sooner han later.
4) Everyone is for democracy (See King's speech). The question is not bout democracy today. It is "what is the surest way to PROTECT IT oing forward tomorrow?"
5) Fine - Scrutiny of present cabinet is a fair game. Argue their deas and their policies not their personalities. I don't want to now what color their boxer shorts is nor do I care for their
religious beliefs - Get the idea?
6) Yes - political detaines should be released but they must renounce iolence publically. No more "bandhs" and breaking public properties n the name of whatever ...
7) Yes - press freedom should be upheld but the editors must announce pulically that they will not encourage and/or be the voice of trorists.
8) Political elites must state publically that Nepal and Nepalis areabove their party and their cadres. Where is their moral and naturallegience for the COUNTRY?
9) Just like there are maobadi, there are rajabadi, congressbadi,UMLbadi, kahobadi, bharatbadi, chorbadi, dankabadi et. all. This isunfortunate but real fact of life in Nepal. Here lies the opportunity for all camps to come together to the common meetingpoint of NATIONALISM. So stop your propoganda then.
10) Stop the blame game. You can be part of the problem or you canchoose to be part of the solution. The constructive choice is yours.
11) In a constitutional monarchy and multi-party system, the conceptof parties are a must. The current leaders (almost all and except forvery few) are morally bankrupt. Constitutional Monarchy is the checkand balance in those dire "the sky is falling" scenarios.
12) Even your own house can't be run on ideology let alone a countrywith 36 ethnic groups in a middle of a civil war. Save the ideologiesfor "morning chiya" - lets move on with more pragmatic aproaches.
13) Yes - the military is under the parliment. Let us elect a PM whocan humbly command their respect. The men and women in the uniform is asked to give the ultimate sacrifice - their lives - to save yourfreedom. The politicians are only asked to serve the people. Askyourself - which task stands on a higher moral ground?
14) If you believe in Constitutional Monarchy and Multi PartyDemocracy then you will do everything possible to win peace TODAY sofreedom and liberty can never be challenged TOMORROW.
15) Otherwise - state your position clearly - Don't conveniently(cowardly) hide behind democracy and throw your hatred at the king oranybody. Freedom and Liberty is bigger than anyone. Present king is amere mortal human being - No different than you and I.
16) The self-styled intellectual elites must come down from their ivry tower and ask themselves - What's Next - instead of "oh this and oh that". School of hard-knox will teach you - No one can argue with success.
17) Taking sides is the easiest thing to do. When you believe inpeace, freedom and liberty - the toughest task is to convince thenaysayers, leftists, rightists, the slogan barking militants, the
violence ridden insurgents and the biased propogandists to leave their axe behind and come to the middle ground of prudent compromise. Now, can you personally do that? Yeah...show me the money - I mean - your courage !!!
18) And lastly - you are not a journalist. You are an op-ed editor.Know the difference please. And just like anybody "your have yourright to be wrong !!!"
P.S. When the sky is falling, sometimes one man's courage is the majority.

Join in for peace

I went through both, Asia Briefing No. 36 and Asia Report No. 91 of International Crisis Group(www.icg.org). Both of those could not change my view on the King’s decision. I found them more principle based than on ground realities. I do not dare to disrespect the ideals of democracy, upon which the future of Nepal rests; I also do not deny that there have been strategic, operational, and tactical lapses in the past. But I can not find why we can not declare emergency to protect democracy? Why we can not reorganize things that have gone berserk? Why we can not take sterner steps to fight with the terrorists when all attempts to negotiations have failed? Why we can not conduct investigations on corruptions? Why every step is being suspected? I know there are gaps in between the stage of our democracy and yours. You have full grown, matured, cultured democratic politics. The King has rightly painted the picture of our state of politics by saying that ‘terrorist activities coupled with politics far removed from the common man gave a fillip to instability to the nation putting democracy at risk.’ You can not imagine the anarchy created by Maoists here. The emergency came only after the failure of all the possible democratic exercises as last resort. I also would like to say that there is no similarity between the King’s step and Gen. Musharaf. King’s steps are totally within the constitutional framework and time bound. Moreover it was Royal move not ‘Royal coup’ as has been termed. It is widely supported and welcomed by people in general as a relief—of course not by all politicians. Finally, I pity those political ‘leaders’ who have gone to India and declared joining the terrorist outfits-the Maoists. They have not only ruined the image but also discredited Nepal. This is a time to remove the cancer that is--the terrorism. Let us all join in for this mission. Once this is achieved then we can do some politics.
1 Mar 2005

Crimes against children

I have been reported that parents and guardians have been alleging some NGOs for ‘stealing’ their children and keeping them in their rehab homes as orphans. It sometimes coaxes me why are so many children still on the streets of Nepal even after long involvement of Ministry of Women and children, police, ILO, UNICEF, Save the Children, Bal Mandir, CWIN, etc. against this problem.

It is alleged that policemen actually abuse street children by forcing them to pick pockets, and steal money and things from shops and houses. Police later on take away the money from these children. Police are also alleged that they sexually abuse children.

Blue Diamond Society[MSM] complained me that police harass and abuse them unnecessarily. But other sources say that BDS are also not good people. They also harass people loitering at late nights.

It has come to my notice that there are some persons [foreigners?] engaged in pedophilia activities in Kathmandu city. The police have no information about it. I think there is a need for a separate unit to investigate such crimes.

Recently, Anju Chhetri has revealed that there are 17000 Nepali sex workers in several cities of India. (‘17000 Nepali girls in Indian sex market’, The Himalayan Times, Vol. IV, No. 124, Sat 25 Mar 2005, p. 4.) This figure is comparatively much below the previous estimation of 100, 000-200, 000. ILO’s12000 @ year and UNICEF’s 5000-7000@ year reporting are much higher than the police annual records of human trafficking cases. The average police records of trafficking swing in between 90 -110 cases annually.

The abortion of girl children in Southern Asia

The illegal sex determination through ultrasound results in millions of female foeticide every year. In 2001 Census of India the expected number of girl children was less than two million, apparently aborted by parents with the help of latest ultrasound facility.[1] In Nepal, the reporting of abortion is in decreasing trend [?]. The abortion cases reported in years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 were 81, 89, 55, 14, and 12, 15, 8 respectively.[2] However the sex of aborted children could not be confirmed. The recent new Nepali law legitimating the conditional abortions might be misused.

[1] " The Lost Girls", Femina, 15 Nov. 2003
[2] Police headquarters

Welcome to my Home

You are all welcome to my Home. I am a police officer in Nepal Police. I share my feelings on policing and other issues of security.