Security system improvement

What is wrong with our security system and what needs to be done?

1. Lack of comprehensive national security policy: National security policy involves major decisions about the security sector which affect the external and internal security of state and society. A national security framework sets out the government's approach to security and how such security is expected to be achieved. The national security system encounters difficulty in coordinating national policy and resources with state and local governments. We need to rewrite our national security policy and design security plan accordingly.

2. Inter-agency security mechanisms are inadequate: Inter-agency competition often begins early in strategy development. Ad hoc, un-integrated strategies are distressingly common products of the national security apparatus. The national security system demonstrates a disturbingly varying capacity to provide adequate and timely resources. Achieving adequate cooperation between civil and military actors in developing and implementing security policies is a persistent challenge. The organizational arrangements are misaligned with our security threats. There is a culture of empire building; different agencies are working without proper coordination. There is a tendency of vertical growth rather than horizontal. The resources and expertise of one agency is not used by others. Therefore, there is a need for integrated security structure.

3. The performance of the national security apparatus is inconsistent: The national security system fails to achieve systematic policy ends in a consistently efficient manner––inflicting corresponding security costs. Disorganized, nonexistent, or otherwise flawed strategy development decreases the system’s ability to achieve effective unity of effort and resourcing. The change in policy and practices as and when political parties come into power has adverse effects on the functions of security agencies. The system is ever-changing with the in-and-out of party in the power steering.

4. Local political and civilian departments and agencies excluded: Municipalities and civilian departments can also play important role in the maintenance of security. However, these institutions are under resourced and culturally and administratively unprepared for national security. Part of this problem is due to the existing national security concept and definitions. We need to integrate the local municipalities and civil departments also into the national security mainstream.

5. Lack of peoples’ faith and ownership in the security apparatus: The security systems that we have developed are far from the reach of common people. These are slow, unscientific, biased, costly, traditional, insulting, incapable, and inefficient. We have not given enough attention to the consultation, consent, commitment, and participation of local community. People do not have trust and confidence on the security agencies. They do not own the system.

6. There is a state of anarchy and lawlessness: The society is facing a state of lawlessness and mayhem due to the ignorance, indiscipline, recklessness, irresponsibility, coercion, and violent stance. There seems to be ‘no law’ at all. Even if there is any, it rarely connotes anything. We do not know what is ‘wrong’ and ‘right.’ The one who is doing right is often bullied. This is partly because of the political culture of the country. Our politics have not been polished yet. Our political parties and politicians do not give priority to the interests of the people; rather they fight for their own petty ‘rewards.’ We will have to address this with proper education and disciplining.