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Nepal Army To Add 3,000 Madheshi New Recruits
By KTM Metro Reporter
December 21, 20111: The government headed by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai yesterday has decided to let Nepal Army recruit 3,000 soldiers from the Madheshi youths not exceeding its current strength of 95,700 ‘The Rising Nepal’ of today reports.
Leaders of UDMF: an alliance among the Madheshi political parties have been demanding the Nepal Army recruit 10,000 soldiers from among the Madheshi youths to make the army inclusive. UDMF had reached an eight-point deal with the government of Nepal before stopping the Madheshi movement that had been launched for their rights to be inclusive in the state administration: civil, police and army. The government had agreed to include the Madheshis in the Nepal Army in the eight-point deal it reached with the UDMF but none of the previous governments bothered to do anything to this end.
UDMF leaders had reached a four-point deal with the UCPN-Maoist before forming the current coalition government. One of the main points of the UDMF was to include Madheshi in the Nepal Army. A few days ago, the UDMF leaders have had serious talks with the UCPN-Maoist stating either deicide to include Madheshi in the Nepal Army or they would quit the government. So, the UCPN-Maoist leaders have given in to the demand of the UDMF and the result is the Nepal Army has to recruit 3,000 Madheshi in the beginning.
On December 22, 2011, the Radio Nepal anchor has talked to Mr. Thebe: retired army officer in the morning program called ‘antar sambad’. Answering the questions of the anchor, Mr. Thebe has said that the Nepal Army has been inclusive and opened to all ethnic groups twisting the history of the Nepal Army that has never been inclusive, as it has always rejected Nepalis belonging to some ethnic groups such as Nevah and Tamangs in the selection. Mr. Thebe should be sincere to tell the truth while talking about the entry of Madheshi youth to the Nepal Army. He also should note that Chatra Man Singh Gurung became the Chief of Army Staff only after Nepal has removed the monarchy. It is the first case in the history of the Neal Army that a man not belonging to the Chhetri and Rana groups became the CoAS otherwise people belonging to the royal families and their relatives monopolized the Nepal Army that had served the interest of the royalties rather than the people. Now the army should be made national and should be for the nation that is why it should be opened to Nepalis in general.
NC and CPN-UML leaders have opposed the government’s decision on the Nepal Army recruiting 3,000 soldiers from the Madheshi group stating it would be against the national interest, as it would not be professional army and could not maintain discipline.
The government should not bow down to the opposition any more on this matter and should go ahead enforcing its decision on recruiting soldiers from the Madheshi youths.
In view of the population growth, Madheshis would reign over Nepal in the future if democracy flourishes. So, any political party going against the Madheshi would be bound to its doom. Any political party would need to rule the country in partnership with the Madheshis in the future if the Madheshis stand in unity as the UDMF today.
Updated on December 22, 2011
