Mandatory military training for adults talk of taskforce

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: The seven-member taskforce, nominated by all the 27 parties in the Constituent Assembly, today began a debate on the state’s directive principles, policies and responsibilities.

Ramesh Lekhak, one of the members of the team of experts assisting the taskforce, said the taskforce dwelt on whether a Nepali citizen above 18 years of age should undergo compulsory military training.

The Constituent Assembly Committee on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of the State has suggested to impart compulsory military training to all Nepali citizens above 18 years of age.

But the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party and other fringe parties expressed divergent views on the issue, arguing that such a provision in the constitution would lead the nation towards militarisation and would prove a burden on the national economy.

“If we incorporate this provision in the new constitution, it will encourage violence in society,” opined Lekhak.

However, the Unified CPN-Maoist, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal, Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party and Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch backed the idea, arguing it will “strengthen nationalism and national independence.”

“Nationalism and national independence become strong when country’s economy is sound,” countered Lekhak, citing the case of former Soviet Union, which collapsed despite being powerful from military standpoint. Lekhak argued that the State could call upon its citizens for military training any time it felt necessary.

The meeting, however, failed to reach any understanding on the issue, as top leaders of the three major parties – Pushpa Kamal Dahal of UCPN-M, Ramchandra Paudel of NC and Jhala Nath Khanal of the UML – left the meeting before it ended, saying they had another meeting to attend.

The meeting was later chaired by NWPP chairman Narayan Man Bijuckchhe.

The meeting, however, agreed not to use the sentence “…ending all kinds of foreign interference…” in the new constitution.

Instead, the leaders agreed to include it in the constitution’s explanatory notes, which can be used as a

reference by the Supreme Court in the course of defining the constitution and the Parliament while formulating laws.

“The explanatory notes will be useful for future generations to perceive the state of mind of the constitution makers,” said Parliament Secretariat Spokesperson Mukunda Sharma.

Fringe parties were concerned that the pace of discussion on the constitution-drafting process had slowed down since the Maoist plenum concluded on Saturday.

“The leaders of the major political parties have not shown enough seriousness towards constitution-drafting process, as they are plagued by disputes within their parties,” a fringe party leader said.

According to the mandate given to the taskforce, it has to submit its agreed report to the 27-party meeting, removing all irritants regarding the new constitution by December 11.

The Constituent Assembly has only six months left for drafting the constitution.