While security experts termed the provision incorporated in the Maoist election manifesto unveiled Saturday as ´unwarranted´, youth activists have said that the proposal of compulsory training is simply unacceptable as the country prepares to make a peaceful transition from a violent war. [break]
Former Nepal Army (NA) Major General Daman Ghale argued that the proposal fails to give due consideration to Nepal´s geo-political situation. “The provision of compulsory military training in a country like ours could create unnecessary sensation. This won´t help serve the interest of the country,” said Ghale.
Although the UCPN (Maoist) is pitching for the idea of conscription, experts maintain that even the countries adopting this practice have stopped doing so in recent years. “Military muscle is not effective tool [to protect national interests]. I personally feel that such a provision will only invite misinterpretations [in the immediate neighborhood],” he added.
Analysts argue that compulsory military training will not only irk immediate neighbors, but also could lead the country toward militarization. Only a few countries in the world today including Israel and Singapore have a practice of compulsory military training for youths.
This is, however, not the first time that the UCPN (Maoist) put forth this idea. As the political parties stood sharply divided over the proposal, a Dispute Resolution Sub-committee headed by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the former parliament had reached an agreement not to include the provision in the constitution.
Youth activist Kabindra Burlakoti, who is the president of National Youth Federation Nepal (NYFN), said compulsory military training is simply unacceptable. “The government can introduce some other measures to impart different others skills to youths. But the idea of compulsory military training is outlandish and simply unacceptable,” he said.
The debate on whether to make a provision of compulsory military training for youths had figured even during the formulation of the National Youth Policy. But as the majority of the members of the taskforce formed to draft the policy stood against it, there was an agreement not to include the provision in the National Youth Policy.
Burlakoti, who also served as the president of the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (AYON), argued that such training on voluntary basis could be a pragmatic idea. “Since the countries that used to practice the system have stopped it now, there is no point in introducing the system in Nepal,” he further said.
Some youths, however, argue that the provision of compulsory military training is good as youths become healthy and fit and can remain away from bad habits including drug addictions. “This should not be seen in negative terms because youths can learn self-defence skills and remain healthy and fit,” said Pradip Pariyar, the president of Nepal Youth Forum.
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