The six-member committee formed by the government seven months ago submitted its report to caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Monday. [break]
The Committee on Formulation of an Action Plan for Democratization of the Army and Reforming Security Mechanism has said that democratization activities will be carried out on the basis of civilian supremacy and government control, strengthening of civil-military relations, restructuring of NA, formulating necessary acts and regulations and effecting necessary changes in the current law to make it more timely, promotion of transparency and accountability in the working system, protection and promotion of human rights, inclusiveness and strengthening of coordination and relations between the Defense Ministry and the Nepal Army.
“We have suggested a six to three years´ timeframe to determine the activities in each of the eight segments,” Defense Secretary Nabin Ghimire said.
He informed that besides restructuring the NA, the work plan incorporates strengthening existing laws and regulations governing security policies and also the operations of the National Security Council.
“A task force will determine the restructuring of the army but other components like strengthening of relations between the army and the ministry can be worked out within six months,” Ghimire said.
This, he said, will be done in consultation with the parliamentary committees.
He added that a new national security policy will be drawn up in collaboration with the Home Ministry.
“A review of priorities, goals, policies and scope for the new strategy will be drawn up,” Ghimire stated.
He said that the committee has also identified major challenges for the security sector, such as terrorism and drug trafficking.
He, however, declined to dwell on details of the report´s recommendations, citing the “high sensitivity” of the security-related issues.
A statement issued by the Defense Ministry on Monday said that the national security policy will be aimed at protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, making security management more effective, increasing participation in UN peacekeeping, raising commitment and implementation in all aspects of security and protection of human rights through effective security mechanisms.
The committee is headed by the defense minister as coordinator and includes the home minister, law minister, minister for culture and constituent assembly affairs and a minister without portfolio as members and the defense secretary as member-secretary.
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