KATHMANDU, Oct 7: Defense Minister Bidya Bhandari on Wednesday demanded that the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA)-2006 be reviewed in order to make amendments to some provisions relating to Nepal Army (NA). [break]
- 5,000 posts vacant in NA
- 45 percent of army personnel need new weapons
- NA wants to purchase MI-17 helicopter, two lancer helicopters, one MA 60 aircraft and a trainer aircraft
- 51 percent of army personnel stay inside bunkers, makeshifts and tents
- NA aims at recruiting 20 percent women
Briefing the parliamentarians at the State Affairs Committee of the legislature-parliament on issues relating to the NA, Bhandari said that some provisions of the CPA was obstructing daily functioning of the army. She also stated that there was an urgent need for new recruitment in the national army.
“We should give continuity to new recruitment. Otherwise, there will be a serious problem,” she said. Bhandari argued that the NA should be allowed to recruit personnel to fill the posts, which have been vacated after the signing of the CPA. Currently, 5000 posts are lying vacant in the NA.
Presenting a report prepared by the ministry, Defense Secretary Navin Ghimire and Army Chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung said that the national army is desperately in need of sophisticated arms and ammunition, trainings and additional budget. According to the ministry, while armies in other countries have stopped using 7.62 mm self-loading rifle (SLR) and 9mm sub machine gun (SMG), the NA has been using it. The weapons are no longer in use as spare parts for these arms are not easily available, the ministry said.
“About 55 percent of NA personnel have been provided new weapons (Insas for 29 percent and M-16 Rifle for 26 percent). But, 45 percent of them are still using 7.62 mm SLRs,” said the ministry´s report, adding the provisions in the CPA prevented the NA from replacing the outdated weapons. The ministry also said that the NA has been facing an acute shortage of essential ammunition, bullets, bombs and other explosives.
The ministry also told the lawmakers that the NA soldiers were even deprived of basic needs. About 51 percent of army personnel still stay inside bunkers and tents due to lack of permanent buildings and beds. Gurung said he wanted to make a decent residential arrangement for at least 8,500 to 10,000 personnel during his tenure. “My priority is to improve facilities offered to the junior level staff,” he said.
Army Chief Gurung said the NA also needs to improve its air mobility. The ministry said it needed to purchase a MI-17 helicopter, two lancer helicopters, an MA 60 aircraft and a trainer aircraft. The report also said that the ministry is in need of about Rs 800 million to overhaul, maintain and purchase aircrafts and helicopters. The army´s two MI-17 helicopters, an Advanced Light Helicopter, a super puma used for VVIP, a sky truck, and two islander aircrafts, among others, need urgent repairs.
The ministry said that it needs more resources and budget as it has decided to celebrate the current fiscal as the ´year of training´. The ministry wants to establish an integrated army training center, an army physical training and sports center, among others.
NA aims at recruiting 20 percent women
Gurung said that the NA has planned to recruit up to 20 percent women into its force. “But, we could not give continuity as the recruitment process itself has been halted," he said. Recruiting women in the army needs to go hand in hand with infrastructural improvement. For instance, they need additional buildings, toilets and bathrooms, among other facilities, he said. Currently 1105 women personnel have been recruited into the NA. Of them, 245 hold officer level positions.
thira@myrepublica.com
Related story
CPA failed to get final shape due to Maoist Center: Minister Ba...
