Earlier last week, former chief of army staff, Gen Rookmangud Katawal was heard saying at a function in Birgunj that security forces need not be democratized as they have always followed the orders of the government of the day. He further stated that democratization of the security forces, especially the Nepal Army (NA) is a ploy to weaken and politicize it. And I personally think Gen Katawal is right. First of all, we have to understand that democracy is a political system, a form of governance. In some institutions it can be copied, whereas in others, a clear and strict line of hierarchy, or, in other words, chain of command has to be maintained, if they are to run smoothly. As the most important organ of the state that´s responsible to guard it from outsiders and to help the government in achieving its foreign policy objectives when needed, the army is not something that can be politicized and made democratic. What can be done though is make it more transparent and accountable by enacting laws to regulate its movements to bring it under civilian government. There is no army in the world that can claim itself to be a democratic army and any army that allows its men and women to discuss, debate and question the orders coming from their superiors is not a professional army.
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