Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU1180
2009-12-31 11:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: ARMY'S TRANSITION TO PEACETIME
how-toVZCZCXRO8864 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #1180/01 3651127 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311127Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1225 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7262 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7602 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2948 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 5643 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6741 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3417 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 4901 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2506 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3786 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001180
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ARMY'S TRANSITION TO PEACETIME
REF: KATHMANDU 1178
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001180
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ARMY'S TRANSITION TO PEACETIME
REF: KATHMANDU 1178
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Morale and discipline remain high in the
Nepal Army (NA) despite restrictions on training and the
instability of the Government of Nepal (GON). EmbOffs found,
during a trip to Western Nepal, the NA suffers from a severe
shortage of supplies, and the soldiers do not receive pay on
a regular basis. NA officers reaffirmed their commitment to
the GON and vowed to remain apolitical regardless of which
political party is in control. End Summary.
2. (SBU) EmbOffs visited the 5th Brigade in the Kailali
District, the 4th Brigade in the Banke District, the 22nd
Brigade in the Rupandehi District, and the Jwala Dal
Battalion located in the Bardiya District. The units had not
conducted any combat operations since the end of the
insurgency and no incidents had occurred between the local
People's Liberation Army (PLA) cantonment camps or armed
groups. Training supplies, to include ammunition and spare
parts, were in short supply due to the Comprehensive Peace
Accord (CPA),which permits only non-lethal assistance. The
CPA also confines NA units to military bases, limiting their
ability to conduct large scale exercises.
3. (SBU) The limited availability of military supplies and
prohibition against large-scale exercises led senior officers
to question the readiness of the NA. Brigadier General Hari
Bahadur Basnet, commander of the 4th brigade in Nepalgunj, in
the Banke District, noted that although the quality of his
soldiers has not decreased since the end of the insurgency,
NA capabilities have declined due to the lack of supplies and
training opportunities. Other NA officers said they
understood that the NA's capabilities could never match those
of neighboring China or India, and deduced the current size
of 95,000 personnel was too large for Nepal. These officers
believed the size of the NA should be reduced to the
pre-insurgency level of 40,000.
Anti-Poaching Operations Maintain Military Effectiveness
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) The Jwala Dal Battalion in Bardiya District was
responsible for anti-poaching operations in the Bardiya
National Park. The CPA explicitly permits the NA to protect
national parks. The park includes 18 NA outposts with 93
civilian park staff employees and covers an area of 698
square kilometers. NA officers estimated that approximately
30 poachers are arrested each month. Following their arrest
the poachers are turned over to local law enforcement
authorities. As part of these anti-poaching efforts, the NA
regularly conducts patrols which may last up to three days.
These operations are one of the few effective ways for the NA
to maintain and develop patrolling techniques.
Army Maintains Quality Standard of Living
--------------
5. (SBU) Soldiers live in concrete barracks with concrete
floors. The beds are constructed of cement and soldiers are
equipped with a sleeping pad, blankets and sheets. Extra
uniforms are stored in metal foot lockers located at the end
of the beds. Some of the barracks have satellite televisions
and internet connectivity is available in separate
outbuildings. The dining facilities are clean and served
traditional Nepali food twice a day. A delay in the budget
approval process meant the soldiers had gone for over a month
without pay. However, the soldiers appeared unfazed and said
they had faith they would be paid when the money became
available. (Note: This trip to Western Nepal coincided with
visits to both military and police units. EmbOffs noted that
the cleanliness and quality of life of the NA far exceeded
that of the Nepal Police (reftel).)
Homogeneity in Personnel
--------------
6. (SBU) The NA is comprised mainly of male, Hindu
soldiers. The 4th Brigade contains only one female, a
lieutenant who stated that she had not experienced harassment
problems and was provided her own living quarters. She was
KATHMANDU 00001180 002 OF 002
satisfied with her choice to join the military and was very
proud to be an army officer. There are also very few
non-Hindu soldiers in the NA. The 5th brigade contains one
Muslim soldier, even though three to five percent of the
Nepali population is Muslim, with the majority living in
Nepal's southern Terai region. (Note: A NA Brigade consist
of 3,000 to 3,500 personnel.) The 4th Brigade maintained
good relations with the local Muslim community. The grave
of a local Imam is located within the 4th Brigade
Headquarters, 50 feet from the barracks. NA soldiers
maintain the grave and sweep the site daily. Members of the
local Muslim community visit the grave monthly in order to
change the traditional cloth.
Comment
--------------
7. (SBU) Following the end of the insurgency, the NA has
found itself without a clear purpose and looking for
direction. The soldiers admitted the NA is too small to be a
deterrent against India or China and too big for
post-insurgency Nepal. Conflicts within Nepal have
transformed into civil matters handled by civil authorities,
such as the Nepal Police. Even so, the NA continues to be a
well-disciplined, experienced army with dedicated leadership
whose members view the army as the last bastion of stability
in a country plagued with political infighting.
ORDWAY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ARMY'S TRANSITION TO PEACETIME
REF: KATHMANDU 1178
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Morale and discipline remain high in the
Nepal Army (NA) despite restrictions on training and the
instability of the Government of Nepal (GON). EmbOffs found,
during a trip to Western Nepal, the NA suffers from a severe
shortage of supplies, and the soldiers do not receive pay on
a regular basis. NA officers reaffirmed their commitment to
the GON and vowed to remain apolitical regardless of which
political party is in control. End Summary.
2. (SBU) EmbOffs visited the 5th Brigade in the Kailali
District, the 4th Brigade in the Banke District, the 22nd
Brigade in the Rupandehi District, and the Jwala Dal
Battalion located in the Bardiya District. The units had not
conducted any combat operations since the end of the
insurgency and no incidents had occurred between the local
People's Liberation Army (PLA) cantonment camps or armed
groups. Training supplies, to include ammunition and spare
parts, were in short supply due to the Comprehensive Peace
Accord (CPA),which permits only non-lethal assistance. The
CPA also confines NA units to military bases, limiting their
ability to conduct large scale exercises.
3. (SBU) The limited availability of military supplies and
prohibition against large-scale exercises led senior officers
to question the readiness of the NA. Brigadier General Hari
Bahadur Basnet, commander of the 4th brigade in Nepalgunj, in
the Banke District, noted that although the quality of his
soldiers has not decreased since the end of the insurgency,
NA capabilities have declined due to the lack of supplies and
training opportunities. Other NA officers said they
understood that the NA's capabilities could never match those
of neighboring China or India, and deduced the current size
of 95,000 personnel was too large for Nepal. These officers
believed the size of the NA should be reduced to the
pre-insurgency level of 40,000.
Anti-Poaching Operations Maintain Military Effectiveness
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) The Jwala Dal Battalion in Bardiya District was
responsible for anti-poaching operations in the Bardiya
National Park. The CPA explicitly permits the NA to protect
national parks. The park includes 18 NA outposts with 93
civilian park staff employees and covers an area of 698
square kilometers. NA officers estimated that approximately
30 poachers are arrested each month. Following their arrest
the poachers are turned over to local law enforcement
authorities. As part of these anti-poaching efforts, the NA
regularly conducts patrols which may last up to three days.
These operations are one of the few effective ways for the NA
to maintain and develop patrolling techniques.
Army Maintains Quality Standard of Living
--------------
5. (SBU) Soldiers live in concrete barracks with concrete
floors. The beds are constructed of cement and soldiers are
equipped with a sleeping pad, blankets and sheets. Extra
uniforms are stored in metal foot lockers located at the end
of the beds. Some of the barracks have satellite televisions
and internet connectivity is available in separate
outbuildings. The dining facilities are clean and served
traditional Nepali food twice a day. A delay in the budget
approval process meant the soldiers had gone for over a month
without pay. However, the soldiers appeared unfazed and said
they had faith they would be paid when the money became
available. (Note: This trip to Western Nepal coincided with
visits to both military and police units. EmbOffs noted that
the cleanliness and quality of life of the NA far exceeded
that of the Nepal Police (reftel).)
Homogeneity in Personnel
--------------
6. (SBU) The NA is comprised mainly of male, Hindu
soldiers. The 4th Brigade contains only one female, a
lieutenant who stated that she had not experienced harassment
problems and was provided her own living quarters. She was
KATHMANDU 00001180 002 OF 002
satisfied with her choice to join the military and was very
proud to be an army officer. There are also very few
non-Hindu soldiers in the NA. The 5th brigade contains one
Muslim soldier, even though three to five percent of the
Nepali population is Muslim, with the majority living in
Nepal's southern Terai region. (Note: A NA Brigade consist
of 3,000 to 3,500 personnel.) The 4th Brigade maintained
good relations with the local Muslim community. The grave
of a local Imam is located within the 4th Brigade
Headquarters, 50 feet from the barracks. NA soldiers
maintain the grave and sweep the site daily. Members of the
local Muslim community visit the grave monthly in order to
change the traditional cloth.
Comment
--------------
7. (SBU) Following the end of the insurgency, the NA has
found itself without a clear purpose and looking for
direction. The soldiers admitted the NA is too small to be a
deterrent against India or China and too big for
post-insurgency Nepal. Conflicts within Nepal have
transformed into civil matters handled by civil authorities,
such as the Nepal Police. Even so, the NA continues to be a
well-disciplined, experienced army with dedicated leadership
whose members view the army as the last bastion of stability
in a country plagued with political infighting.
ORDWAY