INTERNAL SECURITY CHALLENGES OF NEPAL

AND INTEGRATED EFFORTS

Presented By Sudip Pandit, Tribhuvan University,

Law Faculty, 2016

"...In the Arthashastra, Kautilya wrote that a state could be at risk from four types of threats - internal, external, externally-aided internal, and internally-aided external. He advised that of these four types, internal threats should be taken care of immediately, for internal troubles, like the fear of the lurking snake, are far more serious than external threats. The most dangerous enemy is the enemy within..."

• The Security dilemma, as pointed out by John Herz (1950) and later Jack Snyder (1989) emerges when every nations security becomes a cause of insecurity to another nation or a group of nations.

Nepal: Some Historical Glimpses

• Prior to 2006, Nepal was a kingdom.

• Nepal is now a Federal Democratic Republic.

• From 1996 until 2006, Nepal Suffered from a Civil War between Government Forces and Guerrillas of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

• On December 28, 2007, The Interim Parliament passed a bill and declared Nepal to be a Federal Democratic Republic.

• The First Meeting of the Constituent Assembly Officially Implemented that Declaration on May 28, 2008.

• Country Nepal: संघीय लोकतान्त्रि� क गणत� नेपाल

(Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal)

• Government Republic :–President- Bidya Devi Bhandari –Vice President- Nanda Kishor Pun –Prime Minister - KP Sharma Oli

• Unification : - Kingdom declared December 21, 1768,   - State declared January 15, 2007 ,- Republic declared May 28, 2008

• Area:   -  Total 147,181 km² ( 56,827 sq mi )

-  Water (%) 2.8

• Population: -  July 2008 estimate 29,519,114 (40th)  -  2007 census 28,875,140   -  Density 184/km² (56th) 477/sq mi

Concept of Security A multi-dimensional view and response towards

protecting its citizens against threat, both external and internal.

Barry Buzan states that security is a complicated and multidimensional subject and thus, the nature of security defies pursuit of agreed definitions.

Despite the fact that it is a contested concept, it is nevertheless a very important and sensitive issue for a country and its citizens as it is directly related to people’s security and national sovereignty

Security actors in 21st Century- States - MNCs- Terroristes - Criminal Organisations- Civil Society - Media- Multilatéral Institutions• The growth in numbers• The multiplication of functions• The expansion of powers to regulate

interstate transactions and the internal policies of states

Where Do Threats Come From?

• Threats are multidirectional (from outside and from within)

• There are increasing numbers of global threats (terror, crime, illicit migration, proliferation)

• Natural threats are increasingly important • Transnational organized crime• Nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological

weapons• Conflict within states

Internal security matters of Nepal

1. Geopolitics and geo-strategy2. Disaster Risk reduction & Management2. Small arms proliferation3. Migration and threat4. Organized crime5. Environment security6. Terai (open border)

Geo-politics and geo-strategy

Internal Chaos, insecurity and instability of a neighbouring country becomes an internal security threat to another neighbouring country.

In developing state like Nepal, there is defence, security and development paradox

Disaster Management

• Culture of Preparedness,

• Culture of Quick Response,

• Culture of Strategic Thinking,

• Culture of Prevention.

Pre-Disaster (Awareness and Information Campaigns, Training of local volunteers, Training of security personnel, technological advancement, Advocacy and Planning);

During Disaster (Immediate rescue and first aid and psychological help and counseling; supply of food, water, medicine, other materials; ensuring Sanitation and hygiene; Damage assessment);

Post Disaster (Reconstruction aid; Financial Aid; Monitoring, )

Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies must be able to perform the following functions: 

Develop Integrated Disaster Management Framework

Technological Advancement in Disaster Management system

Human Resource Development and Training on Disaster Management

Enhance Research and Development

Enhance Knowledge Management and Educations

Role of security agencies in disaster management

Small arms ProliferationSmall arms and Light Weapons (SALWS) kill

around 500,000 people annually and because of this former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan described them as “slow weapons of mass destruction.”

Challenges due to Small ArmsEasily available, low in cost, highly portable and

easy to hide.

In Nepal Porous border Criminal groups Correlation between the use of illegal SALW and

underdevelopment Poverty unemployment

Migration and Threat to Internal Security

1. Refuges and Internally Displaced Persons

2. Tibetan and Bhutanese Refugees

How Migration a Security Issues..???

• According to Goodhart (2004), international migration produces social stability risks, leads to demographic security, creates cultural identity issues and poses a threat to social security system and welfare state philosophy and generates many internal security challenges as:

human rights violation, ethnic conflict, internal war

massive, uncontrolled characterxenophobia and racial violence

In NepalWomen and children are most vulnerableFor the propose of sexual and labor exploitationIssues of Free Tibet by Tibetan refugesSecurity challenges near the refugee camps in

Jhapa and Morang

How could it control..???

At the national level, migration policies can

make important contributions to security by

addressing the international mobility of those

posing security risks.

Organized Crime Organized crime is “any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities”.

Activities:Human TraffickingDrug traffickingPiracy

GamblingMoney LaunderingWhite collar crimeCorruption How to defeat ??? ....Improve Policing....Improve the law system.....Intelligence

Environmental Security

preventing or mitigating environmental

degradation;

managing the global commons;

preventing and managing global risks; and

collecting and exchanging information on

schemes of global environmental co-operation

To achieve environmental security, it requires

support action in the following areas:

education, training and exchange of

information;

capacity building in elaboration of national

and international law. This would be best

achieved through defining eco-geographical

regions and international institutions.

TERAI Interchangeably called ‘Madhes’ Terai incorporates 20 of Nepal’s 75 districts "Pahadi vs. Madhesi" dichotomy (security Die

llama and increasing Polarization) Grievances (social, political and economic

issues) Porous International Border Easy access of weapons and cross border

crime More than 100 undergrounds groups

How to address...??? Political solutions of grievances Coordination and cooperation among counter

forces Intelligence sharing Extensive border patrol Security awareness programs (encouraging to

support security forces) Special Task Force designed specifically to

track down ‘separatist’ and violent Terai movements by force

Implications for Policy responsesStates must cooperate to fight against threats Issues are interrelated– e.g. money-laundering, trafficking in drugs and persons,

and corruption. Security policy engages a larger number of actors within

states (military, home affairs, police)New threats create an increasing and changing demand

for institutions and for multilateral cooperation– Institutional frameworks may need substantial reform– Current frameworks may not be appropriate ones for

addressing the imperatives of security policy

Conclusions and Recommendations

We confront a wide array of complex internal security problems and threats. Each of these need to be dealt with in different ways. Wide cooperation among the security forces with good civil-military relations . The role of non-state actors also play a key role. At this transition situation we rethink some of our past practices in security matters and limitations.

Integrated security policy needs to set-up

where law and order is a State subject,

empower of the security agencies with key

development of scientific tools and

technology and information technology are

required, and lastly we must find ways and

means to deal on these.

Without security and effective law and order, economic development of a state would be impossible. We must not, therefore, neglect this aspect.

The problem of internal security challenges can be solved to formulate security policy issues

Recommendations

Security is not a luxury and is not merely a function of the state; it is a way of life.

Nepal has to and can overcome the general inability of democracies to put together the political will, the resources and the strategies that are necessary to prevail over all internal security threats.

Real reforms that would remove or minimize economic and religion/caste-based inequalities, good and honest governance and effective policing are pre-requisites for the marshalling the total resources of the nation in these efforts.

The Govt of Nepal should also be prepared to lower the threshold of tolerance in relation to cross-border terrorism and to serve credible notice that Nepal has the capabilities and the determination to inflict prohibitively high and unacceptable cost on the state sponsors of terrorist acts against Nepalese interests.

At the political level, it should focuses on the degree of autonomy within the framework of national integration;

At the economic level, the problem of decentralization of economic power; and at the socio-cultural level, the issue of the state and civil society

Hope that Peace, Progress and

Prosperity comes together!