Border Security
Krishna Kumar Tamang, PhD
Border
is a self-explanatory word, the last point. Border means the point where a
subject or issue ends. Most of the wars in human history were convoluted
because of border dispute or encroachment. No matter what happened to the
border stories of bravery and glory in the past, one cannot still see a future
where all existing tension are resolved. Despite various modern technology and
science-based possibilities of determining boundary, human species is incurring
a great damage due to mutual ego and jealous. History is the witness; various
old documents, negotiations, agreements and signature speak out the truth. With
them it should be clear where the border extends to and where it ends. If some
symbols or pillars to determine border are missing then that should be
reinstated based on mutual understanding.
Speaking about our country, Nepal shares 15 international
frontiers with china on the north and 26 with India on the south. Nepal-India
border has been divided into 9 sectors and Nepal-China into 13. It is generally
understood that border are pre-determined, but Nepal-India is an exception.
Because the description of where exactly the frontiers fall is not mentioned in
the agreement. As a result, there is difficulty in marking border on the land
and putting border pillar at various sectors. There are various methods to
provide border security. The security methods are based on the relationship of
the two countries on either side of the border. The barbed wire walls set up at
Israel-Lebanon, India-Pakistan, North and South Korean border do not exist in
context of Nepal-India. The firings that happen time and again in these
countries have been prevented between Nepal-India by the warm and cordial
mutual respect. It is an eternal truth that as long as brotherhood and humanity
is respected, patience will be alive and bright.
APF has received mandate from the state for the security of
the country's international border. Border security is a vast and sensitive
issue that also implies crucial responsibility. APF Border security Department
has been carrying out security task to control border crimes, border
encroachment and smuggling. Along Nepal-India and Nepal-China border APF has 21
border security offices, 48 border out posts, and 25 temporary border security
post totaling deployment of about nine thousand armed police personnel. APF has
been directly assisting royalty collection and smuggling control by setting up
10 bases for royalty and custom offices output-oriented contribution towards
nation building. The royalty collection has been exceeding the targeted
percentage percentage every year ever since APF has undertaken the
responsibility.
It is natural for the APF to feel satisfied to see the news
about increase in royalty collection in the national dailies, Nagarik on
2069/4/9 and Kantipur on 2069/4/10. APF is not the only agency deserving credit
for this though. Other governmental agencies and APF have worked hard together
towards this great effort of the nation.
There
was a need for APF before the year 2058 BS. In the changed scenario following
cold war, the world felt a need for a paramilitary force that comprised
qualities of both the army and the police. Accordingly, paramilitary force
started emerging worldwide. In the neighboring country India there are 13
different paramilitary forces like BSF, SSB, ITBP. Paramilitary force has
varied responsibilities like mob-control, peacekeeping at international
platform and coordinating with the army at times of external attack. Border
Security Force, BSF in India is serving along border with China and Bangladesh
on the South East and Kashmir and Rajasthan on the North West. BSF has an
active role in the Kargil war of the year 2000 between India-Nepal border armed
Security Force SSB is deployed.
In China, Chinese Armed Police Force is providing security
for the country's border along with security of the important infrastructures
across all big and small towns including Beijing, Kunming and the airports.
Role of APF in Nepal is clearly reflected by the statistics relating to arrests
of crime suspects, illegal forester in border area, control of illegal
transportation of natural resources, drugs capture, seizing illegal weapons,
control of smuggling and disaster rescue operations.
It is well known that after exemplary success of the UN peace
keeping missions in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) in 1994/95 and in Kosovo (UNMIK) in
2000/2010, NATO army and the United Nations Army had to downsize the number of
army and recruit equal number of paramilitary force in order to gain lasting
public credibility in a short time.
The ratio of Armed Police Force to the total population is
about 929 per person. In other words, one APF staff takes care of 929 people.
International standard recommends a ratio of 1:250, or one police per 250
individuals for a balanced security. Similarly, according to geographic area
coverage, an armed police is deployed per 4.441 square kilometer. In the
southern Nepal-India border Indian security SSB is deployed at target of
changing that coverage to intervals of 3.47 kilometer. There is no doubt Armed
Police Force will gradually reach greater heights.
Published
in: Nepali version
Armed Police Day
Special
Publication 2012, Nepal
Year-11, Issue-1
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