Friday, September 02, 2005

Power Woman Protest






Is Prachanda For Real?


Is this guy for real?

Some questions raised by this press statement.
  1. Does anyone have any idea where this guy is? Is he in Nepal? Is he is Lucknow? Where is his safehouse?
  2. This guy needs to define the term Constituent Assembly.
  3. This guy needs to define the term Democratic Republic.
  4. Is it even possible to reason with this guy?
  5. Were the Nepali Maoists involved in some of the recent spectacular attacks in Bihar? Two come to mind.
  6. Where is Ganapathy? Can he be located?
  7. If Baburam Bhattarai wants Nepal to turn into a Democratic Republic just like India, what do the Indian Maoists want India to turn into? By extension, what do the Nepali Maoists really want? What is the shape and form of the state they hope to create?
  8. If Baburam Bhattarai is to be trusted, does this mean there is a fundamental ideological rift between him and Prachanda? One that should be exacerbated?
  9. How come none of the so-called democrats are confronting the Maoists at an ideological plane? Why are they not trying to steal their political and social thunder?
  10. If these guys are beyond reproach and up for classic Maoism, the king of Nepal ends up looking more legitimate! These Maoists act like they are on the king's payroll, doing his bidding.
Laying The Grounds For A Weak Movement
Comrade Gonzalo Of Peru: A Profile

Maoist parties of Nepal and India vow to fight `imperialism’

Chairman of CPN (Maoist) Prachanda (File Photo)

Chiefs of Maoist parties of Nepal and India have vowed to fight jointly what they call US imperialism and Indian expansionism.

In a rare joint statement issued Thursday, general secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Prachanda and general secretary of Communist Party of India (Maoist), Ganapathy, have appealed to the entire oppressed masses, the world over, and Nepal and India in particular, to raise voice against what they called every evil design of imperialism and expansionism to repress the revolutionary cause of the oppressed people in Nepal and India. “We pledge to fight unitedly till the entire conspiracies hatched by the imperialists and reactionaries are crushed and the people’s cause of Socialism and Communism are established in Nepal, India and all over the world,” the joint statement.

The two Maoist leaders alleged that the US imperialism and Indian expansionism were trying to prop up the royal regime in Nepal by providing arms, ammunition, logistics and money in different pretexts.

“A semi-colonial and semi-feudal Nepal-- which was hardly known 10 years before by its name and geographical location in the globe-- has now become a focal point of keen attention the world over. On the one hand, the establishment of people’s power all across the vast countryside of Nepal by way of the people’s war, waged under the leadership of CPN (Maoist) for the last ten years, and one year of strategic offensive in particular, has become a source of inspiration for the oppressed all over the world and, on the other, it has become a deadly ideological and political threat for imperialism, particularly the US imperialism and its puppet regimes, including India,” the statement said.

“In India, the reactionary expansionist ruling classes have stepped up their countrywide coordinated campaign of brutal suppression of the people’s war led by the CPI (Maoist) ever since the merger of the MCCI and CPI (ML)[PW] in September last. They are propagating continuously about the “grave danger” posed by the long Red Corridor of armed struggle stretching from the Base Areas in Nepal up to the guerrilla zones of Andhra Pradesh or the so-called Compact Revolutionary Zone. They have initiated a phenomenal increase in the central repressive forces to tackle the Naxalites, undertaken massive modernization and special training of the forces, and are using helicopters where necessary, along with a package of so-called reforms to wean away the masses from the fold of the Maoists. The democratic voice of the people is suppressed and the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution are trampled underfoot in the vast areas of armed struggle and nationality movements. The ruling classes have also stepped up the attacks against every form of democratic struggle and anti-imperialist movements,” the statement further said.

It was not immediately clear what led the two underground leaders of Maoist outfits to issue a joint statement at this point in time. But analysts say the statement has come at a time when the US government is said to be considering releasing lethal military supplies to the Nepal government in the wake of escalating Maoist violence in the Himalayan kingdom.

The American authorities have, however, made it clear that there must be visible improvement in political situation in the country before the US resumes its military assistance.

US, UK and India had suspended their military assistance to Nepal in the wake of the royal takeover early this year.


Maoists Threaten India's Internal Security
Chennai, January 21, 2004
Rapidly and insidiously, a new internal security threat, posed by Left extremists, popularly referred to as Naxalites, is taking shape in India. Unlike secessionist movements fuelled by communal, ethnic and linguistic identity politics that have severely tested - and continue to test - the resolve of the Indian state, the newly emerging threat will challenge India's democratic polity and rule of law as never before.

.....
the threat posed by Naxalites is not contained within a particular area. It casts a sinister shadow from Andhra Pradesh in the south to Bihar in the east. Naxalites have already created a 'Compact Red Zone', a corridor across India where Left extremists run a parallel administration with the help of brute force and terror.

Starting from the Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh, the 'Compact Red Zone' runs through eastern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It links what the Naxalites describe as the "liberated zones" of India with the Maoist-held territories of Nepal; a 'Red Corridor' that has united far-Left comrades in these two neighbouring countries.

...
as many as 156 districts in 13 States have been officially listed as "affected by Naxalite violence". In 2003, the threat existed in 55 districts in nine states.

With the geographical spread of the area of their violent political activity expanding by leaps and bounds, Naxalites in India, armed with weaponry and communication systems far more sophisticated than those provided to state police forces (in Andhra Pradesh they are using wireless scanners that can tap into any frequency of police communications), are targeting civil administrators, policemen and politicians with increasing impunity and chilling brutality.

By killing representatives of the state, especially policemen posted in remote rural areas, they are able to instil fear among villagers, most of them impoverished landless farmers, as well as ill-equipped policemen. Thus they are able to establish a parallel system of "administration" of forcibly collecting "taxes" that fund their activities, meting out "justice" through kangaroo courts to eliminate "class enemies", and recruiting fresh cadre through a process of forced and aggressive indoctrination.

In Bihar, seven policemen, including a superintendent of police, were killed in a landmine explosion executed by Naxalites Jan 5. In Uttar Pradesh, a police convoy was ambushed and 17 policemen were shot dead.

The Congress government in Andhra Pradesh that came to power in the summer of 2004 tried to reason peace with Left extremists belonging to the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), the two umbrella organisations under which Naxalites have now organised themselves. It also lifted the ban on these groups. Strategically, that was a disastrous move. The previous Telugu Desam Party government had launched a massive offensive against the Left extremists and was able to bring the situation in many areas under control. That advantage has now been lost.

On the eve of the peace talks in October last year, a senior Naxalite leader was quoted as saying: "By going to the talks, we are not declaring any ceasefire... Talks are a part of our tactical line. Naxalism is not a problem, it is a solution."

Using the ruse of peace talks and the unilateral ceasefire imposed by the Congress government in the state and the placatory attitude of the Congress-led government in New Delhi, the Left extremists have regrouped, re-armed and launched a vicious counter-offensive, forcing the police to respond. The Naxalites, having forced the police to act, are now using it as a convenient excuse to call off the peace process and return to the path of armed violence.

.....
they pose a totalitarian challenge to India's democratic polity and rule of law; they pose an ideological threat that questions the legitimacy of the Indian state.

From arms running to narco-terrorism, they are involved in every possible act of subversion.

....
what we are seeing now is abusing the barrel of the gun for furthering negative power politics.

In the east, India's Naxalites have teamed up with Nepal's Maoists to create disaffection among people of Nepalese origin who have been living for generations in Darjeeling and Dooars in West Bengal and in lower Sikkim. The purpose is to engineer a movement for 'self-determination' which could unleash violence on a wide scale and much worse than what was witnessed during the Gorkhaland agitation.

India's intelligence agencies have evidence to prove that Naxalites are being used by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for drug trafficking and pumping fake currency notes. In return, ISI is providing the Naxalites with sophisticated weaponry and the know-how for making and using improvised explosive devices. Seized weapons and ammunition bear witness to this evidence.

.....
the very real possibility of the Islamic fundamentalist right and the Marxist-Leninist fundamentalist Left joining hands, united by the purpose of subverting the Indian state. Soon after the arrest of Maulana Naseeruddin, one of the prime accused in the murder of Gujarat's former home minister Haren Pandya, Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh came out in support of the Dasargah-e-Jehad-e-Shahadat's demand for the unconditional release of the accused.

Ironically, most states where Naxalite violence is on the rise are ruled by parties or alliances that are members or supporters of the coalition government in New Delhi. And unlike the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, which now increasingly appears to be repaying a debt of gratitude for electoral support to the Naxalites, the other state governments are unwilling to seek accommodation with the far Left, but are unable to move in tandem in the absence of any clear central policy.

If left alone, today's Naxalite menace could become no less dangerous than the war the Maoists are waging in Nepal with stunning success.

Girija Koirala Must Be Doing Something Right




He bagged 1215 to Narahari Acharya's 165 votes. Koirala is a brand name. He gets to cash into BP Koirala's lifetime of work as well as his own. And I never doubted his organizational acumen. He can be relentless. The strong setiments he arouses outside the Congress camp might be indicative of his hold inside the party.

Not only that, his entire fleet came along it seems. For all talk of nepotism, Sushil Koirala bagged 939 votes, Dr. Shashank Koirala 880. Shailaja Koirala is in, 617 votes. Sujata Koirala got herself elected, 744 votes. Now she can no longer be dismissed as just Girija Koirala's daughter, if she ever was. That's five close members from one family, but at least they are all elected. The voters decided.

As long as they are democratic, a party's elections are its internal matter. And so I respect the outcome as the Congress' prerogative.

They made a major ideological move though. They as a party are no longer attached to the monarchy. That does not make them republican, but this is a major change nevertheless. They were tied to a constitutional monarchy for 60 years.

Too bad they did not make any moves on the internal democracy front. Girija gave in on ideology but retained his grip on the organization.

Now the focus can move on back to the movement.

Breaking News: Shailaja Walks Out

Wow. What a move.

Gagan Thapa

He is being dragged back in the news again. The regime has moved the Supreme Court to seek permission to go after him.

This hint is further going to energize the September 16 rally in New York City. Possibilities of dialogue with the king - if they were there in the first place - kind of end.

In The News
  • SC issues show cause order on ex minister Parajuli’s arrest NepalNews
  • Political parties need internal party democracy: US Prof NepalNews ..... At a time when major political parties are facing voices for internal democracy, a visiting American professor of political science, Professor Edward R McMahon, too has advised Nepali politicians for internal party democracy and transparency....... Prof McMahon of University of Vermont urged, among others things, for political parties to use banks to keep track of party finance......
  • Maoists are against human rights and civilisation: COAS Thapa NepalNews ..... Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), General Pyar Jung Thapa ....... General Thapa said the RNA was committed to defeat them at any cost ...... Victory on war depends upon leadership. He said the RNA would arm its personnel with professional skills and emphasize on offensive training for night and develop anti-ambush drill training.......
  • RNA will make public names of detainees: Martin NepalNews
  • Maoists Call Off Strike at Unilever Himalayan Times, Nepal ......
  • Unilever to resume operation Kantipur Online
  • Maoists Take Back Unilever Shutdown Call Himalayan Times
  • Shailaja Acharya Resigns from NC Central Committee Himalayan Times ....
  • Shailaja Acharya resigns from NC Central Committee Kantipur Online, Nepal ...... “I resigned because the party is being sponsored by some hidden forces and it has also deviated from its main political ideology that it had been retaining so far.”
  • Shailaja Acharya resigns from the NC CWC Nepalnews.com, Nepal .... she would continue her campaign to what she called ‘re-energise’ the six-decade-old party as an ordinary member of the party. ‘I strongly believe that the party can be revived by following the centrist political ideology ...... Sources say Acharya was unhappy at the CWC election results in which her arch rival, Sujata Koirala—daughter of NC president G P Koirala—polled more votes than herself....... Sujata bagged 744 votes while Acharya had to be content with 617 votes.
  • Govt Moves SC Over Gagan Thapa’s Release Himalayan Times, Nepal..... The government prosecutor had filed a case against Thapa seeking a three-year jail term or a fine of Rs 3,000, or both, accusing him of chanting objectionable slogans against the King and members of the royal family violating Clause 4(1) of the Offence Against State Act, 1989. A three-member bench of judges of the Special Court Govinda Prasad Parajuli, Rana Bahadur Bam and Bhoopdhoj Adhikary, had ordered Thapa’s release saying there was not sufficient ground to detain him. “He be released as per Clause 7(c) of the Special Court Act, 2002 as there was not sufficient evidence to detain him to forward the process on the case,” the bench had observed.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Protests







Protests Protests Protests Protests Protests Protests
Protests Protests Protests Protests Protests Protests Protests


Nepal's continuing crisis
Sep 1st 2005
From The Economist print edition


SEVEN months after he seized power in Nepal, even King Gyanendra's keenest supporters are aghast at what he is up to. At a Katmandu bar last week, a group of middle-ranking army officers, some with close royal connections, aired their opinions of the government; they were not complimentary. Recently returned from long tours in central Nepal, which is ablaze with a Maoist insurgency, the men had a right to feel aggrieved.…

To: Dr. Baburam Bhattarai


Comrade Baburam, Sir.

I read yesterday with great interest your latest article, as I always do when you write something new. This is not the first time you have touched upon the theme of a Democratic Republic, but I think this might be the first time you have elaborated upon it and looked at it from many angles. I think this document is going to prove to be of great historic importance within the communist movement.

I am not a communist, you are, I describe myself a progressive, but I have done my share of readings into communist literature. I have read several biographies of Lenin, and that was in the early 90s.

"Power flows through the barrel of a gun." That is the central dictum of classic Maoism. "Jesus is the son of God." That is the central belief in the Christian worldview. Your ideology falls in the social science sphere, and Christianity is a religion, so the two are apples and oranges, but I just wanted to emphasize how central the gun has been to classic Maoism. You have - like only you could - managed to steer your party away from that dictum ideologically. And you have expressed a commitment also to do the same in practice as long as the other players on the national scene play their accompanying political roles.

This is a huge jump you and your party have taken. I commend you for that. Politically blind people in my own democratic camp refuse to see that. I feel sorry for them.

Madan Bhandari introduced the idea of a multi-party framework for his gang of communists, the UML, and that was a significant leap, but your work is more monumental, I think.

Nepal's poor peasants are more like Mao's peasants were, so I can see how Mao might have inspired you. You have drawn inspiration from the idealism of Marx and Lenin, and you have openly condemned the Stalinist deviations. Communists in practice hijacked political liberty, and so they had to suffer couter revolutions worldwide at the end of the last century. In saying that I think you have brought together communist theory and practice in a rather unique way. That synthesis is truly remarkable.

You have done a very good job of handling the many irrational fears of the parliamentary democrats who plain refuse to do the homework long due. You have articulated fears they have not, merely hinted at. That intellectual lethargy on their part has been hurting the peace process. Your proactive approach will serve you and your party well once peace and democracy are achieved. Jasle maha kadhchha, usle haat chatchha.

And you have beat all the democrats in Kathmandu with your ten points to kickstart talks on a future constitution. You have taken an initiative they have not.

Having commended you for your ideological innovation and political initiative and pragmatism, now I would like to draw your attention to some points that I seek further clarification on, or plain disagree with you. My vision is outlined here: 5 Steps. More particularly, I would like to draw your attention to this document: Proposed Constitution. You have your 10 points, I have an entire draft for a future constitution.

I have said this before. Let the three warring factions and all the component parties take a look at this document. Seek points you all can agree on. Things you can not agree on can be decided upon through a Constituent Assembly. What say you? All you have to do is take a look at the document, pen in hand, check all items you like, cross all items you dislike, and add a list of items you would add and/or modify if you could. How hard can that be? As easy as a multiple choice question test.

This is like every party to the conflict is being given a blank slate and being told, okay so right down all you want. That is what it is. My document just provides a framework so there is some discipline to the process. And such that agreements and disagreements can be aired publicly. The process can stay transparent.

(1) Monarchy. You are an ideological republican. I am not attached to the monarchy, but I am not an ideological republican. I think it is possible to totally defang the monarchy and still keep it. I am not proposing we keep it, but what I am saying is I want to keep that option open so as to have more moving room during the peace process. I know you don't agree with me, and if there is to be a full fledged movement, and especially if there is state repression of that movement, there will be no stopping a republic. But I want to be able to make a few moves before that if the occasion might arise. I just wanted to be upfront and honest. Like you have been upfront and honest. On the other hand, if we end up with a Constituent Assembly, and you have the numbers in that Assembly to declare the state republican, be my guest. The people may take that decision, you and I may not.

(2) Disbanding The State Army. I totally understand it that you have to start with that stand. That is important for your internal consumption among your rank and file. I don't begrudge you for that. And there was at least one occasion back in February when I said the same thing.

Just like Girija lives a contradiction. He has yet to make up his mind on whether the 1990 document is dead or alive. I think you Maoists also live a contradiction. Once you have already made an ideological shift away from the "barrel of a gun," why do you still have a hangover about your armed cadres? Integrating the two armies in a fair way is step 1. Whatever your starting point, I hope you come to the table with an open mind and plenty of room for flexibility. This is what I suggest.
  1. There should be only one army in the country and that army should be in the barracks under the command of the Prime Minister of the interim government. That is the precondition for a Constituent Assembly. If you can not come around to that, you are not serious about a Constituent Assembly.
  2. If the RNA has 83,000 and PLA has 12,000 armed personnel, 3,000 of the PLA personnel get inducted into the army which gets five years to downsize itself to a total strength of 30,000 or less during which the 3,000 from the PLA stay on.
  3. 56,000 of RNA personnel and 9,000 of PLA personnel get retrained for jobs in the private sector. For that retraining foreign aid is sought.
Just like the Proposed Constitution, this is a framework for discussion, not anything written in stone. But the Maoists and the democrats will have to express their agreements and disagreements publicly and in a transparent manner.

(3) Self Rule And Autonomy For Janajatis And Madhesis. How do you like my three states, three languages idea? My demarcations are one person one vote taken to its logical conclusions. I think my proposal is the most scientific. I do not doubt the honesty of your commitment, not at all. Infact my political sympathies for the Maoists have been based on this commitment of yours. On the other hand, I am suspicious of the democrat Bahuns. Many of them are still talking of some kind of a decentralization so as to water down the idea of federalism. They are banging their head against the wall. Federalism is one certainty of the next constitution. On that there is not going to be any compromise.

(4) Education, Health. I could not agree more. Here we will just have to compete to outdo each other. I feel about these two issues as strongly as you feel about land reform.

(5) The Market Mechanism. That is the biggest gaping hole in your document, I think. Democracy is not possible without it. The market is the hen that lays the golden egg that will make our ambitious education and health plans possible. Just like deviated communists have had the tendency to ban other political parties, they have also had the tendency to kill the hen. The state has to be there to uphold the law, but beyond that it is the private sector that does the wealth creation. The details of what I propose are already in the Proposed Constitution.

In your writing there are several contradictions. You talk about guaranteeing employment. I am suspicious. What do you mean? It is not the state but the private sector that creates jobs, for the most part. The state does create jobs to perform its necessary functions. But it is not wise for the state to create jobs just so people can have jobs: that way you end up wasting the taxpayers' hard-earned money. Although there can be room for targeted job creations for some targeted low income groups in specific cases. That I give you.

Instead the focus should be on health, education and micro credit. The poorest of the poor can have ladders they can climb.

"Self- reliant national industrialization, protection of national capital and properties."

I am extremely suspicious of this. First of all, Marwadis are part of the Madhesi community. And they get demonized much on this issue. You have to watch out for that.

You really need to learn from the Chinese on the issue of Foreign Direct Investment. They will tell you, the rule is simple: the more the merrier. That's it.

You can have that, or you can have Nepalis going away thousands of miles to foreign countries, staying away from their families for months and years because jobs are not locally available. FDI is the best way to create good jobs locally, fast.

But then this is policy talk. This can not be part and parcel of a Constituent Assembly. This is for the elections held after the country has a new constitution. At that point, you would be free to disagree with my common sense assertion, if you might so choose.

(6) Land-To-The-Tiller Land Reform. This makes tremendous economic sense to the free marketeer in me. If that could be done, the productivity in the agriculture sector would go up drastically. To that add the micro credit idea, and you are going to end up with a green revolution. I am all for it.

But I would like to suggest we be careful about the political aspects of its implementation. I hope you don't change your stand on this, but I hope you do not make it a precondition before elections to a Constituent Assembly can take place. Let those who disagree do so, just cash on that disagreement politically. If you are the only party that is going to have the land-to-the-tiller slogan, and elections are going to be free and fair, you are going to emerge the largest party. Simple as that. And once you have a governing majority in the parliament, the disagreeing parties can cry hoarse, and they are not going to matter. At that point you implement the reform. So my suggestion, consider it step 2, not step 1.

Another attraction of the land-to-the-tiller slogan is you are not saying collectivization. You are saying right to property. That is key. Right to property is like right to free speech, right to assemble, right to vote: it is basic. Without property rights, there is no market. Without market, there is no democracy.

(7) Political Party Finances. For a party and leader who dream of a classless society, I am utterly surprised you don't even touch on that topic. Is it because the Maoists are the richest of all political parties in Nepal? How would you like this?

The Maoists need to make note of Article 1.8: Political parties may not engage in fund-raising activities. Instead each national party, described as those that garnered at least 5% of the votes in the previous nationwide elections, will get an annual sum that will be directly proportional to the number of votes it earned. That money is to be used for party-building and electioneering activities. Details of expenses are to be posted online in the three languages to the last paisa on at least an annual basis.

The other parties are keen to see you disarm. But noone is talking about your money. The money might hurt them more electorally.

My proposal on campaign finance reform might be what makes my documents stand out, I think. The document envisions a democracy where money is taken out of the system. It is truly one person one vote.

In sum, I would like to commend you for the ideological leap you have taken, thank you for taking the initiative with the ten points, and I look forward to future conversations. I hope we can march towards peace, democracy and progress. And I hope you will compensate for the mental lethargy of the democrat Bahuns by taking further initiatives down the line.