Maoists Prepare Draft of New Constitution in Nepal

This article was published on Nepal News.

Maoists prepares draft of new constitution

The Unified CPN (Maoists) has decided to propose a mixed system with an executive President and a Prime Minister with limited authority to be incorporated in the new constitution.

A task force led by Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, formed to prepare the draft of the new constitution, made such suggestions. The final draft was prepared by compiling recommendations from various 11 sub-committees formed to submit the suggestions.

In response to Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala’s remark that presidential system would invite totalitarianism, Bhattarai said when presidential system is being followed successfully in various other countries including the USA, a mixed system in Nepal would not invite totalitarianism. The main opposition party (NC) has already decided to propose a parliamentary Prime Ministerial system.

Red Star: Developing a Federal Structure

This Red Star (Vol. 2, # 4) article was originally posted by Maoist Revolution Digest #1618.  It is being made available on Banned Thought.

How the conception of the federal Structure was developed ?

During People’s War, the then CPN-Maoist exercised the People’s Power in local level, middle and in the central level. Local People’s Powers were formed from ward to district level. These were called Village People’s Committees (power) and district People’s Committees. At that time, the concept of autonomous states with the right of self-determination was declared. Accordingly, the People’s Power was divided into 4 layers. From the bottom: village people’s Committee, district People’s committee, autonomous states and Revolutionary People’s Council in the centre.

The Federal State Structure was developed and applied instead of Unitary Feudalist State Power. These federal states were defined as caste and regional autonomous states. Under these caste and regional autonomous states, there were many other autonomous areas and even villages (units) within an autonomous state. Moreover, the castes like Dalit, Woman, and endangered were given special right.

Prachanda on the PLA

This article was originally published by the Red Star, and has been made available on Banned Thought. Originally titled: “Changed role and responsibility of PLA.”

Changed role and responsibility of PLA

Prachanda

I am not in the same responsibility of supreme commander on this auspicious occasion of 14th anniversary of People’s War and 8th People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Day. I am feeling that the continuity of the past has been disconnected. I, on this occasion, am feeling pride of being the first elected Prime Minister of republic Nepal. I am feeling a deep responsibility.

We are in period of the peace process. Big challenges are before us to carry the peace process into a logical end for the bright future of Nepalese people. We have spilled our blood mostly for the election of the Constituent Assembly. We are now in the government, on the occasion for writing a new constitution. A deep responsibility is upon our shoulders.

I am speaking before you as the responsibility of a prime minister. Many different opinions and the some of the people have too many questions about Unified CPN (Maoist) and PLA if they are really in favour of peace process and they contribute to the peace process. They are raising so many questions at a time if Unified CPN (Maoist) is ready to write a constitution with multiparty competition, where there will be a political freedom, freedom of press, human rights etc.

Prachanda on the People’s Liberation Army in a Changed Situation

Photo: Tomas van Houtryve

This Red Star (Vol. 2, # 4) article was originally posted by Maoist Revolution Digest #1618.  It is being made available on Banned Thought.

This talk took place in the context of demands by reactionary parties that Prachanda not attend the celebration of the People’s Liberation Army and the people’s war — saying that attending would  legitimize this revolutionary army and delegitimize the reactionary National Army (which the civilian government also formally heads.)

“Many people still are not ready to accept a decade long People’s War to be the foundation of the declaration of republic. They hesitate to accept the truth that republic has been established on the strong foundation of PW. Therefore, the present situation is sharper than before.”

Opinion: Changed role and responsibility of PLA

by Prachanda

I am not in the same responsibility of supreme commander on this auspicious occasion of 14th anniversary of People’s War and 8th People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Day. I am feeling that the continuity of the past has been disconnected. I, on this occasion, am feeling pride of being the first elected Prime Minister of republic Nepal. I am feeling a deep responsibility.

Report: Communes in the Heart of Nepal’s Revolution

The Martyr's Road

This Red Star (Vol. 2, # 4) article was originally posted by Maoist Revolution Digest #1618.  It is being made available on Banned Thought.

A burning question facing the Nepali revolution is how to move forward from an anti-monarchist revolution to a full anti-feudal revolution and then beyond to socialism. One issue at the heart of this is the question of agrarian revolution — how to fundamentally change the lives of the vast majority of people by radically changing the social relationships in the countryside.

The impoverished highlands that cover much of Nepal often have little to expropriate: there is little surplus and few plantation-like farms. It is the collective mobilization of the people to create roads, schools, new local communal industry and some day electification, only possible through new communal socialist forms of organization, that forms a key step toward the radical transformation of life.

This report describes the embryonic socialist forms emerging under communist leadership in Nepal’s countryside — and promotes them as models for the country as a whole.

Report: Building With Guns

During the period of the People’s War, the communes were established in the central base areas of the western Nepal. They were/are the models of the People’s Communes. They are the embryo of socialism and communism. These communes are still surviving in a live condition. The policy and the programmes declared by the republican government are helping them. These communes are the best achievements of a decade long People’s War. They are the protection, experiment and the development of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and Prachanda Path.” Juni People’s Commune, Ajammari People’s Commune, Jaljala People’s Commune and Balidan People’s Commune are the model communes developed in the central base area.

Women Lead Revolutionary Struggle in India

This Red Star article was originally posted by Maoist Revolution Digest #1616.  It is being made available on Banned Thought.

Women on the front line, leading Revolution in India

20th February 2009 NAGPUR– A recent survey has shown 74 women to be part of the approximately 290 core Maoists operating in the worst affected areas of the state.

They don’t just make up the ranks. The women also account for three divisional committee members, nine commanders, three area commanders, and two deputy commanders. In fact, statistics show that the men are outnumbered by the fairer sex in commanders and deputy commanders’ cadre.

Two women divisional committee members (Narmada and Tarakka alias Vimla Sidam) operate in the south Gadchiroli area while one (Sujanakka) in the north. “Narmada though has lost her physical aggression due to age but she is still a sound strategic planner owing to her years in the movement and knowledge of the topography”.

Some 57 others are form the support strength. Role of women had become a matter of speculation in the state’s deadliest Maoist attack in the 01/02 attack at Markegaon that claimed lives of 15 policemen.

Among recent Maoist attacks, there is speculation that Jyoti, commander of Tippagarh Dalam and wife of member of Dandakaranya special zonal committee Diwakar, was part of the team that wiped out 15 policemen in Markegaon recently.

Maoists Announce Intensification of Revolutionary Work in Terai

This article was originally published by Nepal News under the title “Maoist begins state gathering in Mithila”.

The abruptly called gathering of the Mithila State Committee of the Unified CPN (Maoist) has begun at Lahan in Siraha district Thursday shortly after the Maoists decided to intensify party campaign in Terai districts.

Inaugurating the gathering of over 350 members, Prime Minister and chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal said he was sad to hear the decision of Matrika Yadav who decided to leave the unified party to reorganise CPN (Maoist). He said Yadav’s decision was a mistake but would have no affect on party.

The decision of the party central secretariat to appoint Bishwo Nath Prasad Shah, a new entrant from CPN (Mashal), as the head of Mithila state committee had irked Yadav, who had resigned from the post some four months back due to disputes with his deputy Prabhu Shah.

Nepal: Maoists prepare for by-elections

This article was published on Nepal News originally entitled “Maoists to start campaigning for by-elections“.

Unified CPN (Maoist) has directed its party members to intensify campaign for the upcoming by-elections slated for April 10.
The central secretariat meeting of the party held in Kathmandu Thursday morning has asked all its sister organisations to speed up the election campaign in six constituencies in five districts.
The party cadres are directed to support people who are included in the electoral list but dot not have citizenship in hand to get citizenship from the local authorities at the earliest possible.

Prachanda: Stay alert for another revolution

This was originally found at nepalnews.com.

PM instructs Maoist party cadres to stay alert

Prime Minister and Chairman of Unified CPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has instructed his party cadres to stay alert for another revolution, on Saturday.
Addressing a function organised by All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF – affiliated to Maoists) in Lalitpur, Dahal said the party will not always be engaged in the peace process. “The constitution-drafting process will not last forever, we should seriously prepare ourselves for the next situation,” said Dahal.

Dahal opined that while many communist movements in the world failed because they could not recognise the need of the hour, Maoists in Nepal understood the situation and acted accordingly. He said, his party would now take the revolution into new heights against colonial forces.

Prachanda: ‘Maoists will Embrace Change Through Revolt’

Prime Minister 'Prachanda' Dahal

This article was originally found on ekantipur.com. It was originally titled ‘Maoists will embrace change through revolt: PM Dahal’.

Maoists will embrace change through revolt: PM Dahal

Kantipur Report LALITPUR, Feb 14 – Prime Minister and Unified CPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Saturday said the party will not always be engaged in the peace process.The party will move in a different manner in order to embrace change through revolt, he said at a programme organised in Lalitpur today.

“Stressing which way is better for continuing revolution, we have been trying to present ourselves in a different way for peace process, Constituent Assembly and constitution-drafting process.”  “We should realise that current condition will not prevail for long and we also should prepare ourselves seriously for the next situation,” he added. However, he did not elaborate on what would be the “next situation”.  The rebel-turned-premier said the Maoists are in a complicated state of revolution adding that they are different from what they appear. In a different context, PM Dahal accused coalition partner CPN-UML and other communist parties of being ultra-leftist.  He said the parties advocated about change and revolution only during their initial years.

Nepali Congress Condemns Maoist Calls to PLA

Nepali Congress President: Sushil Koirala

This article was originally found on ekantipur.com.  It was originally titled ‘PM’s call to PLA irresponsible: NC Acting Prez’.

Kantipur Report NEPALGUNJ, Feb 15 – Nepali Congress (NC) acting president Sushil Koirala Sunday said Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent address to the Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) asking them to be ready for next revolution is irresponsible.The PM has raised serious concerns by announcing the Maoist cadres to get ready for another struggle against those who try to topple the government, Koirala said speaking at a press meet organised in Nepalgunj.

He criticised the Maoists for spreading violence by making issue out of nothing.

100 UCPN(M) Cadre Defect With Yadav

Matrika Yad

This article was originally found on ekantipur.com. It was originally titled ‘100 cadres join Matrika’s fold’.

100 cadres join Matrika’s fold

Kantipur Report RAUTAHAT, Feb 15 – More than 100 leaders and activists of the Unified CPN (Maoist) defected to the CPN (Maoist) reconstituted and headed by Matrika Yadav on Saturday. The defectors include Bhojpura State Committee member Indal Rai Yadav, central committee member of the Tharuwan Mukti Morcha Palat Chaudhary and central committee member of the Madheshi Rastriya Mukti Morcha Jayram Yadav.

Regional coordinator of the Young Communist League (YCL) Surendra Sahani and YCL district office secretary Binay Patel also joined the Yadav-led outfit.

After quitting the Unified Maoist, the defectors accused the Unified CPN (Maoist) of being an anti-Madhesh party.

UCPN(M) Leader: Yadav’s Exit Makes No Impact

Mohan 'Kiran' Baidya

This article was originally found on ekantipur.com. It was originally titled ‘Yadav’s exit makes no difference: Baidya’.

Yadav’s exit makes no difference: Baidya

Kantipur Report KATHMANDU, Feb 15 – Senior Unified CPN (Maoist) leader Mohan Baidya Sunday said that the exit of leader Matrika Yadav does not make any difference to the party. The remarks of Baidya came in the wake of increasing possibility of the loss of Maoist grip in Madhesh with the departure of leader Yadav, who hails from southern belt Madhesh, from the party. Leader Baidya said that Yadav would be allowed to rejoin if he comes back after correcting himself, though the party purged him on discipline ground. Talking to journalists at the party headquarters in Buddhanagar today, Baidya, who is the ideologue and leads the hardliners within the party, made it clear that anyone who wants to quit the party are free to do so as there is ideological freedom in the party.

Nepal: Gov’t Promises Reliable Electricity Within 5 Years

This article appeared on Nepal News 08 Feb 2009

Amidst media reports that the 12-14 hours of daily power outage that the country is currently facing might further increase, a top government official has said that it will instead be reduced by half from February 26. Similarly, the government official also assured that the pro-longed load-shedding hours will be done away with for good in the next 5 years time.

Briefing the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Sunday morning, Secretary at the Ministry for Water Resources (MoWR) Shankar Koirala informed that the transmission line within Nepal and that linking to India (for importing electricity from India) which had been destroyed during last year’s flood will be repaired by February 19, leading to a significant reduction in the daily power cuts or load-shedding.

The Prairie Fire Spreads in India

Thanks to Maoist Revolution and Comrade Suresh for sending these out.

Indian Maoist influence is spreading – experts posted at

Tue Feb 10, 2009

NEW DELHI, Feb 10th 2009 – Well-armed Maoists are rapidly expanding their insurgency in India, catching the government off-guard with their appeal to the poor and destitute, officials and experts say.

The rebels have 22,000 combatants, and have spread to more than 180 of the country’s 630 districts from just 56 in 2001, according to the government and a new report this week by the Institute for Conflict Management (IFCM), a New Delhi ‘think-tank’.

“The security threats are changing and it’s bigger than ever before as more and more areas are coming under their command. It is not a happy sight at all,” B.K. Ponwar, head of the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College in India, told Reuters.

“We must address the barrel of the gun of the Maoists, or in two years the issue will get out of hand.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist rise as one of the gravest threats to India’s internal security, and the insurgency is shaping up as an issue ahead of a general election due by May.