Philippines: Revolution Will End Backwardness & Poverty

This article was posted on Philippine Revolution.

May 21, 2009 Ang Bayan

Editorial
Revolution will put an end to backwardness and poverty

Gloria Arroyo’s vision of the Philippines becoming a First World country by 2020 is a huge delusion. Arroyo deceives the Filipino people by repeatedly telling them that their century-old poverty will be coming to an end in a few years’ time through her efforts and the measures she has taken. No one, of course, actually believes her when she insinuates that she has to stay in power in order to save the Philippines and deliver on her promise of prosperity.

The intensified crisis of the country’s semifeudal economy and the blows inflicted by the current crisis of the world capitalist system have worsened economic backwardness in the Philippines. The same assessment has been made by the imperialist financial agencies.

Interview with Gajurel: Understanding the Revolution in Nepal

This article was published on Steven Mauldin’s Zblog.

Interview with C. P. Gajurel

Conducted  by Stephen Mauldin May 28, 2009

“In every revolution there are very few who have a real understanding of Marxism, what Lenin and Mao have said. The masses are motivated by attaining something for their basic well-being not by an understanding of theory. But they learn by practice. The real intentions of the reactionaries are revealed to the masses as they are led through the revolutionary process. Of course, even among the masses supporting the revolutionary struggle are the opportunists. We believe that, over time, the people, without theoretical understanding, will in practice understand the necessity of removing the reactionaries and will recognize the opportunists for what they are. In time, in this way, a transformation will happen; there will be a New Nepal.”

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C.P. Gajurel is a leader of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a member of the party’s Central Committee and head of their International Department.

In August 2003, when attempting to travel to London, using forged travel documents, Comrade Gajurel was arrested in Chennai, India. Nepali and foreign supporters, including several international communist parties launched a campaign to have him released. In April 2005 a team of European human rights activists was allowed to meet Gajurel in prison. His supporters feared that he would be extradited to Nepal and tortured by Nepali authorities. After the CPN (M) and the government of Nepal signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, India dropped charges against Gajurel, of “conspiracy against India”. He was released in November 2006 and returned to Nepal. [1]

* * * * * * *

SDM: Thank very much for meeting with me. It’s an honor. Just to begin, a very general question in the direction I would like to explore. The supposition is that the central question is how to seize state power now the Maobadi have left government, the tactics now in these new conditions. [2]

Nepal Maoists Revive Parallel Government

This article was posted on Telegraph Nepal.

Nepal Maoists revive Parallel State Structure

Enraged and pretty annoyed by their disrespectful departure from the government structure, the Maoists party has begun reactivating the people’s local government and people’s court that had been dismantled by the party’s high command after the party became a part of the main-stream politics more so when it formed the government.

The Maoists Party Central Secretariat meeting of the Dharan City Committee, Sunsari District, stated on Thursday May 28, 2009, that the move was aimed at confronting the government based in Kathmandu that is formed ignoring what is called the peoples’ supremacy.

Video Documentary on Dr. Binayak Sen (Not in English)

The following is a three part documentary on Dr. Binayak Sen.

for next parts >

India: Binayak Sen Free on Bail

This article was sent to us by A World to Win News Service.

India: Binayak Sen free on bail

25 May 2009. A World to Win News Service. The Indian Supreme Court ordered Binayak Sen freed on bail 25 May. Lower courts had denied him bail and the high court had refused to hear an earlier petition, but support for the doctor has been building up in India and globally. Recently a former Supreme Court judge wrote an open letter saying that the case against him should be dismissed. At the same time, there have been fears for the 57-year-old Sen’s life, because of a heart ailment that Ilina Sen, his wife, warned could be used by the state authorities to kill him.

A graduate of one of India’s leading medical schools, Sen has been working in the state of Chhattisgarh since 1981. He and Ilina Sen run an NGO that trains rural health workers in adivasi (tribal) and poor peasant areas, organises rural clinics and promotes campaigns against alcohol abuse and violence against women. These and other public health programmes Sen has been associated with have reduced the deaths of children due to diarrhoea and dehydration, helping to bring down the overall infant mortality rate in the state. All this has made him one of India’s most prominent public health specialists.

Prachanda: Maoist capture state power Thru Peace Process & Army Integration

This article was published on eKantipur.com. Thanks to Red Road for pointing it out.

Dahal on Maoist road to power
Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, May 25 – Chairman of UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said Maoists would capture state power only through the peace process, new constitution and after Army integration.

“We will not capture state power through arms as widely speculated,” said Dahal at a programme at the general assembly of Nepal National Industries’ and Commerce Association. “We will not be provoked, but the fight for civilian supremacy will continue through the streets and parliament.”

Feeling betrayed by CPN-UML and its leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, Dahal said, “I thought I worked hard to nurture the elixir of life, but I think I had planted poison.”

Bhattarai: The Question of 2 Armies and Political Settlements

This article was posted on Neil’s Nepal.

***

GHANASHYAM OJHA

Dr Baburam Bhattarai, finance minister and senior leader of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), claims that the new constitution cannot be written without settling the issue of civilian supremacy. He charges President Dr Ram Baran Yadav of transgressing his constitutional right and ‘raping’ the interim constitution. “Until and unless the Nepal Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal is sacked and the president’s unconstitutional move is corrected, Maoists will never cooperate with the new government,” he says.

Ghanashyam Ojha of myrepublica.com caught up with him at his ministerial residence in Lalitpur on Thursday to discuss how the peace process will move ahead amidst his party’s continued protests in the streets as well as the parliament.

Excerpts of the interview:

Myrepublica.com: How do you justify your party’s advocacy for civilian supremacy when there are arguments that the government’s move to sack Katawal was not in line with constitutional norms?

Dr Baburam Bhattarai: First of all, we have to see the government’s move in the backdrop of years of struggle for democracy in Nepal. So far as Constituent Assembly (CA), republic and civilian supremacy are concerned, these issues should have been raised by capitalist parties. But unfortunately, Maoists had to do this.

Video: Democracy Now on Dr. Binayak Sen

Video: Political Prisoner Binayak Sen

A song made by “urban folk singer” Susmet Bose entitled, “Dr. Binayak Sen”

Prachanda: Crisis Opens Road to Complete Revolution

click for full size image

This article was posted on Democracy and Class Struggle.

Prachanda says war not over; urges cadres to stay alert for revolution

Former Prime Minister and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged his cadres to stay ready for a revolution as the ‘war’ is not over yet.

Addressing the inaugural function of the first conference of injured and disabled of the people’s war that kicked off in Kathmandu Sunday morning, the Maoist supremo said the war is not over, we have only changed the strategy.

One day after the legislature parliament elected the new Prime Minister displacing Dahal from the top executive post, he said the latest political changes had opened avenue for the completion of the revolution.

Over 1000 participants from across the country are participating in the two day conference.

India: Free Binayak Sen!

This article was published on the blog Ajadhind, which is titled “People’s March.”

If Binayak Sen is a Naxal, so am I – former Chief Justice of New Delhi

It’s two years and the government is yet to take any step for the doctor’s release
Samarth Pathak Delhi Hardnews

“Kick me, shake me, you can never break me” seemed to be the punch line of the emotionally charged ‘Free Binayak’ campaign held in Delhi on May 14. It marked the second year of imprisonment of human rights defender, Dr Binayak Sen, in Chhattisgarh.
The gathering saw hundreds of social activists, friends and supporters of Sen protesting against State atrocities through songs, poetry and straight-from-the-heart speeches. Participants voiced the need for a revolution and pledged their solidarity for the cause.

It started with a rendition Bob Dylan’s eternal classic, “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” It was performed by a group of youngsters – Ritwik, Pakhi and Tushar, and everyone joined in the chorus. This was followed by a folk song, Gulabidas’s Marjeeva, by feminist Deepta Ghosh.

Hindu Supremists Stage Attack in Nepal

Thanks to Green-Red for this post.

Two killed in Nepal blast as PM vote nears
By Gopal Sharma
Reuters Saturday, May 23, 2009; 2:09 AM

KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Two people were killed and at least a dozen wounded when an explosion ripped through a church near the Nepali capital on Saturday, police said, hours before the country’s parliament was set to elect a new prime minister.

The blast hit the Dhobighat suburb in Lalitpur, an adjoining town 4 km (3 miles) south of Kathmandu.

“The wounded people have been rushed to a local hospital and we are investigating,” superintendent of police Kedarman Singh Bhandari said. Police cordoned off the area, which was strewn with shattered window panes.

There was no claim of responsibility but a little-known Hindu group, the Nepal Defense Army, threw pamphlets around the site demanding Nepal be declared a Hindu state. Nepal became a secular state three years ago after a decade-long civil war ended.

Nepal’s parliament was due to choose a new prime minister later on Saturday after Maoist leader Prachanda resigned amid a row over his plan to fire his army chief.

Former Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who still uses his nom de guerre Prachanda, meaning “fierce,” resigned on May 4 after President Ram Baran Yadav stopped him from firing General Rookmangud Katawal.

Prachanda accused Katawal of undermining the civilian government.

A loose alliance of 23 political parties is backing moderate communist Madhav Kumar Nepal for the job. Party officials said his election was a mere formality because the coalition controlled nearly 360 members in the 601-seat parliament.

He is from the moderate Communist UML party, second biggest group in the alliance, and is known for his ability to negotiate with rivals.

Prachanda: New Nepal as a Puppet State?

This article was published on Nepal News.

Dahal vents ire at former allies; says new govt might just be a ‘puppet’

Outgoing Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said Friday that it is quite possible the new coalition government will be a puppet of reactionaries and different power centres.

Addressing the parliament, Dahal alleged the partners of the new UML-led coalition of engaging in a dirty game as they try to install a new government. Describing the exercise to form the new government as part of a ‘counter-revolution’, the Maoist chief said those “rejected by the people” are now being placed at the helm.

The caretaker Prime Minister in his speech repeatedly questioned the morality of other political parties alleging them of not being able to stand for sovereignty, integrity and unity of the nation.

Dahal, who spent most of his time criticising other parties, said former allies betrayed him in the army chief episode. The parties, according to him, had agreed to take action against the army chief, but later they did a complete about face.

Nepal’s Huge Maoist Rally: “Now We Will Capture the State”

The following report on Sunday’s rally is from Telegraph Nepal, not from the Maoists themselves. Caution needs to be taken in a period of disinformation. However this news is important, and so we are posting it here.

Nepal Maoist threaten Revolt, State Capture: Sunday Mass meets

The wounded Maoists party had organized huge rallies in major centers of the country, on Sunday May 17, 2009. The rallies later converged into mass-meets wherein the Maoists leaders mostly criticized their political opponents. President of the Republic Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal- the UML leader who in all likelihood is to lead the country as the next prime minister- were the Maoists’ major targets.

Caretaker Prime Minister and the Maoists party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal addressing a sea of Maoists cadre in Kathmandu repeatedly called the UML and the Nepali Congress as the agents of the foreign Gods.

“As per the dictates of their foreign masters, the dejected and rejected UML and NC leaders are forming the next government”, said a pretty annoyed Dahal. “Their heads will be always down as they have surrendered to their foreign masters, we have resigned but yet our heads will always be up”, said Dahal.

Nepal Interview: Struggle Moves to the Street

This interview was posted on Telegraph Nepal.

People’s Republic can only guarantee Nepal’s national pride
Interview with Narayan Kaji Shrestha, United Maoists Leader, Nepal

TGQ1: Your party-the Maoists-has stepped down from the government front. You could have fought the battle by being in the government. Isn’t it? If the President did an act that you dub as unconstitutional one and the Chief of the Army staff defied the government’s order, wouldn’t it have been better to fight with them by being in the power structure? Isn’t it a defeated mentality of your party? What say you? Your comments please.

Narayan Kaji: No! it is not that we became unable to fight and quit the government. Instead, we eased the process for a solution and thus resigned from the government.

We felt that there remained some thing to be fought for which we have had to quit the government.

The President took steps that we dub as an unconstitutional act. We thus have to fight against the President’s erratic moves for which we concluded that it would be fair to fight with such unconstitutional moves by remaining out of the government corridors.