Nepal: Gajurel says constitution already drafted in India

UCPN(M) secretary CP Gajurel

This article is from My Republica

Gajurel  – Govt Conspiring to Bring Sponsored Constitution

Republica

Kathmandu, May 12: UCPN (Maoist) Secretary CP Gajurel  claimed on Saturday that the government and major political parties were creating an environment to impose state of emergency  for what he called promulgating a ‘sponsored constitution’.

Addressing a program organized to launch a book ‘Nepali Janayudhha’ (People’s War) authored by Dr. Rishi  Raj Baral at the factional headquarters of Maoist party’s Senior vice-chairman Mohan Baidya in Kupandole, Gajurel said in a veiled language that the new constitution has already been drafted in India.

He alleged that Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the Prime Minister and party Vice Chairman Baburam, along with the leaders of Nepali Congress. UML, and Madhesi parties were trying to endorse a ‘ready-made’  constitution on May 27th even though they seem busy in political negotiations these days.

Nepal’s revolutionaries form new fighting force

According to the following article in Telegraph Nepal,the wing of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) led by Kiran has replaced the YCL with a new fighting force called the Janasevak Bureau. The force is reportedly led by UCPN(M) politburo member, Biplab, a radical young leader.

Nepal Maoists hardliners form Jan Sevak bureau a la YCL: Report

24 April, 2012

The panel led by nationalist leader, Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ of Unified Maoists’ Party, has declared formation of a separate ‘fighting force’ comprising of dissatisfied, UNMIN disqualified Militias and some YCL cadres.

The unit thus formed will be called as ‘Janasevak Bureau’ was declared amid a program in Lalitpur, April 24, 2012.

Party Leader Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ currently heads a 17 member committee that drives the unit.

Nepal: Revolutionary students protest Indian interference

This report appeared at Zeenews.

Nepal: Maoist students protest against India

May 7,2012

Kathmandu: Pro-Maoist students close to the hardliner faction led by Mohan Vaidya ‘Kiran’ have staged a demonstration here against alleged Indian interference in the formation of a national government in Nepal.

The protesters briefly clashed with the police while organising a torch lit rally at Ratnapark and Kamaladi area in the heart of the capital last evening, eye-witnesses said.

They also obstructed traffic for an hour to show their protest against what they called “direct intervention of India” in Nepalese politics.
“We protest India’s direct interference in our internal issues,” said Ratna Dhakal, central committee member of the All Nepal National Independence Students Union- Revolutionary.

“We condemn Indian interference in any sector of our country.”

Kiran group forms united front against Bhattarai-led government

The Himalayan Times reports that the left section of the UCPN(M) has formed a united front with twelve other, smaller, communist parties to oppose the Bhattarai-led government. These plans include mass mobilizations and other protest initiatives. UCPN(M) Chairman Prachanda is still supporting Bhattarai, though his tone had been more critical as of late. We will post more on this situation as it develops. 

Baidhya faction-led front unveils protest programme

3-23-12

KATHMANDU: The united front of various fringe communist outfits and the dissident faction of UCPN-Maoist, led by Mohan Baidhya, on Friday unveiled a three-month struggle programme to exert pressure on the incumbent Dr Baburam Bhattarai-led government for the timely constitution.

Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel, a pillar of the Baidhya faction, has been chosen as the coordinator of the 12-party alliance.

The programme includes collection of signature in all 240 electoral constituencies, wall painting, and submitting memorandum to the Constituent Assembly members asking them to stand for the people’s

federal, democratic and republic constitution among others.

Nepal: More talk of splits in the UCPN(M)

According to Myrepublica, UCPN(M) chairman Prachanda is openly discussing the possibility of a split in the party.This is definitely not the first time a potential split has been aired in the mainstream Nepalese media. But the situation seems especially tense at the moment, with the sections of the party carrying out different programs in a strikingly visible manner.

We hesitate to make  judgments about the inevitability and precise nature of a split–there are no guarantees in a revolution.  Information from bourgeois media sources is often unreliable; nor are readers outside Nepal always aware of the complexities facing the UCPN(M), both within the party and without. For now, it seems appropriate to say two things: 1) a unified, genuinely revolutionary party able to carry out its plans collectively is the most desirable situation 2) a revolutionary party actively dedicated to carrying out People’s Revolt, even if smaller than the UCPN(M) as it currently exists, is far preferable to a unified party actively carrying out a line of unprincipled compromise with India and the reactionary parties of Nepal.

Party on the verge of split: Dahal

by B BASNET/KIRAN PUN

KATHAMDNU, March 20: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has told the party´s central committee (CC) members loyal to him that the party is heading toward imminent split or dissolution if current differences within UCPN (Maoist) are not resolved immediately.

“The party is teetering on the brink of a split; it will dissolve even if it doesn´t split. So we should put in our best efforts to save the party,” a participant quoted Dahal as telling the emergency meeting of around 100 CC members close to him and Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai at Hotel Summit in Lalitpur Monday.

The meeting came close on the heels of a rival faction´s recent announcement of a series of campaigns against the party establishment. The rival faction led by Mohan Vaidya has accused the establishment of not implementing the decisions of the last CC meeting to dissolve the current government leadership and mobilize the masses to frame “people´s constitution” and integrate the PLA into the Nepali Army (NA) in a “dignified” manner.

According to sources the embattled chairman of the Maoist party did not appear very optimistic about party unity, but tried his best to assume conciliatory tone in his speech.

He pointed out the need to do away with the deeply-entrenched factionalism in the party, and negotiate in earnest with the hardliners.

“This internal contradiction in the party has been going for so long. We have arrived at this critical stage due to our failure to transform ourselves and take the party unity to a new high,” CC member Prakash Dahal, who attended the meeting, quoted party chairman as saying.

The chairman reiterated that the party was still ideologically correct, but argued that leaders should change their attitude. Dahal told the meeting that he would talk to Baidya on holding joint programs including the celebration of the People´s Movement Day on April 6 and Lenin Day on April 22.

Similarly, Bhattarai, according to sources, backed Dahal and told the meeting that it would be counter-productive for his party to dissolve the current government. “I will do whatever the party tells me. But it will be irresponsible to resign now without seeking an alternative,” a leader quoted Bhattarai as saying.

Another vice-chairman, Narayankaji Shrestha, on the other hand, came out aggressive against the Baidya faction. He argued that the call for the prime minister´s resignation was linked to ideological tussle in the party. He was of the view that the hardliners wanted to create chaos and disrupt the peace process through government´s dissolution.

The party´s standing committee members expressed their views during the meeting, which will continue also on Tuesday.

The hardliners had also held a similar meeting at Kathamdnu for three days recently. The establishment faction has been pushed to a defensive position after the radicals began mobilizing ex-combatants to bolster their position inside and outside the party and announced protest programs unilaterally to topple the government.

According to sources, senior leaders from the hardline faction are also holding talks with the “patriots and intellectuals” for the causes of “nationalism and revolution”.

Baidya and Dahal, who had strained relations for months, had begun hobnobbing with each other after the last CC meet two months back, but suspicion and mistrust between the two surfaced after the latter did not recall Bhattarai from the government and declined to formulate mass mobilization programs.

´No deal with establishment in bits and pieces´

What do you have to say about the separate meeting of the party establishment held on Monday?

I had talked to the party chairman this morning before the meeting was held. I had asked him about the meeting. But they were not yet clear about it. I am yet to learn about the concrete decisions of that meeting. So it will be too early to comment.

There were voices at the meeting that the unilateral political programs announced by your faction should be withdrawn for the sake of party unity. Will you do that?

Currently, we are working out the concrete protest programs. Last Saturday, we had only announced the protests without any details. There is nothing wrong with that as we will come up with programs in accordance with the decisions of the last central committee meeting. We will not make adjustments to the existing status quo.

What actually do you want?

There are so many issues that we have been raising, including the national sovereignty issue. The Bhattarai government has signed “anti-national” agreements. On top of that we cannot compromise on the contents of the new constitution. It seems the party is not working to formulate a “people´s constitution”. They are rather surrendering to the parliamentary parties.

That means you cannot forge common programs with the party establishment, to keep the party united.

We are against signing agreements with the party establishment in bits and pieces. There are political, ideological and organizational issues that need to be dealt with in a package. We were compelled to announce the protest programs unilaterally after the chairman said clearly that he cannot implement the decisions of the last central committee meeting to recall Bhattarai from the government and formulate programs of mass mobilization for a pro-people constitution.

Nepal: We Need Communists not Statesmen

 Lately, reports are appearing in the bourgeois press that Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka ‘Prachanda’ has again sided with the revolutionary faction on some issues. Reports like the following, however, should be taken with some skepticism. This article is from myrepublica.

Compromise on Peace, Constitution a Mistake: Dahal

Post b Basnet/Kiran Pun

Kathmandu, Jan 20: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal conceded at a closed-door party meeting on Thursday that he made a mistake in compromising  with the parliamentary parties on the values of peace and constitution, and pledged he would no longer enter into any such consensus against the party’s fundamental principals.

Nepal: Students to Protest Fuel Prices

Student protesters, including the revolutionary student group associated with the UCPN(Maoist) are planning to protest against rising fuel prices, which are partially due to companies hoarding supplies. The protests will occur outside of Nepal’s most prominent government institutions. This article is from myrepublica.

Students to raid petrol pumps, picket Singha Durbar

Republica

Kathmandu, Jan. 29: The agitating students have announced another round of protest programs, including combing petrol pumps and dealers and picketing Singha Durbar, to exert pressure on the government to completely withdraw its decision to raise fuel prices.

Nepal: New Central Committee document by Kiran

The following is a document presented to the UCPN(M) Central Committee by Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’. It is long, but important for understanding the current situation facing Nepal’s Maoist party. As one might expect, it discusses many of the dangerous choices made by some leaders of the UCPN(M), including the dissolution of the People’s Liberation Army, the BIPPA trade agreement with India, and the failure to make necessary preparations for revolt.

Kiran also reaffirms that a “New People’s Democracy,” as a temporary stage in preparation for socialism, is the party’s minimum program. Kiran argues that not only is this the official line of the party, as decided on by the Chunbang meeting of 2005, but more importantly that this line “is necessary as well as possible.”

In the Chunbang meeting, the UCPN(M) collectively recognized that the reactionary parties, like Nepali Congress and the Communist party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) would try to turn the government into a bourgeois parliamentary republic. This is precisely the situation the Maoists have been facing for the past 5 years, as the bourgeois parties have been doing everything in their power to prevent a new, revolutionary Nepal.

But those bourgeois parties have had some assistance. Kiran argues that the party’s inability to move past the parliamentary swamp is due to a shift in strategy, one that was never agreed upon by the party as a whole. Referring to Prachanda specifically, Kiran notes that

“the Constituent Assembly is being taken not as a tactics but strategy. In this way, efforts have been made to end and liquidate the new people’s democratic revolution and mass insurrection.”

The piece also explains, quite candidly, that democratic centralism has broken down within the party and is “a mess”. He even goes as far as to say that the leadership of the party has “acted against the people,” and that class divisions have risen within the party. These are hard words, speaking to a bitter, difficult situation.

Ultimately though, the document is not pessimistic. Kiran argues forcefully that revolution is still possible.  His general plan affords more priority to mass mobilizations, or the “street front” than the parliamentary front. The plan also involves the strengthening of cultural and educational programs within the party, as well as the “People’s Volunteers,” a people’s fighting force that can be mobilized in the absence of the PLA and the Young Communist League. The document also demands that the party refuse to compromise on a constitution that does not meet the needs of women, oppressed nationality groups and those from oppressed castes.

The ideological divides within the UCPN(M) are deep. This document will not heal many of those schisms, nor does it provide answers for all of the questions facing Nepal. But it does show that there are revolutionaries within the party who have a broad outline for future struggle.

Thanks to Frontlines of Revolutionary Struggle for making this document available.

Kiran : On problems of the party and their resolution

1. Need for a new report:

Now, the class struggle is at a serious juncture and this class struggle has been reflected on our party’s two-line struggle. The history of Nepal’s new people’s democratic revolution and communist movement is at a new turning point.  We are in the grave type of labor pain. While, on the one hand, the conspiracy to liquidate the process of great people’s war initiated in 1996 into parliamentary quagmire is being consolidated; the revolutionary line, on the other, has emerged more effectively against this trend with a new commitment to give continuity to the Nepali new people’s democratic revolution.

Nepal: New class struggle in the countryside?

During the people’s war (1996-2006), Maoist cadres in Nepal confiscated thousands of acres of land from rich landowners and distributed it to poor peasants. In November of 2011,  an agreement reached between UCPN(M) leaders Prachanda and Bhattarai and several bourgeois parties aimed to reverse the land distribution. Article 6 of that seven-point agreement stated:

The UCPN (Maoist) would take an official decision to return the private and public properties seized by the party during the armed conflict to the rightful owners for their use by Nov 23. Due compensations would be paid to the owners for the loss caused by the seizure of properties.

Reportedly, much of the land was indeed returned to its owners. But now, it seems revolutionary Maoist cadres are again confiscating the land and returning it to the people. Though this article is from the bourgeois press and may be inaccurate, it reflects similar incidents reported elsewhere. It originally appeared at The Himalayan Times.

Baidhya faction cadres recapture land in Udayapur

December 28, 2011

UDAYAPUR: The local supporters of Baidhya faction have recaptured the four-and-a-half bighas of land belonging to Gajaraj Tated in Jogidaha VDC-1 of Udayapur district on Wednesday.

Kiran: We are still against Indian expansionism, for revolution

The line struggle in Nepal continues. One wing of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has formally dissolved the Nepalese People’s Liberation Army, authored a dubious trade agreement with India and has forced peasants to return land confiscated during the People’s War. In contrast, revolutionaries within the party maintain a commitment to taking state power and sweeping away the current oppressive apparatus.

In the following interview, Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’, Vice Chairman of the UCPN(M), discusses some of the complexities of making revolution in Nepal. One of these is the country’s geographical position. Locked between two major powers, India and China, Nepal would face a precarious situation if a revolutionary government was forced to cut off trade with those countries. At the same time, for Nepal to build socialism, it must free itself from the economic and political power India wields over the country. The term ‘expansionism’ is used to describe this unequal relationship between the two countries, without regarding India as an imperialist power like the US. This situation requires a new revolutionary approaches, like the ‘fusion’ between people’s war and urban insurrection Kiran mentions. 

The timing of this interview is noteworthy, as it comes in response to a  recent document by Prachanda, which argues that the party should continue in a non-revolutionary direction. 

The piece appeared in The Red Star, an English-language publication of the revolutionary wing of the UCPN(M).

We want to maintain a good neighbourly relation and go ahead by honouring each other’s national integrity and reverence with both of these countries.

25 December 2011

Q. Your experience with the formulation of national constitution in the last two years and the resistance by the reactionary parliamentary right wingers like Nepali congress. How do you sum it up in retrospect?

Nepal – The Struggle of Peasants for Land and Revolution

This article originally appeared in the English version of The Red Star, a voice of the Revolutionary forces within the UCPN (M).

Peasants, Seized Land and Act of Returning

Dharmendra Bastola “Com. Kanchan”

{We got opportunity to talk with Com. Kanchan in the capital city Kathmandu when he was just returned from Bardia and Kailali yesterday. Bardia and Kailali are the districts where most of the landless , homeless and the poor peasants dwell. Com. Prachanda was ordering and requesting at the same time in ambiguous tone to the peasants and the local administration at a time before two weeks there. Com. Kanchan was directly observing the activities and was participating to solve the problem of land. Presence of Com. Prachanda ,protest  of the peasants and activities of the local administration along with the local new-vigilantes were being moving like the rill of a film in his mind, which his body language showed, when we were asking responding our questions.)

PLA fighter in Nepal: We are not satisfied at all

Many members of Nepal’s People’s Liberation Army are deeply disturbed by the Seven-Point Agreement between Bhattarai, Prachanda and the leading bourgeois political parties. This agreement would effectively dismantle the PLA and leave the country without a standing military force in the service of revolution and liberation. Without an army in service of the people, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Nepal to solve the problems of feudalism, Indian expansionism and imperialism that plague the country.

This state of affairs  is very precarious and  uncertain. As the commander wonders in the interview below, “where are we being driven to?” At the same time, Nepal’s people, and the revolutionary wing of the UCPN(M) continue to fight for New Democratic revolution and a socialist path. 

This interview originally appeared in The Red Star, which has emerged as the English-language voice of the UCPN(M)’s revolutionary faction.

We are disagree with the tendency that is going to dissolve People’s Liberation Army – Mep Bahadur Kunwar, ‘Vivek”

29 November, 2011

[Mep Bdr. Kunwar “Com. Vivek”  is  a Divisional Deputy Commander in the 6^thDivision of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) camp; which is located in Surkhet district, Mid-WesternNepal. He is one of the prominent commanders of PLA in Nepal. Journalist Janmadev Jaishi has taken interview with him while PLA is being regrouping.]

Is People’s Liberation Army satisfied with this running process of regrouping ?

The most prominent issue of this period is to carry the peace process into a logical end. That includes the most important issue of the integration of army. However, what we are realizing now is quite reverse than what we had thought in the beginning of the peace process. The policy and the plan that is being implemented these days is promoting status quo in place of peace and transformation of the state.

Nepal – Dev Gurung – “We Need to Recommence our Revolution.”

Revolution in South Asia continues to provide news about the ongoing line struggle within the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). One section of the party believea a path to socialism is impossible in Nepal at this time. The other wants to continue the revolution to its completion, moving Nepal forward to New Democracy and socialism.

The following article features statements by a leader of the revolutionary faction within that party. It originally appeared at redstarnepal.com, which has emerged as the English language voice of the revolutionary wing of Nepal’s Maoists.

Nepalese Leaders are Acting as Cowards

Kathmandu, November 19: Chief Whip of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Dev Gurung has said that uncompleted people’s war and revolution need to be finalized to its goal.

Speaking to an inaugurating ceremony of Nagarik Yuwa Bikas Club Saturday in Kathmandu, he said that grass roots people’ s mandate has not been fulfilled.

Nepal: Revolutionary peasants refuse to return land

Peasants with the ANPF(Revolutionary) flag

One of the aims of the  People’s War (1996-2006), was to provide “land to tiller,” or free agricultural land for peasants to farm individually or collectively. To accomplish this, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) helped peasants confiscate lands from feudal lords or rich landowners. This was especially necessary in the heavily-populated Terai region in Southern Nepal, where arable land is scarce relative to the population.

However, according to the terms of the recent Seven-Point Agreement, peasants have been ordered to return much of this land. Peasants who are part of All Nepal Peasants Federation-Revolutionary are refusing to do so.

This development is especially interesting, as some leaders of the ANPF(Revolutionary) are aligned with Prachanda, who signed the seven-point agreement. What this means, if anything, is not clear. 

Peasant Against Returning Land

by RedStar

Kathmandu, 16 November:

All Nepal Peasants Federation-Revolutionary (ANPF (Revolutionary) has declared not to return the land; which was confiscated in the period of People’s War. It was declared in a press meet held in capital city Kathmandu yesterday. ANPF-Revolutionary is standing against the returning of the land where the poor and homeless people are farming for their livelihood making their small huts.

Nepal – Raising the Flag of Revolt – Comrade Thapa “Badal”

This address was at the press-meet by Comrade Badal  which was held in Kathmandu against the 7-point agreement made the night before.

The tone is emotional.  In particular Badal is furious with the attempt to dissolve the PLA.   He says 

“the rightest deviation, which dissolved the PLA that has sacrificed itself for the peace and transformation, will be gone soon.  Hundred thousands of new PLA soldiers will take birth from the ashes of the dissolved PLA.”

This article is from redstarnepal.com

  We Have Raised the Flag of Revolt-Ram Bahadur Thapa “Badal”

2 November 2011

Today is the historic day for all of us in the course of fighting against imperialism and the expansionism. This moment we are holding a press-meet in a historic moment because we are going to express even our commitment but not only the opinion.