Sunday, October 02, 2005

100,000 Unarmed Maoist Cadres


My figures might be off the mark, but let's say the Maoists have 100,000 unarmed cadres and 10,000 armed cadres.

My suggestion would be to pull back the 10,000 armed cadres deep into the jungles where the RNA can not find them even if they tried. Move around if you have to. Play hide and seek if you have to. Because it is not a question of defending physical territory. The Maoists do not need to defend an inch of territory.

Absolutely no abductions and extortions. Even if you call them education and donations, halt them, stop them.

And mobilize the 100,000 unarmed cadres. These cadres are physically safe. The state security forces may not attack them just because they belong to the Maoist party. If unarmed cadres doing peaceful organizing are physically attacked, that would be a serious violation of some major international laws. So your unarmed cadres are protected by national and international laws. Just keep track of them. Document any attacks and publicize them immediately.

So, no, your unarmed cadres do not need physical protection from your armed cadres.

And, very important, as important as doing all this, engage in the war of words. Use words like they were bullets. Publicize all this on a regular basis. This is where the real fight is now. At the level of words. Always keep one step ahead of the Monarchists. Follow all they say, all lies they spread. And counter them in real time. If they put out something false at one in the morning, you respond by two in the morning.

If you are already doing all this, but Ram Sharan Mahat is begging you to lay down your arms, and this and that, obviously you have not been doing a good job of fighting with words. Work on it.

Having 10,000 armed cadres on standby is expensive business. So if I were the Maoists, I would rather I had to do that for three than six months. And that is why it is important for the Maoists to truly act like there is a ceasefire and to give total political space to the seven party coalition. Because then the movement can be launched sooner and concluded sooner. The Maoists stand to save money. It makes more sense to save than extort. That saved money will help you after the peace talks are concluded.

Even if it is about money, it would make more sense for the Maoists to say during the peace talks later on, that it would really help if they could get $50,000 in foreign aid to attain a total transformation into a peaceful party. Or $60,000. That would be more money better, easier way. I can totally see that money coming if asked for in the right way. Powers that have been willing to give millions for peace will not mind giving away a five figure sum.

And what is this news from Jhapa about Maoist students shutting down schools? The Maoist leadership should also ask their student wing to step back.

On another note, Gagan Thapa's US trip is coming along really well. And Charlie Szrom, who I have nicknamed the American Gagan, will be in New York City some time this month. I get to meet him for the first time. So it will be like I get to meet the Nepali and American Gagans the same month.

The RCCC threatening the Supreme Court. Hah. Jab gidar ki maut aati hai, to o shahar ki taraf daudta hai.

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