Goal Is Ideological Fusion, Not Mainstreaming Maoists

Only the form of struggle has changed, says Prachanda NepalNews his party has not abandoned the long-term people's war strategy .... his party was following the dictum of Mao Zedong that struggle does not end even if the party joins government. .... if their method becomes successful that could trigger waves across the world. ..... Prachanda also mocked the remarks made by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala recently at SAARC Summit in New Delhi. "He said that he has mainstreamed terrorists but it is clear that the coming days will show who has (mainstreamed) whom," Prachanda said. He also termed seven parties as spineless.

The major ideological clash in the last century was between communism and capitalism. The official story is communism got defeated. The Maoists of Nepal bucked that trend. They grew like wildfire for a decade. The war was bloody. Thousands of lives were lost. A triangle emerged. One angle was the feudal monarchy, another was the Maoist party, and the seven parties that represented west style multi-party democracy and mixed economy were the third angle. The king's coup of February 2005 started a process that forged an eight party alliance that made the April Revolution possible. The credit goes to the people.

I do not see Girija Koirala as the leader. He has been a cork in the water. When the water moves, he moves. Take the cork out and the water will still move. At best he has been the "constitutional monarch" of the April Revolution.

Girija Koirala was the father of the concept of a military solution to the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. He never had the knowledge or the imagination to have even tried a political solution. Deuba and the king just went further down that road.

It was not Girija Koirala who saw that the plank of a democratic republic might forge an eight party alliance and might help the Maoists ditch their vision of a one party state, and make no mistake, a one party state is what they had in mind for the longest time. It was not Girija Koirala who saw that a constituent assembly was the only meeting point for the three forces in the country. Girija did not lead. He has followed. He has not created waves. He has been pushed around by the waves. It is just in a traditional, patriarchal society like ours, his age seems to give him an edge.

Those who claim credit for the April Revolution - be it in the Congress camp, or the communist camp - have never really articulated as to the enormity of what happened. Nepal is about to become a multi-party democracy of state funded parties. Nepal's mixed election system will have the best features of proportional representation, and representation tied to geography and based on constituencies of roughly equal population.

The Maoists are not about to become just another political party in an Indian or British or American style democracy. When you say mainstreaming, you make it sound like they are. What is about to happen in Nepal is not a defeat of communism or a victory of western style democracy. What is about to happen in Nepal is something fundamental, something that has not happened anywhere, not in any country at any point in history. This is too big.

Nepal is about to become the number one democracy on the planet. And in that sense the April Revolution is bigger than the French Revolution was. Nepal, more than any other country on the planet, more than America with all its military might and riches, is best positioned to take the lead on ensuring a total spread of democracy on the planet. Nepal is going to spread revolution like Cuba never was able to, like China never was able to, like the Soviet Union was never able to.

The first step was to throw away the old order through sheer people power. The second step has been to design the number one democracy. Soon enough we are going to have to get into the business of exporting. I am thinking Zimbabwe, I am thinking Burma, I am thinking Bhutan. I am thinking Pakistan. I am thinking every country that is not a democracy. And our message is you don't need outside help. You are sufficient unto yourselves. Just rise up, come out into the streets, shut the country down for a few weeks. And you can do it too. You can also have the latest edition of democracy, democracy the way it should be, democracy that is one person one vote in its purity.

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The idea of peace in Nepal has been to follow the South African model. You set up a Truth And Reconciliation Commission. But otherwise you are not seeking punitive justice. Let bygones be bygones. Let's start afresh.

Heck, I am thinking India and China. As soon as Nepal formally becomes a federal, multi-party democracy of state-funded parties, both India and China are going to come under immense pressure to emulate. That will be the only way to cure India of its number one security threat, its Maoist insurgency. And that will also be a way for China to take up democracy without making it look like they caved into western pressures.

What is happening in Nepal is super exciting. It is cutting edge. Mount Everest is just landscape, so it does not really count. Otherwise the political fermentation in Nepal is comparable to when Buddha was born, and he set out a religion that went to take over the world. That is how huge it is that which is happening in Nepal. But there still is major work to do. And we have to keep at it.

Free, fair and fearless elections must be held in June. All the agitating Madhesi groups have to contest elections or they stand to get sidelined.

Another thing I give Maoists the credit for is their map for federalism. I myself started out with a three state federalism: Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali. Now I stand by a map that is a slightly modified one of the Maoist map. They have nine states, I have eight. I have a Khasan. In hindsight I see they put a lot of work into it. I am admiring of that. And I openly give them credit where credit is due. As a Madhesi I am thankful for that map. A Madhesh state from Rapti to Mechi is what I want as a Madhesi.

But even the Maoists have not done much work on the separation of powers between the center and the states. Each state will have its three branches of government, that is for sure.

In short, things are exciting. I watch developments in Nepal with abated breath.

In The News

Only the form of struggle has changed, says Prachanda NepalNews his party has not abandoned the long-term people's war strategy .... his party was following the dictum of Mao Zedong that struggle does not end even if the party joins government. .... if their method becomes successful that could trigger waves across the world. ..... Prachanda also mocked the remarks made by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala recently at SAARC Summit in New Delhi. "He said that he has mainstreamed terrorists but it is clear that the coming days will show who has (mainstreamed) whom," Prachanda said. He also termed seven parties as spineless.
Storage of NA weapons to start from Tuesday
Prachanda calls for unity against ‘conspiracies’
JTMM-Goit abducts Saptari DEO, demands Rs 5m ransom
Army can be mobilised for CA: Nepal

Interview With Upendra Mahato NepalUK.com
भारतको जोगवनीमा फोरमको बैठक
मान्मा घटनामा माओवादीले माफि माग्यो
गोइत समुहद्धारा जिल्ला शिक्षा अधिकारी अपहरीत
निर्वाचन क्षेत्र २ सय ५० पुग्ने
संविधान सभा निर्वाचनमा सेना परिचालनको सम्भावना
गोइत समूहका सैन्य कमाण्डर पक्राउ
माओवादीले प्रहार गरेको गोली लागी आठ घाइते
संविधानसभा निर्वाचन अगाडि राजतन्त्रको फैसला : कोइराला
असन्तुष्ट समुहलाइ सम्बोधन नगरे निर्वाचन जोखिमपुर्ण

Marwari community in panic; 20 abducted in two weeks NepalNews the kidnappers usually keep victims in Koteshwore and Sinamangal areas and free them after getting ransom money. ..... criminals might have collected as much as Rs 500 million in the last six months through kidnapping and extortion
MJF-Maoists clash in Sunsari Activists of MJF and Maoists have clashed and opened fire at each other in Ramgunj Belgachhiya of Sunsari district on Wednesday evening. .... one Birendra Mandal of MJF was injured after Maoist activist named Bibek opened fire.

MPRF ban on newspapers lifted in Rautahat Kantipur
SAC forms taskforce for candidate election bill to clarify all parties’ stand on the issues of inclusion and proportional electoral system. .... so that there is a participation of all communities and classes in the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections and ensure that the Constituent Assembly, to be formed after the elections, is inclusive too.
Govt. to implement master plan on e-government will be implemented between 2007 and 2011 .... allow general citizens to conduct almost 60 percent of activities related to public administration from their homes using a computer and the internet ..... create knowledge-based society .... In the first phase, all the internal processes of the government will be computerized. ...... In the third phase, online systems will be devised to handle request of citizens and in the last phase all processes of the government will be integrated to form a knowledge-based government.
Dangerous to hold elections without addressing demands: EC urged the political parties not to view CA elections as parliamentary elections.
14th SAARC Summit ends adopting 30-point declaration launching of 2007 as the 'Year of Green South Asia.' ..... welcomed the People’s Republic of China, Japan, European Union, Republic of Korea and the United States of America, to be associated as Observers to SAARC. ..... Recognition to the full benefits of an integrated multimodal transport system in the region was also agreed.
संविधानसभामा सहभागिता माग
चेपाङद्वारा एक सिट माग
नेपालमा संघीय प्रणाली

Koirala hints of decision on monarchy ahead of CA polls NepalNews Koirala said the decision on the future of monarchy will be taken before the constituent assembly elections are held on June 20. .... He revealed that he was advised by the Indian leaders to hold talks with Madhesis to resolve existing unrest in terai. ... also informed that unification process between Nepali Congress and Nepali Congress (Democratic) will begin soon after his return to Kathmandu

HURPES makes 10-pt recommendation for free and fair polls NepalNews All political parties should make their income and expenditure in the election transparent
Nepal's attention turns to King
Boucher says Maoists can't be trusted
Police to act tough against rallies and strikes
Poudel urges Maoists to stop threatening people

British minister meets with Maoist leaders

Rights activists blame MJF for gross violations in Gaur massacre

ँराज्य पुनःसंर चनाबारे आठै दल अस्पष्ट’ प्रिोफेसर अशरफ घानी पर्ूवअर्थमन्त्री, अफगानिस्तान Kantipur तर्राईको समस्या देखिएको छ । .... राज्यको पुनःसंरचनाको कार्यसूची र भविष्यका लागि दृष्टिकोणबारे सात होइन, आठ दल समान रूपले अस्पष्ट छन् । ..... प्रयोग गर्न नजानेको अवस्थामा सङ्घात्मक राज्य व्यवस्था उत्तिकै असक्षम र अप्राकृतिक सावित हुनेछ । ..... राज्यको पुनःसंरचनाभित्र सरकार उत्तरदायी बन्नैपर्ने र पारदर्शी हुनैपर्ने शर्तहरू छन् । ..... मधेशी, थारू, जनजाति सबैको हितमा सांस्कृतिक नीतिहरू निर्धारति हुनर्ुपर्दछ । ..... जनतामा चेतनाको स् तर व्यापक रूपले उच्च छ । ..... यो प्रक्रिया प|mान्सेली क्रान्तिपछिको प्रक्रियाजस्तै छ, नेताहरूले विकसित हु“दै गएको वातावरण अनुसार आफूलाई ढाल्नैपर्ने बाध्यात्मक अवस्था । सबै राजनीतिक दलका नेताहरू त्यो अवस्थाको सामना गररिहेका छन्, जसको परकिल्पना उनीहरूले गरेकै थिएनन् । ...... यतिबेला प्रतिक्रियावादी प्रवृत्तिले टाउको उठाउने सम्भावना धेरै नै क्षीण छ ।
फुक्यो गा“ठो पा“च सूत्रीय सहमति कायम गरी आठ दलले मन्त्रालय बा“डफा“टको टुङ्गो मात्र लगाएनन्, संविधानसभा निर्वाचनको ढोका पनि खोलेका छन्
Maoist FM radio to be legalized: Mahara "All the FM stations would belong to the government since the Maoists have now joined the government."
Maoist cadre killed in clash in Kalikot, security beefed up Six other, including Maoist district in-charge, were severely injured during the scuffle.
GEFONT officials thrashed by Maoists
Three-day prohibitory order issued in Nawalparasi
फोरमले कान्तिपुर जलाए फोरमको समाचार नछापेको भन्दै गाडीका पत्रिका सडकमा निकालेर गाडीमै रहेको ३० लिटर डिजल छर्केर आगो लगाएका थिए ।
बन्दले तराई प्रभावित

'I Gambled 60 years of my Career for Peace in Nepal': Koirala Himalayan Times "I wanted to have a dialogue with the Maoists but was told by many that 'terrorists are not to be believed'," Koirala said.
Gang Kills One, JTMM Blasts Govt Office in Rajbiraj activists of the Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha led by Jaykrishna Goit (JTMM-J) exploded a bomb at the District Forest Office at Rajbiraj on Monday night. The bomb went off at around 8:40pm .... Local JTMM leader Bikas claimed responsibility for the blast.
Kalikot HQ Witnesses Overnight Curfew
KC Sees a United Congress in a Month
Rights Abuse Continues Even After Peace Pact: NHRC
Dalit Families Flee Homes Due to JTMM Threats the JTMM activists who had come on two motorbikes
April 8 time limit for giving up illegal arms The Home Ministry today called upon individuals, parties and groups to surrender illegal weapons and explosives they possess at the district administration offices or the nearest police outposts within April 8. .... the government would hold talks with the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) on the management of weapons held by the Maoists outside cantonments for the security of their leaders ....... the government will provide security to Maoist ministers. “No ministers and lawmakers will be allowed to keep private security personnel and arms in the changed context” ...... Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara also said today that the Maoist talks team would be dissolved. He also said that the government is ever ready to hold talks with the Madhesis and the Janajatis.
MJF bandh cripples life in Tarai The MJF called the bandh to protest “the apathy of the government towards the problems of the Madhes” and the re-appointment of Krishna Prasad Sitaula as Home Minister. ...... Traffic halted in Biratnagar and shops remained shut. In Birgunj, the main bazaars, factories and academic institutions remained shut. Vehicles stayed off the road, while main bazaars remained shut. Daily work at the Birgunj Customs Point was halted. In Janakpur, MJF activists staged protest demonstrations at different chowks. In Rautahat, academic institutions, shops and factories were shut. Vehicles remained off the roads in Kalaiya of Bara and shops in the district headquarters remained shut. Normal life was also hit in Sarlahi.