Power Does Not Necessarily Flow Through The Barrel Of A Gun: Maoists

I just visited the Maoists' website, just chanced around, a lazy Sunday morning thing to do, kind of.

Used to be the most prominent feature on their front page was the Mao line "Power flows through the barrel of a gun." Now that line is gone! This is huge. This is big. This is major. All democrats need to make note of this.

I am in a mood to celebrate.

These are the remaining quotes on the front page.

"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." -Karl Marx

"We don’t regard Marx's theory as something completed and inviolable; on the contrary, we are convinced that it has only laid the foundation stone of the science which socialists must develop in all directions if they wish to keep pace with life…"- Lenin

"Correctness and incorrectness of ideological and political line decides everything. If the line is correct everything will come in its way if it is wrong everything will be lost which one had before." - Chairman Mao

The Marx quote is a classic. You can not begudge the Maoists for that. Every educated peson on the planet is aware of it. Lenin's quote totally speaks of flexibility. Mao's quote also speaks of flexibility.

The Maoists are exhibiting flexibility. This has to be noticed. It is very hard for an organization like theirs to show such flexibility. It is much harder than it is for Girija. And now that they are, this has to be noticed. It will be a major mistake to not notice. Looks like the Maoists have really done their homework.

For the first time I see the Maoists moving towards a soft landing. The only people who could mess it up would be the democrats. The non-Maoists need to do all in their capacity to ease this transition. Peace asks for a price. Moving beyond the past is one of those prices.

A Maoist-democrat solidarity will quicken the demise of the autocratic regime in place, and it will also disarm the Maoists. That is two birds with one stone. And that is just the beginning.

This also shows the Maoists have moved on to a new kind of solidarity. The Prachanda-Baburam brief imbroglio episode is over, and that is great news. It is easier to deal with a unified party that is moving towards common sense.

The Maoists have to be rewarded for this newfound flexibility. And the way to do that is to enagage them. The democrats need to enage them. Welcome their overtures for fuller dialogue.

I am getting hopeful.

I am feeling particularly happy right now. This is not the false happiness of a king "lifting" an emergency. This feels more genuine. In politics your word is all you got. If people can not take you on your word, you hurt your credibility, and your chances.

I sent this email to the Maoists a few days back:

Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2005 06:28:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Paramendra Kumar Bhagat" paramendra@yahoo.com>
Subject: To: Prachanda, Baburam
To: "Maobadi Nepal" info@cpnm.org>, "Nepal Maoists" krishnasenonline@yahoo.com>

Hello "Comrades!"

This is the second time I am trying this. The first time I tried was in February. I have since gotten ample evidence that you all have been reading my blog. But I still have not managed to open up a private eChannel of Communication with you.

What I am seeking is this. That there be an email account that is individual to Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, and I get to talk back and forth with Dr. Bhattarai over email. The goal is to ultimately post the entire dialogue at my blog, but I would not do so immediately. I would do so after some ground has been covered.

My blog has been widely read among all three political camps. The Monarchists have been reading it, I have been told it has been a "big hit" in Delhi among the democrats there, and you all have been reading it. My blog is not journalism, it is political work. My goal is peace and progress. My goal is a democratic, progressive peace.

I might even get involved closely with a campaign outlined here: http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com/2005/03/edemocracy-4s-campaign-247-vigil-for.html in the post-monsoon phase. I might do some major fund-raising in New York in the private, progressive sector. And coordinate the campaign from this end, fund it and all.

Shall we talk? What do you think? You are not going to get UN mediation. But you could get an alliance with the democrats, and I might be the only person in some position to forge that. Frankly, I don't see you taking over the country militarily any more than I see the Monarchists crushing you militarily. So you could take up on my offer now, or you could waste time and take up on it six months or a year from now.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,
Paramendra.

http://www.paramendra.com

In the spirit of transparent democracy, I make it public. My politics is not my private life, it is my public life. I am still working on opening a private channel with Dr. Bhattarai, just so you know!

In The News

• Koirala asks Nepal leaders to work for democracy:- Webindia123, India .....met political leaders of his country camping here ..... also called on Nepalese political groups to engage with the Maoists in the peace talks that could lead to the formation of a constituent assembly...... also meeting members of the Nepalese community who have formed an umbrella group called Jan Sampark Samiti ..... "India will try to tell Koirala to persuade other political parties to open a dialogue with the Maoists so that a lasting solution to the present crisis is found," an official source said.
• MIDDLE: India indulges despots Times of India, India To the north there is Nepal, where a reactionary monarchy battles a protracted Maoist insurgency and freedom is the loser. To the east there is Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, where an entrenched military junta refuses to yield to elected democratic forces and, according to human rights organisations, harshly suppresses ethnic minorities...... India, which now accounts for more than a quarter of all Myanmar's exports, is one of the few major free markets that does not impose trade sanctions on the country....... Gyanendra recently sacked the government and imposed martial law....... China, which has no agenda for political change in Myanmar and is helping to build naval bases on the Andaman sea coast facing India. Beijing is also actively courting Nepal....... after Suu Kyi's latest detention, in mid-2003, Tokyo froze all financial aid to Myanmar........ rather than ASEAN it is China and India, Myanmar's two biggest neighbours and trading partners, that could bring the most effective influence to bear.......
  
• Karat did meet Nepal Maoists, admits party Hindustan Times, India Karat told the Maoists to give up violence and join the political mainstream ..... The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) confirmed to the Hindustan Times that a high-level delegation, including Baburam Bhattarai and Krishna Bahadur Mahara went to meet Indian political leaders......In an e-mail message, CPN (Maoist) chairman Prachand said the objective of the meetings was to gauge India’s stand if the CPN(Maoist) were to accept a multi-party system as a political solution to the ongoing civil war in Nepal, and agreed to work with other political parties in a constituent assembly....... "Taking constituent assembly as the means of minimum political solution, the party is maintaining relations with different political parties and forces not only within the country but of the world including India, Europe and US."
• Maoist Leaders In Delhi: An Inside Story NepalNews.com Dr. Bhattarai’s team also had the under-cover presence of another politburo member who was none other than Kishan Pyakurel, the pseudonym of Top Bahadur Raymajhi who leads the Maoist organization in India....... Mahara is considered a Prachanda supporter while Rayamajhi favours Bhattarai....... the team led by Dr. Bhattarai’s team primarily held talks with three sorts of people. Firstly, various political leaders in India. Secondly, high level Indian government officials. And, thirdly, the Delhi-based representatives of the Nepalese political parties........ Prakash Karat .. A.B. Bardhan.. George Fernandez.. their relationship dates back to the 70’s when both of them were studying at the Delhi-based Jawaharalal Nehru University......after Bhattarai’s latest Delhi tour, the Maoists have received political recognition from the Indian government, in an undeclared fashion ...... Bhattarai is giving more emphasis on trying his luck through the Indian leftists who are in the government..... The principal accomplishment that the Maoists have harvested in Delhi is nothing but the coalition with the agitating political parties in Nepal. The news source claims, based on the discussions held between the Maoist representatives and the Nepalese political parties, a possibility of working together for a ‘democratic republic’ has emerged. The visit of Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala this week is being seen in a similar perspective........ Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Dr. Shekhar Koirala of Nepali Congress, Pradip Giri of Nepali Congress (Democratic), Rajan Bhattarai of CPN (UML), Hridayesh Tripathi and Rajendra Mahato of Sadbhawana Party and Chandradev Joshi of United Left Front ....... ‘The discussions with the Maoists have been very positive. Though there have not been any immediate formal agreement, some common agenda might be reached to fight for a democratic republic.’ If it is so then (elections to) the constituent assembly could be a point of departure for them, and for this the seven parties have already opened the ways....... the Royal Nepalese Army tried to sabotage Dr. Bhattarai’s Delhi visit ...... India had been in touch with the Maoists; that India was taking Baburam’s side and that India was desirous of talking directly to Prachanda ..... hinting the party establishment, he slammed a serious charge that the ones who name him pro-Indian are the ones who are pro-palace....... The Nepali politicians are actively working through the ‘Nepal Democracy and Human Rights Advocacy Center’, which has its office at Yusuf Saraya of New Delhi.
• Mahara Baburam Nepali Times NEPALGANJ—Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been appointed the head of the United Revolutionary People’s Council in place of Baburam Bhattarai who held that position. Spokesman of the party, Mahara had been working as the joint-coordinator of the council. The Western Central Command’s Organisation Mobilisation Committee in-charge Purna Subedi confirmed this saying Bhattarai had not been reinstated in the politburo. “But he is working with the party headquarters,” she said, adding that the central leadership dispute just when the party had gained momentum in its struggle had frustrated party ranks. “There are attempts to create confusion by highlighting the intra-party struggle but nobody has seen the action taken against Bhattarai as a wise move.”

The Maoists And The Democrats Giving The King Veto Power

The seven political parties have come up with a four point program: (1) restore parliament, (2) all-party government, (3) unconditional peace talks with the Maoists, and (4) constituent assembly.

The first point is a major roadblock. Who will fulfill that demand? Not the Supreme Court. Then the king? Using Article 127? What if he just is not going to do it? You put 10,000 people into the streets and he does not go for it, then what? You put 100,000 people into the streets, and still he does not do it, then what? Therein lies the fundamental flaw in the program. When you have a strategy with such a fundamental flaw, you end up draining your resources, you tax the patience of your workers. You frustrate their efforts.

If your goal is to either deprive the king of all political power or to get rid of the monarchy completely, why is your strategy one that totally depends on the king? That is a fundamental contradiction. This is a looking Tokyo, going London strategy. If your goal is to take away all the king's powers, why are you so intent on giving him veto power! I mean, everything you want to do depends on him, it seems like.

Instead get rid of the first point, and jump straight to point two. Form an all-party government right now. And seek recognition of the same from India, US, EU and the rest. I think it might work. And then move on to point three. Hold unconditional peace talks with the Maoists.

Your strategy has to be one where the king is largely irrelevant. No matter what he does or does not, your gameplan should still work.

The same with the Maoists. They want UN mediation. They want a Constituent Assembly. Both demands are like giving veto power to the king, because neither happens without the king saying yes. It is amazing when avowed republicans are so intent on giving the king veto power.

Instead the Maoists should hold unconditional peace talks with the parties so as to facilitate a movement towards a Constituent Assembly. An all-party government minus the Maoists is formed. The Maoists disarm, and then are inducted into the government. And elections are held by that government. Something like that.

I have repeatedly sought a private email communication channel with Dr. Baburam Bhattarai to facilitate this process. So far with no success. Instead the Maoists talk through statements. Bhattarai's recent Delhi visit also brought no visible success. They need to make use of the more productive Paramendra option. It will work.

The democrats say they are for full democracy or for republicanism. The Maoists say they are for republicanism. Well, it is time they started acting like it. Put forth strategies that renders the king irrelevant. That will work.

In The News

• Critique of Harpers Magazine Hitpiece on Nepal Maoists : LA IMC quote from U.S. Ambassador James Moriarty .... "It's not Islamic fundamentalism, obviously, but it is a very fervent brand of Maoism that could cause great trouble in this area. They've said they're going to invade the United States."
• IMC India - Critique of Harpers Magazine Hitpiece on Nepal Maoists
  
• Sweep of History: My letter to the editors of Harpers
  
• Lawyers condemn Nepal government BBC News, UK Lawyers in Nepal have demanded the immediate dissolution of the country's government. ..... Nepal's Bar Association, which represents about 10,000 law professionals, passed a resolution at the end of a two-day meeting saying that King Gyanendra's takeover was an extreme violation of the country's constitution....... nearly 200 journalists held a rally in the capital, Kathmandu, demanding the lifting on the ban on FM radio stations to broadcast news.
• Dissolve 'unconstitutional' government, demand lawyers Outlook (subscription) the top lawyers' body in Nepal has demanded the royal government's dissolution and reinstatement of the House of Representatives...... The two-day assembly adopted 17 resolutions demanding end to the ongoing practice of promulgating laws through ordinances...... Frequent enactment of ordinances is against the principle of the rule of law, they said. The act of amending and scrapping laws formulated by the Parliament through ordinances should immediately be stopped..... "It is high time to reinstate the House of Representatives to reactivate the Constitution and restore democratic rights. The unconstitutionally formed Royal graft commission to grill opponents should be scrapped and the government should abolish the proposed draconian press laws", NBA President Shambhu Thapa told PTI.... The assembly also demanded release of all political prisoners, human rights activists and lawyers from detention.
• Raise The Red Lantern Outlook Works briefly for USAID, returns to US-aided varsity ... Joins communists in '71, goes underground in '80 .... Prachanda's youth was spent in Chitwan, a district the US assisted Nepal to colonise and develop; he studied agriculture science in an institute the US funded; and he worked, albeit briefly, with the US Agency of International Development (USAID) .... in the last 10 years of this war, the myth has only grown: he's feared, hated and reviled; he's also revered as "Comrade Prachanda" by thousands of followers. ....... In his childhood, though, Prachanda showed few symptoms of alienation or even bellicosity...... Nepal and the US were together developing as a model district with educational facilities and healthcare centres. ..... To his seven other siblings, though, Prachanda was the benevolent brother. He contributed to their upbringing, returning from school and ploughing the family land with a pair of bulls. When Prachanda was in Class X, he was pressured by the family into marrying Sita Poudel, a girl from the neighbourhood. The couple went on to have a son and a daughter. (The son is now a comrade.) ...... In a burst of paternal love, Muktinath even took his son's horoscope to astrologers. And they, without exception, have said that the planetary configurations in Prachanda's horoscope suggests he is blessed with "rajayoga". In other words, he's destined to occupy positions of power....... At the age of 16, Prachanda completed school and enrolled for ISc in agriculture science in Patan.There he taught for six years in various schools and worked briefly for USAID to support his family and finance his studies....... He returned for his BSc to the University of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (UAAH) in Chitwan's Rampur area, where his college in Patan had shifted. It is at this US-aided university that he became a commited communist, and where he also met many of his future comrades. ....... Very few have seen him in flesh and blood; his photographs too are extremely rare. The first photo was obtained by the government from the UAAH files. His sheer elusiveness prompted many to believe that Prachanda was a fictional figure the wily Maoists had created to hoodwink the security forces. In the initial years of Prachanda the myth, politicians of all hues tended to dub rivals whom they loathed and feared as the "real Prachanda". For the political parties, the king was the "real Prachanda"........ Padma Taludhar ..Taludhar furiously points out, "Both The Times of India and The Asian Age twice used my photograph as Prachanda's." The mistake was sufficient for pro-palace circles to dub Taludhar the "real Prachanda". ........ Those who know the real Prachanda say he has endearing qualities. "He is a leader...he listens, he acts, and he changes himself whenever necessary," says Durga Subedi, an ex-revolutionary who in 1973 hijacked a Nepal Airlines plane and decamped with Rs 40 lakh to start an armed revolution. Subsequently, Subedi abjured violence and became a Gandhian. "Prachanda is a jovial and open person, always concerned for his comrades' grievances," he says. ........ In the 1980s, Prachanda became a politburo member of the Communist Party (Mashal), yet another mutant of the communist movement. In 1985, an armed insurrection aimed at capturing areas around Kathmandu under the leadership of Mohan Baidya was beaten back. The defeat prompted Mashal's politburo to accept collective failure and voluntarily undertake one rank demotion. Prachanda was the only exception; he was elevated to the rank of general secretary. ....... On the advent of democracy in Nepal in '90, Prachanda and Dr Baburam Bhattarai came together to form the Samyukta Jana Morcha. The new party won nine seats in the 205-member House of Representatives. But attempts by the larger parties to split the SJM goaded the duo to opt out of parliamentary politics. ....... In February '95, under the banner of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), mobs launched simultaneous attack on police posts in four districts—Sindhuli, Gorkha, Rolpa and Rukum. A new chapter in Nepal's Red history was inaugurated in blood........ The only face-to-face interview Prachanda has given is to Le Ernesto of Chicago Revolutionary Worker....... there's no sign that Prachanda will give up the gun and turn to the people for political support. His future looks as bleak as other rebel leaders who came, became myths and then disappeared.
  
• A Glimpse of a day in Nepal United We Blog, Nepal Nepal’s lawyers and journalists are the most vocal professionals coming forward protesting the Feb 1 royal takeover.....
  
• Koirala concerned over military aid NDTV.com, India
• Koirala to camp in New Delhi now Deccan Herald New Delhi, where he will be staying for an unspecified period ..... speculation that the Maoists have been in touch with the coalition leaders as well as some Indian leaders ..... two communist leaders were heading for Lucknow where they could have secret meetings with the underground rebels ......
  
• Children detonate bomb, destroy concrete building Outlook (subscription), India attempted to make bombs using match sticks, tooth paste tubes, splinters and radio wires
  
• Conflict Corners: Some Talks on Nepal Maoism, Israel-Palestine ... United We Blog, Nepal the humiliation that Palestinians carry everyday as they hand out their IDs to Israeli police officers at check points that was once their land ......at the wake of Sept 11 people in America realized how painful it is to bear the brunt of humiliation and lost lives, both at once. ...... rarely any of the ruling elites in Kathmandu encountered a threatening death warrant from the Maoists; they were cozily ensconced in their wired houses protected by civil law and state military ....... the Shahs and Ranas, who were able in all respects to negotiate peace, yet chose military might to suppress the movement, with no less counts of organized state terrorism than that of Israel...... Vietnam was no Germany, neither was Iraq ...... like the expelled Jews of Europe are rehearsing the horrors of holocaust over the lesser people of Palestine, independent states get the premonition of emerging powers and plan a systematic dismantling of their structures ...... Nobody will do anything. States will silently witness the plights of Nepalis, or critics will study the case, newspapers will publish it, like Palestine, our stories of terror will be written in history, and forgotten.....
  
• Nepal objects to construction of Indian dam India Daily, NJ
• Gyanendra Shah's Death Samudaya The unthinkable happened circa 2013—China decided that it wanted to be the moral guardian of the world.
  
• Dear Miss Koirala Samudaya ..... open letters are in, so I'm sure you will not mind my hipness ..... I'm only embarrassed for your grandfather that the hatred for your political family far surpasses the love for him. ......your family has become such a liability to our freedom. Any attempt to talk about freedom and justice is dismissed if your aunt makes an appearance, and any attempt to return to sanity, to seek modernity, is shunned as long as it is led by your granduncle and his pals ...... we are a country that shatters stores and vehicles over what Hritik Roshan did not say ...... rich people shouldn't be criticized for their thoughts just because they are rich; it was only when you described the king as "an epitome of selflessness" that I concluded somewhere in you is an absolute nutcase ...... Your suggested solution to the Maoist problem, however—that "it may be through dialogue or through the army but no other alternative"—roared into much laughter because I had always thought that dialogue and military were alternatives to each other ......
• Koirala Arrives On Democracy Mission The Peninsula arrived here yesterday on a week-long visit .... He is likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajayee, ruling United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, longstanding friend and former prime minister Chandra Shekhar and some leftist leaders...... an umbrella group called Jan Sampark Samiti ..... Earlier it was feared that Koirala would be detained at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and prevented from leaving