Arguing With The Maoists

(sent to NepalNews)

You Can Not Argue Against A Constituent Assembly

The Nepali Congress might have talked of such an assembly half a century ago, but they messed up. BP Koirala gave the army to the king on a silver platter back then. He messed up.

Parties like the Sadbhavana did talk of such an assembly post 1990, but did not make any headway.

It is the Maoists who have taken the lead on the idea of a constituent assembly this past decade. The Nepali Congress and the UML both argued against the idea for as long as they could.

But a constituent assembly makes democratic sense. You can not argue against it. You can only argue for free and fair elections to such an assembly.

You Can Not Argue Against A Democratic Republic

Democracy and monarchy are like night and day. They do not go hand in hand.

You can not argue against the republican agenda of the Maoists.

And the country's mood has fundamentally shifted. The call of the April Revolution is a republic.

You Can Not Argue Against Federalism

It is long overdue. 27 million is too many people to keep under a unitary state. Nepal is too diverse.

This is the third idea on which the Maoists have taken a lead. The Sadbhavana is the only party in the seven party alliance that has had a map for federalism, but they were not listened to, not by the voters, not by the other parties.

You Can Not Argue Against Social Justice For The DaMaJaMa

The Maoists get credit here also. They sure have put this front and center, although the composition of their leadership has serious deficiencies on the same count.

You Can Not Argue Against Security Sector Restructuring

There is no escaping that. The security sector is part of the overall state. This is not something different from the state restructuring being talked about.

You Can Not Argue Against An Interim Parliament

This parliament will not organize the constituent assembly elections. Credit for the April Revolution goes to eight parties, not seven. The interim parliament should reflect that fact.

You Can Not Argue Against Eight Party Governments Also At Local Levels

If you don't do this, you are leaving a vacuum. This is also a way to dissolve the local governments of the Maoists.


It is important to have this list of things we can not argue against when dealing with the Maoists. This will make us stronger on things that we can argue against.


You Can Argue Against The Presence Of The 100,000 Maoist Militia

Arms management applies to them first and foremost. If those 100,000 Maoist militia do not give up their arms, there is no point in holding elections to anything. Party cadres of any party may not bear arms. There has to be an agreement on principle. But if some Maoist cadres disobey, they will not be a party discipline problem, but rather a law enforcement issue. The Maoist leaders are going to have to agree to that.

Parties can not be in the law enforcement business. That is not allowed.

And if the Maoists refuse, they are not serious about holding constituent assembly elections. It would be time to call their bluff.

You Can Argue Against Lenin's And Mao's Rise To Power

Lenin used a constituent assembly to his nefarious ends. Mao held peace talks, he allowed a few small, insignificant parties to coexist with his after he came to power.

My idea of a constituent assembly and that of Lenin do not match. My idea of multi-party democracy, and that of Mao do not match. And this is no 1917. This is no 1949.

There are no two ways of understanding multi-party democracy, human rights, and rule of law. The Maoists have expressed commitment to all three. Let them come clean on each.


It is important that the seven parties do not get bogged down in the wrong arguments so bad they end up not making the right arguments.

Need To Revive The 12 Point Agreement Spirit
The Maoists Have A Right To Peaceful Assembly, Peacefully Protest
Deciding Now On Monarchy And Army
Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav: Prachanda On Madhesi
All Members To The Constituent Assembly Must Be Directly Elected
Prachanda, Madhav, Devendra
100,000 Maoist Militia Must Disarm
Dalit Diaspora Calls For 20 Percent Reservation
Hamas, Hezbollah, Maoist
How To Avoid An October Revolution
Janadesh: Rumblings Of An October Revolution?
Madhesi Self Hate

The building tension has to be deescalated. Both sides have to make room for each other. The summit talks are important. They can not be allowed to fail. There should not be any need for an October Revolution.

(1) Agree on an interim parliament. Interim Parliament: 101 Members Total
(2) Agree on eight party governments at the local levels.
(3) Get the Maoists to completely disarm their 100,000 militia.
(4) Push the two armies into barracks. Agree to restructure the police.
(5) Agree on the date and modalities to a constituent assembly. All Members To The Constituent Assembly Must Be Directly Elected
(6) The shape of the federalism is to be decided by the assembly. The fate of the monarchy is to be decided through a referendum. The judiciary is to be restructured.

Need To Revive The 12 Point Agreement Spirit

Political Mistake

It has been irresponsible of Girija Koirala to come out speaking for a ceremonial monarchy. That has been a big mistake. If he were not the Prime Minister, not in the cabinet, not a member of the revived House, it would have been different. But he is the top guy. His words have consequences. His utterance has given the Maoists some ammunition.

The truth is it is not Girija Koirala who will decide the fate of the monachy. The constituent assembly will. If he does not publicly make that point, that can be seen like he were not really for a constituent assembly.

Military Stalemate

It is not possible for the state to put down the Maoists militarily. It is not possible for the Maoists to take over militarily. But if they try, the entire ground situation changes. You are looking at street warfare in Kathmandu. That will also shut down all possibilities of a political resolution. After that the Maoists will either have to win militarily, or they will have to engage in a protracted war with the security forces. Both options look bad for the country.

We will be back to square one.

I don't think too highly of Girija Koirala's political skills. He is good at taking stands and sticking by them. But he is not good at the art of building coalitions. He is not good at extended discussions, at forging consensus. And it does not help that he is physically feeble.

Seven Party Steering Committee Needed

There is an urgent need for such a committee. Right now Girija Koirala has too much discretionary power.

Violent Confrontation Has To Be Avoided At All Costs

I recommend peace at any price, almost any price. Nepal needs peace, not another round of civil war.

I think the trick is to look at the Maoists' political points on merit. Of course this House has to be dissolved at some point. Of course there is a need for an interim parliament. Of course the two armies have to be brought together and fundamentally restructured.

Girija Koirala's reluctance to appreciate these basic points is complicating things. He seems to think he was right in the late 1990s, all except for one thing, that the army did not obey him. As long as he can get the army to obey him, he is fine. That is a fundamentally mistaken view. If that is his sole goal, the guy is merely pushing the country to another round of civil war. This time it will get urban. He is being irresponsible.

Beating The Maoists Politically

I am not apologizing for the Maoists. I am not advocating dealing with them from a position of weakness. What I am saying is the seven party alliance has been doing a poor job of competing with the Maoists politically.

The Maoists put forth a proposal for an interim parliament where they get one third of the 303 seats. When they do that, you don't withdraw. You put out a counter proposal.

They said let's form an eight party government at the center, and eight party governments also at the local levels. Why is that a bad idea?

Absent State

The state does not seem to be in a position to protect citizens in the rural or the urban areas from Maoist extortions. That is an added reason to compete with the Maoists on the political front more fiercely.

Why can't the seven party alliance bring forth proposals for security sector restructuring and the larger state restructuring that are better than that of the Maoists, or at least as good?

Where is your map for federalism? Unless there are competing maps, you can not say no to the Maoist map for the interim period. Because that is the only map on the table for now. But if you have competing maps, then the issue goes to the constituent assembly.

Maoist Dictatorship

The people are not going to put up with it. But they do need proactive leadership from the seven party alliance.

Right now the seven parties have been losing the political battle. Where is the rapid response mechanism of the seven parties? Why have the Maoists managed to make it look like the seven parties are not eager to go for the constituent assembly elections?

What Will Stop The Maoists

Only a political counterbalance of the seven parties will stop the Maoists. There is an urgent need for political work.

The Spirit Of The 12 Point Agreement

It was to realize there is no military solution, there is only a political solution. That spirit has to be revived. The seven parties' getting into power in Kathmandu has not changed that basic reality.

What is the political work?

You look at all the Maoist political demands. You agree with what you agree with. You disagree with what you disagree with. When you disagree, you put forth joint counter proposals. You get proactive. It should not look like the Maoists are pushing you towards the constituent assembly. It should look like you are taking the lead.

If Push Comes To Shove

A violent takeover by the Maoists is out of question. That can not be allowed. But the people have to be made ready for any eventuality. You don't make them ready by failing to do the political work.

In Denial

Some leaders in the seven party alliance are in denial. They are refusing to see the ground situation for what it is.

Constituent Assembly Framework First, Political Polarization Later

The eight parties should not start competing now. Time for competition will be later. First work on the framework for the constituent assembly.

The Maoists Have A Right To Peaceful Assembly, Peacefully Protest
Deciding Now On Monarchy And Army
Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav: Prachanda On Madhesi
Sumit Pokharel: Maps
All Members To The Constituent Assembly Must Be Directly Elected
Prachanda, Madhav, Devendra
100,000 Maoist Militia Must Disarm
Dalit Diaspora Calls For 20 Percent Reservation
Media Can Distort Democracy
Hamas, Hezbollah, Maoist
How To Avoid An October Revolution
Janadesh: Rumblings Of An October Revolution?
Madhesi Self Hate
Arms Management, Money Management
Prachanda: Not In Tune With The April Revolution
Critiquing The Interim Constitution
Prachanda: Frank Or Scary?
Between The Maoists And The Congress

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