Maoist Mayhem : Enough is Enough

Shashi P.B.B. Malla & Chandra Bahadur Parbate

The Maoists are bent on pushing through their own political agenda - at the expense of social peace. At the cost of nearly 8 million school pupils all over the country, they have enforced the indefinite closure of all schools to force the government, of which they are a part, to accept pay parity. Being communist, they cannot understand the lack of economic rationale in their actions, but it is deeply deplorable that they are willing to push through their misguided ideology at the expense of students.

However, the Maoists' student wing and their affiliated teachers' unions care a damn neither about the future of the students, nor their parents. Since the Maoist leaders' children are safely ensconced in posh private schools in India and abroad, they, of course, have no cause to bother about conditions here. They have not cared about the life and limb of others, so that they are not concerned at all about this being a blatant violation of fundamental rights should not come as a surprise.

As usual, national and international human rights groups that were so vociferous during the royal regime are silent. Thanks to the other seven sleeping partners in the 8-party tyranny of Loktantra, the Maoists are able, on the one hand, to give the impression of being an integral part of the political mainstream, and on the other, of acting as a violent opposition. In their latter function, they remain the minions of terror.

At the cost of regular administrative work and genuine negotiations with the Madhesis of the southern Terai, the constituents of the government are involved in marathon parleys among themselves! "The Kathmandu Post" proclaims: "Parties striving, making progress". What exactly are they striving towards and in what areas have they made progress? Home Minister, Krishna Prasad Sitaula who up to now has shown no inclination to confront the Maoists with regard to their continued atrocities, had announced last Saturday that the government would get 'tougher' with various 'armed groups' that have been involved in violent activities across the country. Without being specific as to what action will be taken and which 'groups' will be on the receiving end of this 'tough action'. This is empty bluster. Further, it is simply not the case that Sitaula, or the police force that he heads have been tough with such groups; therefore, getting 'tougher' is pure nonsense. Lastly, it is highly doubtful that his dire warning will also be applied to the Maoists, specifically the Young Communist League (YCL). The latter will likely not be dismayed by this hollow threat.

On Saturday, Maoist boss Prachanda issued a stern warning that they would call a nationwide general strike if the question of the Maoist camps was not resolved soonest. More or less promptly, it was announced that Nepal's government would pay an allowance to Maoist combatants and improve conditions in the camps housing them. Junior Labour minister Ramesh Lekhak advised that the government had decided "to give them (the combatants) Rs. 3000 as monthly allowance." He continued that the living conditions in the camps would also be improved. In turn, Maoist leader Ananta advised that the Maoists would now allow the UN to verify if the cantoned fighters had children in their ranks. While at first sight, this may seem like a gridlock being resolved, at a second glance this looks highly irregular at best.

Firstly, it should not be forgotten that thousands of so-called 'Maoist fighters' and child soldiers have been smuggled into the camps and are masquerading as combatants. Without the process of verification being completed payment should be out of the question.
Secondly, the amount to be paid seems rather high. At the lowest rung of the earning ladder, the toiling labourers who break stones, barely earn Rs. 100 per day. A soldier serving his country with distinction through thick and thin just earns Rs. 3 600 per month in basic pay. And now Maoist combatants are paid for - for what?

Thirdly, as a question of principle, on what grounds should combatants that are perceived as terrorists by a major portion of the population and responsible for the deaths of over 15000 innocent countrymen be rewarded? While steps towards national reconciliation no doubt will require arrangements (also of a pecuniary nature) for them, this seems premature at this time. The conduct of sister organizations such as the YCL does not warrant the conclusion that the Maoists have mended their ways.Fourthly, let us not forget that thus far the current government outrageously has ignored the plight of internally displaced persons (24 000 in the Kathmandu Valley alone). The Maoists have not even begun to honour their commitments towards the people they made refugees, and even worse, they remain vulnerable to Maoist thugs. If the provisioning of Maoist combatants is to be seen as a gesture of national reconciliation, then efforts in addressing the issues of internally displaced persons are sorely lacking. Neither the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal nor the national human rights groups are able or willing to push the internally displaced persons issue. So as a bottom line, the Maoists have once again managed to get what they wanted without having to put their mouth where their money is.

The Maoists are clearly the dominating force in the current political scenario. The CPN-United Marxists-Leninists, Madhav Kumar Nepal conceded last week that relations between the governing eight political parties were "cold" and put forward a 5-point formula to end the deadlock. His magic formula to solve contentious issues by consensus: a common stance on monarchy (meaning immediate proclamation of a republic without the working of the constituent assembly), finding ways to return property and land seized by the Maoists (this should be straightforward enough by taking strong and necessary action), ending the parallel government of the Maoists (this should have been a pre-condition to further consessions), announcing a definite date for the CA-elections (the dilly-dallying is incomprehensible for the common man), and introduction of a system of proportional representation (actually this should be within the purview of the future CA).

Since the government is unwilling or unable to bring the Maoists to order, and the communist leader's speculations has inherent defects, his formula is not likely to amount to much. Moreover, Maoist minister for Forests and Soil Conservation, Matrika Prasad Yadav, has already forewarned that his party would disrupt cabinet meetings, if the date for CA-polls were not announced soon.
In his new avatar as 'democrat' this same minister last week lashed out against the United States in general for still retaining the epithet "terrorists" with regard to the Maoists, and ambassador James F. Moriarty in particular for violating diplomatic norms by commenting on political developments here, specifically the Maoist participation in the government. Moriarty's harsh critique of the royal regime has conveniently been forgotten. In the era of globalization, nothing is strictly an 'internal matter'. Furthermore, the Maoists' international nexus is also a factor in the worldwide war on terrorism. Do they also object to the forthcoming visit of former US president Jimmy Carter (from the Carter Centre, and not someone likely to mince his words) and his objective in playing a facilitating role in the run-up to the CA-elections?

If the Maoists want to be accepted nationally and internationally, then they have to move within the parameters of truly democratic and good governance - but up to now they have shown no inclination to do that. Another Maoist, Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Ms. Hisila Yami-Bhattarai has fouled up international development efforts by adopting an arrogant and hardline attitude towards the Asian Development Bank with regard to the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, which now has been put on ice. For the Maoists, ideology has primacy over national interests.
In such an atmosphere of distrust, non-coherence and lack of discipline, orderly and good governance cannot be expected. Near chaotic conditions prevail. The interim legislature has not been able to reconvene amidst continuous disruptions and boycotts - by the government parties themselves. However, leaders of the 8-party government tirelessly extol their unity and stress that without it the country would go to the dogs! In the meantime, Prachanda has issued another warning that so long as the King remains, CA-polls would not be possible at all. This has been elevated to an ideological condition with no room for compromise.

The NC is in a major fix. Koirala made the feeble attempt to wriggle out of the hopeless situation by declaring that the monarchy in essence has already died, and that it is no use flogging a dead horse. This is wishful thinking on his part; he has been effectively cornered between the Maoists and the Army, both of whom he distrusts vehemently. The communist boss, M.K. Nepal recently made the weird suggestion that the Maoist fighters be integrated into the security forces - of course, with the express aim to further weaken the latter.

Source: News Blaze, May 29, 2007