Prachanda for tie-up with ‘nationalist’ royalists

KATHMANDU, Dec 5 - Maoist Chairman Prachanda has stressed the need to forge an alliance of royalists, parliamentary parties and his own party. This is the first time the Maoists - long known for their public animosity towards those close to the monarchy - are advocating a tie-up with the royalists. Speaking at a function organized by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) in the capital on Tuesday, Prachanda asked media to appreciate the importance of such "tripartite" unity and play its role accordingly.

"Even among the royalists there are those who love the country very much. In the new context where the king has been sidelined, a tripartite alliance, which includes such nationalists, must be forged," Prachanda said. Prachanda added: "There is no alternative to this national necessity [for the new alliance]. The press should play a role in this regard. Even media with large circulations should appreciate the importance of the alliance."

Prachanda criticized what he called "big media". He accused big media of spreading information against his party, out of fear that they would be closed down if a government was formed under Maoist leadership. He stressed that such a situation of fear should be ended. However, he did not elaborate how his party would come to power. "Some media have the misconception that the Maoists would shut down their radio, FM and newspaper if we lead the government," Prachanda said, "Therefore, large circulation media are playing a role to stop the Maoists from forming a government under their leadership."

He further said his party would respect media as per the values of democracy. "Some journalists spied for the army and they reported even a small mistake of our party as a big issue." The Maoist chairman was critical of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and accused the latter of giving more priority to the election of the Constituent Assembly than to the peace process. He further accused Koirala of trying to hold an election the way King Gyanendra did in 2005. The king held local elections amidst boycott by the political parties and questions of legitimacy.

He alleged that the prime minister deviated from the 12-point agreement which was about forward-looking reform of the state and "merging" of the Nepali Army and Maoist soldiers. The elections would be normal only if the peace process becomes normal, Prachanda said. The CPN-M might go for elections if both the armies are merged and the victims of the conflict compensated. "On the one hand, the peace process did not proceed as per the 12-point agreement while on the other, the victims of the conflict have not been compensated," Prachanda said. ‘Election necessary’

In the meantime, Prachanda, in an informal meeting with editors in the capital later in the day, said that the election was necessary to impart motion to society and the country. "We have realized that the election is necessary," Prachanda said, "Our expectation is that elections will provide us an opportunity to reform our cadres."

Source: The Kathmandu Post, Deember 5, 2007

NEPAL: FRATERNAL RELATIONS TO BIND NEPAL MAOISTS AND CPC?

Kathmandu: Visibly, the Maoists paraphernalia appear to be all prepared to keep a comfortable distance with the Indian establishment contrary to what they have had in the past or being presumed to be. Clearly, the Maoists hobnob with the Chinese establishment in the recent months and weeks hint that the Maoists in Nepal have come to their senses and that they just want to bring into effect a what could be best described as a “paradigm political shift” in their relations with India.

Its corollary would be that the Nepali Maoists “under compulsion or being guided by certain strategies” want to redefine their relations with India and begin a new chapter in their relations with Nepal’s northern neighbor. That the Chinese establishment too wishes to expand its sphere of political influence in Nepal and have formal “ties” with the Maoists party became visible when the visiting Chinese high flying Chinese authority Dr. Wang Jiarui and the members in his delegation spent some good three hours with the top-hats of the Maoists party at the Dwarikas Hotel Monday morning.

The meet of the Maoists leaders with the Chinese high level authorities and vice versa does clearly explain that both the sides are and were willing to “meet” each other and initiate on how such an “unclear” relations be legitimized. In effect, the meet in itself provides a sort of “recognition” to the Nepal’s Maoist party by the Chinese establishment as Dr. Wang is a very powerful man in the Chinese political hierarchy.

Thus the Maoists have been already recognized by the Chinese side and soon the two are expected to announce their formal linkages with each other on party lines. What political impact such a Chinese recognition would have then upon the Maoists? This is very important question indeed. Firstly, such recognition to the Maoists by the Chinese side would automatically distance the Maoists relationship whatever they have had in the past or is at the moment with the Indian communist parties. This is for sure.

To recall, though the Indian communist parties were close to the Maoists, however, in practice what has been well recorded is that when it comes to the preservation of the Indian national interests, the communist parties in India too do not spare their Nepali counterparts. “They tend to squeeze in tune with the Indian government’s structured policy towards Nepal that is to “weaken, smash and finally grab”, opine analysts.

However, such a new relationship with the Chinese Communist Party will act as a “political deterrent” to the Indian designs against Nepal. After such recognition by the Chinese communist party, the Maoists party can fairly adopt an “equi-proximity” policy if not that of the “equi-distance”. To recall, India disproves the equi-distance policy in the conduct of relations of Nepal with India and China.

Thus with the new relationship, Maoists will have abundant choice on how to proceed with their party agenda and will be rather more free in defining their relations with India. In such an eventuality, the Indian grip over the Maoists will lessen to a considerable extent. The second political impact on the Maoists would be positive one, say analysts. According to them, the moment Chinese Communist Party recognizes the Nepalese Maoists party, a sort of “fraternal” relations would be in existence which instantly would press the some what errant Maoists to “behave” as a communist but a democratic party.

Since the recognition would be a binding one upon the Maoists’, the latter would have to abide by the norms and the universal values of a democratic system. This would mean that such recognition in some way or the other will have profound impact upon the Maoists political behaviour and they will have to shun their previous aggressive and at times violent stances. In sum, though the two sides have not yet formally recognized each other as a fraternal party but yet the rumors are there that it would be declared soon.

In such an eventuality, the Maoists will have to change their present political credentials what they have at the moment and transform themselves into a fairly democratic party that would be demanded of them. Finally, such recognition would surely distance the Maoists with the Indian establishment. India will be the loser. In addition, such recognition by the Chinese establishment will automatically bring the now cornered “nationalist” forces together, including the monarch. In such an eventuality, the political equation will definitely see a sea change.

It is in this light, the would-be Indian annoyance in the pipeline should be viewed. Notably, the UML leaders, Bam Dev Gautam and Jhal Nath Khanal deliberately distanced themselves from the meeting, when their own boss held meetings with Dr. Wang and his delegation members. Gautam and Khanal are considered to be new “converts” for reasons unknown to the analysts.

Source: Telegraph Nepal, December 5, 2007