Long Live Marxism-Leninism-Maoism & Prachanda Path!
MAOIST INFORMATION BULLETIN- 8[Occasional Bulletin of the Communist
Party of Nepal (Maoist)] |
News & Views
Anti-Monarchy Struggle Gathers Momentum
The fake and puppet monarchy raised after the infamous palace massacre on June
1, 2001 in Nepal is now facing a massive countrywide movement for its overthrow
and replacement with a republican system of government. The anti-monarchy
democratic struggle has entered a new phase with the traditional pro-monarchy
parliamentary parties, and particularly their
student wings, coming out in streets with overt republican slogans for the past
one month.
It may be recollected that the CPN (Maoist) had given a call for
institutionalisation of the republic soon after the massacre of King Birendra and
his entire family, under a grand conspiracy of internal and external
reactionary forces in 2001. The masses of the people had then come into the
streets and openly branded Gyanendra (the present 'King') and his
gangster son, Paras, as ‘the murderers’. However, because of the vacillating
posture of the major parliamentary parties and support from some international
forces the regicidal and fratricidal culprits managed to stabilize themselves
in the throne. The genocidal ‘royal Nepal army’ (RNA) provided the major
internal support base for the fake monarchy.
After two and a half years, the situation has undergone a fundamental change.
Now the major parliamentary parties, particularly the Nepali Congress headed by
Girija Prasad Koirala and the UML, are increasingly realizing that the
dissolution of parliament in May 2002 and direct royal take-over of power of
the old state in October 2002 was under a calculated plan to snatch away the
limited democratic gains of 1990 people’s movement and restore an absolute
monarchy. Also, the major international players in Nepal seem to have realized
that the ‘new’ monarchy is extremely unpopular with the masses and cannot be
sustained for long with mere external support.
The simmering anti-monarchy volcano has now erupted in the streets of Kathmandu
and major cities. There have been daily processions and violent skirmishes with
the royal police and armed forces. Defying the official positions of their
parent parties, the students and youth wings of the major parliamentary parties
have been raising slogans for the abolition of the
monarchy and institutionalisation of a republican set-up. The royal puppet
government and its RNA have, therefore, made wild accusations of “infiltration of the movement by the
Maoists.” This is clearly designed to scare away the parliamentary parties from
“the Maoists” and win them over to the royal fold once again, which the
students and the masses have been
resisting so far.
Meanwhile, the ‘King’ has started his old game of ‘divide and rule’ by meeting
the leaders of the parliamentary parties one by one and offering them some
‘carrots’. There are strong rumours that there will be another change of puppet
government soon to diffuse the anti-monarchy movement.
However this time the leaders of the parliamentary parties seem to be more
sceptical with the ‘King’ and not likely to be easily trapped in his
conspiratorial net. There is tremendous pressure from the lower level cadres
and intellectuals upon these leaders to stand firm against the treacherous
monarchy.
Hence, unless a dramatic change occurs in the situation, a decisive
anti-monarchy movement seems to be in the offing in the coming months.
The CPN (Maoist) has given an open call for the overthrow of the feudal
autocratic monarchy and ushering in of a republican democratic set-up in the
country. The Party believes that in the specific situation of Nepal even a
bourgeois republic would be much more preferable for advancing democratic
rights of the masses.¨
PLA Continues
With Successful Military Blows
The heroic People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been giving serious blows to the
royal mercenary RNA contrary to the claims of the royal spin-doctors.
Successful military actions in the form of ambushes, mining, commando attacks
and sabotage have been carried out almost daily in different parts of the
country. Particularly the ambushes and mining have been so effective that the
royal mercenaries have virtually ceased to venture into the rural base areas,
except with exceptional preparations.
In the latest successful military action in the Eastern Region, more than
twenty RNA mercenaries were killed and several others wounded in Ramite of Morang district on January 16-18. The royal
mercenaries were first caught in the ambush with mining and later the encounter
continued for over two days in the forested area. This humiliating defeat of
the RNA was completely blacked out from the old state media.
On January 18, a RNA convoy was attacked along the Dhangarhi-Dadeldhura highway
in Far-Western Region, wherein five royal mercenaries were killed on the spot,
seven wounded and five captured.
Earlier, on December 18 a big armored convoy of RNA mercenaries was ambushed in
Shivagarhi of Kapilvastu district (Western-Central Terai), where ten armed
personnel were killed and a huge damage inflicted to the enemy.
Four RNA soldiers were killed in a road mining ambush in Jyamire near Hetauda
(Central Inner Terai) on December 26.
Three RNA soldiers met instant death when PLA fighters shot at them outside a
government bank in Taulihawa of Kapilvastu district on December 30.
On January 2, four RNA soldiers were killed in an ambush near Manohari along
the Hetauda- Narayangarh highway.
On January 3, Seven RNA mercenaries were killed in an ambush and subsequent encounter
in Jalbire along Mugling- Narayangarh highway (Central region).
However, the PLA also met with an irreparable loss in the martyrdom of Com.
Salim, a battalion commander, in this action.
On January 5, a big encounter took place with the RNA in Mahure forest of Khotang district (Eastern region), in which
half a dozen royal mercenaries were killed, several automatic weapons seized
and a number of top ranking officials of the district captured (who were let off
subsequently).
Similarly, hundreds of small and medium armed actions were carried out
throughout the country killing scores of policemen and soldiers of the royal
regime. The royal media, however, conveniently hides the heavy losses on its
part and highlights the deaths of unarmed persons and prisoners-of-war killed
by the RNA in fake ‘encounters’.
In recent times the
royal spin doctors have been shamelessly parading some
prisoners-of-war in the state media as ‘surrendered’ persons, who are in
reality subjected to inhuman torture and made to sign in blank papers.
However, no amount of false propaganda can conceal the imminent defeat and
collapse of the royal regime, which may occur sooner than expected. ¨
Autonomous People’s Governments Formed
As per the Party’s known policy of granting autonomous rule along with rights
of self-determination to the oppressed nationalities and regions, a campaign is
now underway to form autonomous people’s governments in the liberated areas.
After completing the process of forming elected people’s committees at village
and district levels on the basis of revolutionary
united front policies, currently regional level people’s governments are being
installed in different parts of the country.
On January 9, Magarat Autonomous Region People’s Government was declared amidst
a huge mass meeting of over 75 thousand people in the historic Thawang village
in Rolpa district. As may be recollected, this is the main base area of the
revolution and is inhabited by the most oppressed Kham Magar nationality. The
Autonomous People’s Government was formed under the leadership of Com. Santosh
Budha Magar, in which members from various other nationalities and classes and
masses are represented. Revolutionary felicitation messages from Com.
Prachanda, Chairman of the CPN (Maoist) and Supreme Commander, PLA, and from
Com. Baburam Bhattarai, Convener, United Revolutionary People’s Council (URPC),
were read to the masses on the occasion. Com. Diwakar, In-charge, Western
Command, and Com. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Joint-Convener, URPC, among others,
addressed the gathering.
Similarly, on January 19, Bheri-Karnali Autonomous Region People’s Government
was formed under the leadership of Com. Khadga Bahadur B.K. and made public
amidst a big mass rally in Jajarkot district. It may be noted that Karnali
region is the most remote and backward area of the country. This is also one of
the major storm centres of the revolution.
Soon such Autonomous People’s Governments would be formed in Seti-Mahakali
Region, Tharuwan, Tamuwan, Tamang Region, Kirat, Madhesh, etc.
Meanwhile, the URPC has recently issued a “Directory for Administration of People’s Power, 2004,” to bring harmony to
the administration of local people’s power in the base areas throughout the
country. In this Directory, separate chapters are included for the
administration of Autonomous Regions and Local Bodies, General Administration,
Public Security, Revolutionary Land Reform, Forest Management, Industry,
Commerce and Finance, People’s Cooperatives, Physical Infrastructure Development,
Public Health, Public Education, People’s Culture and Social Welfare. Similarly
a Public Legal Code has been formulated to administer the New Democratic
people’s power. ¨
Anti- Imperialist International Gathering in Mumbai
An important international gathering of anti-imperialist forces of different
shades is taking place in Mumbai (India) from January 16 to 21, 2004 under the
banner of World Social Forum (WSF), Mumbai Resistance (MR) 2004 and other
forums. Nearly about hundred thousands delegates from over 130 countries are
estimated to have gathered to deliberate on issues ranging from imperialist
globalisation, militarism, religious fanaticism, environmental question, women
and children’s discrimination and national oppression to almost everything.
Despite lack of ideological and political clarity and minimum necessary
homogeneity of such a diverse and massive gathering, this could provide a
useful forum for networking and interactions among the anti-imperialist and
revolutionary democratic forces of different countries. Particularly at a time
when there is no socialist base area in the world and the whole
humanity is bullied by the naked super-power imperialism, this type of gathering despite its many limitations
should be taken in a relatively positive light by the progressive and
revolutionary forces. However, one has to beware of both the bourgeois liberal
or anarchist outlook and ‘left’ sectarian outlook, to discard the opportunist
or reactionary aspect of such
amorphous jamboree and grasp only its progressive part.
As regards the general slogan of the WSF, namely ‘Another World is Possible,’
the proletarian revolutionary forces should definitely attempt to extend it to
mean ‘Socialist World is Possible’. But in our view, specially after the bitter
experiences of the ‘Socialist’ models of the 20th century, only to say ‘Social
World is Possible’ won’t be enough. It will have to be further expanded to
‘Another Socialist World is Possible’. That means it is
not the same ‘Socialist’ world, but ‘Another Socialist’ world. Of course, it
will require much more explanation, which may not be possible here. It is
precisely in this context that our Party has raised the question of ‘development of democracy in the 21st
century’ [See, “Present Situation and Our Historical Task” in Some Important
Documents of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), 2004'].
The final outcome of the Mumbai gathering is yet to be seen. But, having been
organized in South Asia for the first time, it is expected that it will deliberate
on ways of resisting the ill effects of imperialist globalisation in the region
and imperialist interventions against revolutionary movements, particularly in
Nepal and India.¨
Article
A Brief Introduction to the Policies of the C.P.N. (Maoist)
-Prachanda
Chairman, C.P.N (Maoist)
Ideology & Ultimate Goal
It is well known that the guiding principle of the C.P.N. (Maoist), the
political representative of the Nepalese proletariat, is
Marxism-Leninism-Maoism (MLM), and its ultimate goal is socialism and
communism. While firmly adhering to its principles and goals the Party has
been developing its policies in a flexible manner on the basis of concrete
analysis of concrete conditions. The Party has been particularly stressing on
creative application and development of the principles with ceaseless struggles
against dogmatism and empiricism in the realm of ideology.
According to this scientific understanding, the Party has synthesized
‘Prachanda Path’ as a particular set of ideas of its own in the course of
providing leadership to the anti-feudal and anti-imperialist democratic
revolution of the Nepalese people. Prachanda Path has provided a new
dimension of ingenuity and creativity to the communist movement with the
proposed new idea of ‘Development of Democracy in the 21st Century’. The C.P.N.
(Maoist) may not be cognigible to those who fail to understand this ingenuity
and creativity of the ideas and view it from the old perspective.
Political Strategy
On the basis of study of history of the Nepalese society and its economic,
political and cultural specificities the Party has concluded that feudal
production relations and imperialist exploitation and interventions are the
main obstacles to the progress of Nepal. The Party is firm in its conviction
that the development process of the productive forces would take a forward
course and the progress of the Nepalese society would be ensured only when
it is freed from the feudal production relations. Hence, the basic political
strategy of the Party is to free the Nepalese society from feudalism and
imperialism through the bourgeois democratic revolution. The military strategy
of People’s War (PW) is objectively based on the goal of achieving this
political strategy.
Political Tactics or Immediate Policy
In the light of the particularity of the total international situation and the
prevailing balance of power within the country, the Party has been pursuing a
very flexible political tactics. A round table conference, an interim
government and election to a Constituent Assembly are the minimum political
tactics proposed by the Party in this context. Only a new constitution made by
a Constituent Assembly can in reality institutionalise the sovereign rights of
the Nepalese people. There can be no reason for anybody to disagree with this
supreme modality of democracy to let the Nepalese people determine their own
destiny and future.
On the basis of this flexible tactical line the Party entered into negotiations
with the old regime twice. However, both the times it was proved that the old
regime was not in favour of a political solution but was in the path of
conspiracy and regression. Rejection of the supreme
democratic method of Constituent Assembly to make a new constitution by the old
regime merely proves that it does not rely on the people but on armaments, army
and terror.
The past 53 years of political developments in Nepal have proved time and again
that the feudal monarchy is the principal impediment to the democratic rights
of the people. The eight years of PW, the infamous Narayanhiti palace massacre
and the regressive step of October 4, 2002, have inflated the hatred and wrath
of the Nepalese people against the King and the monarchy to its peak. Scared of
the reality that republican consciousness has now become
the consciousness of the general masses, the fake monarchy erected after the
palace massacre has consistently opposed the proposal for a Constituent
Assembly. Now it is making a vain attempt to perpetuate the rule of genocide
and terror on Nepal and the Nepalese people by appeasing and kowtowing mainly
American imperialism.
As a conspiracy to hoodwink the international community and to perpetuate its
feudal military dictatorship, the old regime has labelled the great &
historic democratic movement of the Nepalese people as “terrorism”. The Party
has been cautioning the international community against the false and
conspiratorial propaganda of the old feudal regime of Nepal that has
degenerated into a pawn of American imperialism to maintain its hegemony in
South Asia.
In this context, the Party once again reasserts its commitment to the following
minimum policies and programmes:
- The Party still maintains the proposal of round table conference, an interim
government and election to a Constituent Assembly to make a new constitution as
its immediate minimum political proposal for a forward-looking political
solution to the present crises in the country.
- The Party wants to institutionalise a republican form of state through the Constituent
Assembly and believes that in a free and fair election the mandate of the
Nepalese people would be in favour of a republic.
- In the given context of the existence of two ideologies, two armies and two
states in the country, the Party is agreeable to demobilization of both the
armies and carrying out of elections to the Constituent Assembly under the
supervision of United Nations Organization and international human rights
organizations.
- The content of
the new constitution would be:
(a) Political
Full sovereignty to the people; secular state; elected house of representatives
as the highest representative body of the people; reorganization of a unified
national army; provision of national and regional autonomy along with rights of
self-determination; provision of
constitutional changes or refinement according to the wishes of the people;
guarantee of multi-party competition, periodic elections, adult franchise, rule
of law and fundamental rights including freedom of speech and press; provision
of special rights for women and dalits (i.e. oppressed caste); etc.
(b) Economic
Revolutionary land reforms for judicious redistribution of land on the
principle of ‘land to the tiller’; self-reliant and national industrial policy;
promotion and development of national capital; formulation of an integrated
national policy for proper utilization of natural resources; etc.
(c) Social
Development of a mechanism for strict punishment to the corrupt, smugglers and
profiteers; development of employment-oriented national and scientific
education system; universal health service; provision of state care for the
destitutes, the elderly and the children; end to all forms of exploitation,
discrimination and dishonour to women and dalits; guarantee of minimum wages
and worker’s participation in industrial management; guarantee of
intellectual & academic freedom and professional rights; promotion of
democratic and scientific culture in place of feudal and imperialist
reactionary culture; plan of integrated national infrastructure development;
guarantee of full employment to all; fulfillment of demands of class and mass
organizations; etc.
(d) Foreign Policy
- Independent foreign policy of maintaining friendly relations with all on the
basis of Panchasheel (i.e. five principles of peaceful coexistence) and
non-alignment.
- Abrogation of all unequal treaties from the past and conclusion of new
treaties and agreements on a new basis.
- Promotion of good neighbourly relations with neighbouring India and China
with mutual cooperation in the fields of utilization of natural resources,
trade and transit, etc. for mutual benefit, keeping in view the particularity
of economic, political, cultural, historical and geographical relations with
them.
It is obvious that these immediate policies reflect the most flexible and
democratic methods for peaceful and forward-looking political solution to the
ongoing civil war in the country. However, the old feudal regime that has lost
all support and confidence of the people is unleashing a naked military terror
on the people relying on the military assistance of
imperialism. In this context the Party highly values the solidarity of all the
democratic forces inside and outside the country against the autocratic
monarchy and in favour of the republican movement of the people. Hence the
Party appeals to all concerned to lend their voices in favour of the democratic
movement of the Nepalese people.¨
January 12, 2004
Just Published
1. Some Important Documents of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), 2004
2. Problems and Prospects of Revolution in Nepal (A Collection of Articles
by Com. Prachanda and other Leaders of the CPN (Maoist), 2004