News & ViewsNATIONAL
Mahakali Treaty: Another Sell-out of Water Resources
in Nepal
FURTHER DEGENERATION OF THE UML CLIQUE
NEO - REVISIONIST TIRADE AGAINST RIM
The blatant manifestation of domination of Indian Expansionism at one hand
and the total surrender to the Indian big brother at the other, is nowhere
more clearly seen than in the sell-out of Nepal's natural resources, mainly
water resource to India. Although Nepal is second poorest country in the
world, it has the capacity to produce second highest amount of electricity
(equivalent to the total capacity of electricity produced by Mexico, USA
and Canada combined). However the ruling classes of India have been systematically
harnessing Nepal's water resource at the cost of Nepal's interests and
priority. Kosi Agreement 1954, Gandaki Agreement 1959, Tanakpur Treaty
1991 and the latest Mahakali Treaty 1996 provide the best examples of this
usurpation. It may be noted that Kosi, Gandaki & Karnali are the three
major river basins in Nepal). While Kosi Agreement, Gandaki Agreement and
Tanakpur Treaty reflect semi-colonial mode of usurpation done almost unilaterally
without any role of Nepal in them, the recently concluded Mahakali Treaty
represents a more subtle and more dangerous form of neo-colonial domination.
While Mahakali integrated Development Project (MIDP) does not fall under
Nepal's priority but is essential for the Indian monopoly bourgeoisie,
a foreign debt of Rs. 250 billion (equivalent of five years of annual budget
of Nepal) is thrust upon Nepal as the cost of this project. And Nepal is
forced to sell electricity at throw-away price. It is worthwhile to mention
that Arun III, another multipurpose project in Eastern part of Nepal was
rejected on the ground that it was expensive amounting to Rs. 54 billion
(i.e. almost 1/ 5th of the total expenditure of MIDP project). It was to
be financed by the World Bank and India had no involvement & interest
in this project. However the MIDP project was not only supported by the
ruling Congress lead coalition government but even the main opposition
party, the UML. This only proves that the Indian ruling classes have a
better grip over the Nepalese politics than other imperialist powers. No
wonder that imperialist countries like the USA & UK joined hands with
the Indian ruling classes to get the Mahakali Treaty ratified by the two-third
majority in the Nepalese parliament in September last.
The CPN (Maoist) and other patriotic and democratic forces have opposed
this Treaty from the very beginning and have mobilised the masses and public
opinion against it. A Nepal Bandh (general strike) called on December 12
by the National People's Movement Coordination's Committee and actively
supported by the CPN (Maoist) to protest against the ratification of this
Treaty and other current issues including state repression etc. was a grand
success.
Historically the current 'United Marxist Leninist' (UML) clique in Nepal
emerged from the unification of the M-L group with a revolutionary background
with other revisionist groups in 1990. The transition from the revolutionary
ML group to the reactionary UML clique is worth noting. Influenced by the
Naxalbari movement led by Com. Charu Majumdar in India & the Cultural
Revolution in China, a group of radical youths rebelled against the then
revisionist leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal and started armed
activities in 1972 / 73. However due to petty bourgeois vacillations and
massive repression let loose on them by the reactionary government, the
group started retreating from its revolutionary path which finally culminated
in the formation of UML and plunging in parliamentary cretinism. But how
fast the UML could become stooge of both the internal and external reactionary
forces and itself degenerate into open reaction is just amazing. As the
single largest party in parliament the UML served in the ministry of the
reactionary state for nine months in 1995. Recently Madhav Kumar Nepal,
the General Secretary of the UML has been appointed as a member of the
Royal Council by the king. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) representing
the interest of the feudal monarchy is now it's closest ally. UML's hunger
for power is so intense that it has tried to topple twice the present Congress
led coalition government by buying a section of RPP ruling party. They
were even prepared to serve under the Prime Ministership of RPP leader
Lokendra B. Chand. Knowing that the blessing of the king is not enough
it has recently exhibited its blatant anti-national character by agreeing
to ratify Mahakali Treaty to appease the Indian expansionists. Thus what
started as a ML group to rebel against the then revisionist Communist Party
of Nepal has now turned into a faithful running dog of feudal & imperialist
forces. And yet these traitors dare to retain the 'ML' name to hoodwink
the masses and the international opinion. Perhaps no party in the world
has prostituted the word 'ML' or for that master 'Marxism' to such an extent
as the UML clique is doing now.
It is no wonder that the UML clique is terrified by the protracted people's
war led by CPN (Maoist), and is hence several steps ahead of other reactionary
forces in condemning it as a 'terrorist' act & 'a danger to the parliamentary
system'.
The neo-revisionist 'Mashal' group has for some time launched a vituperative
campaign against the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM) and
its participating member Parties to hide Its degeneration into open reformism
and parliamentarism. Through its legal publications and open press statements
it has not only sought to smear RIM as a 'Trotskyite' formation, but has
done honorary service to the reactionaries and imperialists by making public
sensitive informations about this important international body.
It is well-known that some time back the Committee of the RIM (CORIM)
had in a very polite manner suggested the 'Mashal' group to voluntarily
opt out of the international body because of its (i.e. Mashal's) deviation
beyond redemption from the ideological - political foundations of the RIM.
However, instead of attempting to rectify its deviations or withdrawing
gracefully from the international body it shamelessly mounted a public
mud - slinging campaign against the RIM to the delight of the reactionaries
and opportunists the world over.
Even a mere literate of revolutionary Marxism and the international
communist movement should easily discern the essence of neo-revisionism
practiced by the 'Mashal' group In the spheres of ideology, politics and
organisation and its irreconcilable contradictions with the RIM and other
participating member Parties. In the sphere of ideology, its blind opposition
to 'Maoism' is virtually turning into its abandonment of 'Mao Thought'
as well. To argue that 'Maoism' downgrades or negates 'Leninism' is mere
sophistry. To pit one authority of the proletarian class against the other
has been an old trademark of the opportunists. Similarly in the sphere
of politics its aversion to all kinds of people's wars or armed struggles,
its never-ending obsession with legalism and parliamentarism and its tailing
behind the neo-reactionary UML clique in Nepal, is an open secret. Organisationally,
its legalistic form and ever decreasing size is known to all. Against this
naked reality its insistence neither to mend its ways nor to leave the
company of revolutionaries at the world level is just ridiculous.
It is really amusing to note that rather than to look inside oneself
to locate the causes of one's degeneration the 'Mashal' group has sought
to denigrate RIM and its participating Parties as taking to 'Trotskyism'.
Doesn't it remind everybody of the proverbial 'fox' cursing the 'sour grapes'
? If at all the RIM has turned 'Trotskyite', then why should a self-professed
'revolutionary' organisation like 'Mashal' be wishing to be glued with
it ?
In the context of the increased importance and revolutionary role of
the RIM In the international communist movement it is hightime that it
is cleared of neo-revisionist pests like 'Mashal' and its revolutionary
base widened steadily.