Revolutionary dreams of Nepal – a photoessay

[Years of the revolutionary People’s War in Nepal raised the sights and dreams of millions throughout the country, as well as throughout South Asia and around the world.  Peasants in rural areas marched to the fore, battling feudal and semi-feudal oppression and state repression with bold efforts to reshape the society, drawing rich lessons and strategic thought from Maoism.  The People’s Liberation Army was a powerful force, a work-in-progress, until the leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) reversed course, abandoned the rural struggles and liberation zones, moved to the city (Kathmandu), bought into parliamentary-electoral post-revolutionary enticements in a dramatic peace/surrender, and dismantled and dispersed the PLA fighters.  The betrayal was lauded by regional powers like India and Western imperialists and neo-colonialists alike.  The following photo-essay on the former PLA fighters of Nepal brings to mind the famous poem by Langston Hughes:

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore–

And then run?:

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over–

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

What happens to a revolution deferred? “Revolutionary dreams of Nepal—a photoessay” from Nepal by Pooja Pant and Bikkil Sthapit is now part of a traveling exhibition and published online in Raiot.in. —  Frontlines ed.]

June 17, 2016 / Pooja Pant & Bikkil Sthapit

I fell in love with my husband in the camp because he didn’t speak too much. We got the approval from our commander and married two years later. Now we both talk about how the leadership betrayed us.

Janaki Bhatta – Accham, currently living in Lamki, Kailali running a hotel

I get depressed when I look at my personal situation, my party’s situation and my society’s situation. A part of me has tied my dreams, my anger, my fire that I had as a Maoist fighter in a handkerchief and put them aside and another part of me has to work and make a living.

Ishwor Timilsina – Kuika, Accham, currently living in Lamki, Kailali runs a small hotel

Bangladeshi Maoists open critical discussion with Nepali Maoists

[Developments and struggles between revolutionary and revisionist political lines in Nepal, among many who have identified themselves as Maoists (in one sense or another), continue to spark polemics among revolutionaries in South Asia as well as throughout the world.  In this Open Letter from Maoists in Bangladesh, recent moves and statements by the new (and newly restored) Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) are questioned and challenged for their clarity and direction.  In the course of this Letter, critical (still-unexamined and unresolved) issues for the worldwide Maoist movement are raised.  —  Frontlines ed.]

CPMLM-BD: An Open Letter to the Sincere Comrades of Nepal

(14 August 2013)

Comrades and friends,

Red Salute!

We are sending this letter at a time when the sun of revolution in Nepal has already gone down long before. The people’s war that was earth shaking event in contemporary world that even after liberating eighty percent areas of the country has collapsed because of the betrayal line of the leaders, and as a consequence, all the achievements were lost. Now there is no People’s War, no Liberated Areas and no People’s Liberation Army. There is no hope remaining except the people. Besides, there are many sincere revolution seeking leaders and cadres who generally exist in every country as a result of revolutionary process.

The former Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)-being a member of Revolutionary Internationalist Movement rose against Maoism, abandoned the Path of Revolution, disarmed people and dismantled Base Areas. RIM committee hided those betrayal, advocated a secret Two Lines struggle, upheld coexistence with opportunism and adopted an incorrect method of restricting Line Struggle, and thus RIM committee resigned leading role of RIM. By presenting ideology as ’ Maoism or Mao thought’, led by Prachanda-Baburam the revisionists transformed Communist party of Nepal (Maoist) to Unified communist party of Nepal (Maoist). It was final rejection of Maoism. Prachanda-Baburam revisionists showed that present world and domestic situation is not favorable for revolution, so, compromise should be made. They said of so called bourgeoisie democracy instead of New Democracy. Through the so called peace talk, they made People’s Liberation Army surrender to reactionary army, and by surrendering achieved land and power to the exploiters, became imperialist- expansionists’ lackey the fascist Bureaucratic Bourgeoisie. On the other side, Revolutionary Communist Party, USA also made leap to their own revisionism. Both CPN (Maoist) and RCP USA, seeing only the outer appearance of globalized named imperialist world, and not by seeing its contradictory and moribund essence, presented it as unipolar and showed that war or revolution is not inevitable. They declared Marxism as insufficient. Both of them abandoned the concept of Proletarian Dictatorship that is a basic tenet of Marxism. Even RCP branded the confidence on Marxist Philosophy as Political Truth and hoisted the flag of non-Political Truth.

With the start of the New Year 2013, Communist party of Nepal (Maoist) has again been formed. They had invited us to their founding conference, which is their party’s 7th congress. For that we express our gratitude to them. It is to mention that a significant number of sincere Maoist leaders and cadres have united in this party, many of whom have working experience in International Communist Movement. Some days ago, a party representative of our party had a discussion with two high rank leadership of CPN (Maoist). They are hopeful that CPN (Maoist) will lead the revolution and they emphasized on building a new Communist International and rebuilding organization like Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations. All know that internationally we made various joint statement with MLMist Communist Parties of Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, France, Spain, Belgium, Arab and Afghanistan where we struggled the successive opportunism existing in International Communist Movement such as opportunism within the leadership of RIM Committee, Avakianism, Prachandism and Centrism, and at the same time, we put forward the importance of an advance Thought for building a new Communist International. In this context, we want to raise some points to the sincere comrades within Communist party of Nepal (Maoist) and also we want to attract attention of the sincere comrades outside that party to the same points.

Indian Maoists’ message to Nepal Maoists CPN-Maoist — August 31, 2012

[We have recently seen this message from the CPI (Maoist) to the new CPN-Maoist party, sent in late August of last year.  The new party in Nepal has, since this statement was issued, held its Congress early in 2013 — and while it decided not to return to the revolutionary path of Protracted People’s War, there are indications that an intense struggle continues within the new party to adopt this revolutionary course.  The content of this statement reveals some of the reasons Indian Maoists appear to be hopeful as well as cautious in in their assessment of events in Nepal as of late August, 2012. — Frontlines ed.]

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COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (MAOIST) — CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Hail the formation of Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist

Message of CC, CPI (Maoist) to the CC, CPN -Maoist

 August 31, 2012

To Comrade Kiran, The Chairman, CPN-Maoist

The CC, CPI (Maoist) is sending its warmest revolutionary greetings to you and all the CC members and the entire rank and file of the CPN-Maoist on the formation of the new revolutionary party in Nepal after a prolonged internal ideological and political struggle against the opportunist and neo-revisionist leadership within the party who betrayed the Nepalese revolution and by demarcating and making a break with them.

Even while the Nepal Revolution reached the stage of strategic offense, the UCPN (Maoist) leadership assessed the national and international situation subjectively, took erroneous tactics which themselves led the party get bogged down in the quagmire of parliamentarianism with capitulationism uninterruptedly since end 2005. The opportunist faction that was dominant in the party rapidly went on taking modern revisionist positions including 12-point Agreement, 8-point Agreement and Comprehensive Peace Agreement etc thus betraying the cause of the Nepal people and causing enormous harm to the New Democratic Revolution. The revolutionary faction of the UCPN (Maoist) led by Comrade Kiran and other revolutionaries put up a fight against the neo-revisionist stands that harmed the interests of the Nepal oppressed masses and have split at various stages from the revisionist leadership. Our CC considers such splits resorted to by genuine revolutionaries demarcating from the neo-revisionist leadership and its erroneous right opportunist line as correct steps that would advance the revolution in Nepal and serve the interests of the oppressed classes and all oppressed social sections in Nepal.

Nepal ex-Maoists declare “We will follow ‘the path of capitalism’ to achieve ‘communism'”

[Seven years after abandoning the revolutionary People’s War and dismantling the emerging liberation political powers in the countryside, and ending the revolutionary challenge to feudal and semi-feudal relations, and the People’s Liberation Army, the former Maoists led by Prachanda and Bhattarai are now shedding their “Maoist” cover.  A good number of purported revolutionaries who supported these revisionists soon after their abandonment of the revolutionary road–(some even called Prachanda and Bhattarai the “creative Maoists” of our time, and the leaders of 21st Century Communism)–will now be challenged to sum up their promotion of these anti-revolutionaries, and help those they may have influenced to understand how to avoid such retreats in the future.  The world of revolutionary Maoists will be watching.  We encourage our readers to comment on these developments.  Frontlines ed.] Nepal Maoists to change ideology, hint at giving up anti-India stance” Friday, Feb 1, 2013

By Shirish B Pradhan | Place: Kathmandu | Agency: PTI

In a major policy shift, Nepal’s ruling Maoists will adopt a new path to socialism through capitalism and may also give up their anti-India stance at the upcoming national convention of the party. Some 2,500 delegates of the ruling UCPN-Maoist will attend the six-day general convention, to take place after a gap of over 20 years, starting on Saturday in central Nepal’s Hetauda Municipality in an attempt to revamp the guerrilla group-turned-mainstream political party. “We will follow ‘the path of capitalism’ to achieve communism instead of pursuing ‘New Democracy’ as propounded by chairman Mao Zedong,” said Narayan Kaji Shrestha, vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist and deputy prime minister.

The Nepalese Revolution in the Clasp of Reformism and Revisionism

[The following is a statement from the Communist Party of Turkey / Marxist Leninist on the current situation facing the international communist movement, with special attention on the effect of the Nepalese abandonment of the People’s War.  It is a very timely assessment based on seriously probing issues that affect not only the Nepalese, but revolutionaries throughout the world. — Frontlines ed.]

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Communist Party of Turkey / Marxist Leninist (TKP/ML), October 2012

Following the death of Comrade Mao Zedong, similar to the process that took place after the death of Comrade Stalin, modern revisionism seized the party and the state power, and caused serious damages to the world revolutionary front. Having suffered heavy blows in the hands of modern revisionism, the International Communist Movement (ICM), despite having benefited from a series of class war and struggle practices, including the one waged in Turkey, has not been able to stand against the ideological offensives of imperialism, which gained considerable momentum especially during the 1990s.

In the circumstances where resistance was not organized strongly enough, communist forces sustained severe injuries throughout the process. While some of them sank in their capsized ships, yet some were swept to the opposite shores. Only the few “lucky” survived, considering the survival a major success in the given circumstances. There were several exceptional development by those who came up with accurate analyses and correct policies to advance the people’s war. Even these, however, found it impossible to advance without getting caught by the storm.

The most important defeat in people’s war experiences in recent history was suffered by Gonzalo led Communist Party of Peru (CPP). Despite having shown serious advances in revolution, the CPP failed to carry its success through the final stage. Those who explain the defeat in practical and tactical matters, which led to a severe blow in the leadership, or even in political approaches, are missing the chance to see the reality. Assessments regarding the revolution and people’s war that were revealed by the leadership under the conditions of captivity point out to a drift away from the fundamental philosophical principles of MLM science.

The same situation appears to be present in the process of Nepalese revolution as well. What is even more concerning is the fact that similar dangers are reproduced in the cases of certain components of the ICM, which inevitably leads to serious negative consequences in terms of absorbing and practicing Marxist ideology. As an action guideline, the Marxist ideology must first be correctly understood as a philosophy; as a reasoning method. Based on this comprehension, it can be applied for the analysis of class struggle and transferred to political arena.

Truth must be derived from the facts but in order to achieve this one needs appropriate methods and know-hows.   The materialist character of dialectic is shaped according to the correct conception of economic, social and political laws. Marxism is not a heap of dogmas but rather a science that breaks down the codes of today’s system; it contains a set of thesis and diagnoses that are proven to be correct and valid. Thanks to its ageless essence, its power to explain the transformation, and its structure that is open to further development, its light hasn’t dimmed; its mission as a guide is still on.

Nepal: Badiya faction-led alliance announces growing challenge to ‘fascist govt’

Thursday, 12 April 2012

Revolutionaries in Nepal protest against liquidation and surrender of PLA
Revolutionaries in Nepal protesting against UCPM-M Party Headquarters’ decision to liquidate and surrender of the People’s Liberation Army

Baidhya faction spills PLA handover anger on streetsKathmandu Post, KATHMANDU, APR 11 – Miffed by the Special Committee decision to hand over the PLA cantonments, weapons and combatants to the Nepal Army, Maoist hardliners led by senior Vice Chairman Mohan Baidhya on Wednesday took to the streets all across the country against party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. The faction burnt effigies of Dahal and Bhattarai as well as took out a torch rally and staged an one-hour long chhakajam. Accusing Dahal and PM Baburam Bhattarai of betraying ‘revolution’, the hardline faction has launched protests against its own government. Hundreds of cadres close to the radical faction staged chakkajam for an hour at 10 am, bringing vehicular movement in various parts of country to a standstill. Similarly, they organised a torch rally and burnt effigies of Dahal and Bhattarai throughout the country. However, police broke up a torch rally at Ranta Park rally in the Capital, which was led by party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa. Security personnel from the Metropolitan Police Range Hanumandhoka used force to disrupt the rally after protesters attempted to burn effigies. “Police baton-charged during our rally in an attempt to foil our protest,” said a Maoist Central Committee member close to Baidya Maheshwor Dahal. However, police said minimum force was used as the protesters who tried to violate the rules and regulations. The faction has been saying that bringing the PLA combatants and cantonments under the Army without concluding the process of integrating Maoist combatants was a surrender by the party. It has also threatened not to participate in the process of bringing the PLA fighters, cantonments and arms under the NA control. Posted on: 2012-04-12

Nepal: Bourgeois leader Koirala crows about Peruvian ex-Maoist’s call to Nepali Maoists: ‘give up the struggle for power’

[Bourgeois calls for revolutionaries to surrender often seize hold of the most tarnished and discredited tools–in this case, Abimael Guzman aka “Gonzalo” who was a founder and leader of the Communist Party of Peru until he was captured and renounced the people’s war for power and for revolutionary transformation of Peru.  While some in Nepal have already taken the path of surrender, Nepali revolutionary Maoists are having nothing of it, as the struggle for revolution against revisionism continues within the UNCN(M) and, importantly, in the streets and villages. — Frontlines ed.]

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President of the Nepali Congress (NC), Sushil Koirala, asks Maoists to renounce revolutionary program, armed struggle, and to adopt peaceful reform

After Peruvian Maoist leader Gonzalo was captured, in time he sang a different tune of surrender, and denounced the Peoples War--winning him praise from reactionaries.

Koirala urges Maoists to follow Gonzalo’s advice

by SANTOSH POKHAREL, myrepublica.com

POKHARA, Jan 7: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala on Saturday has urged the UCPN (Maoist) to follow Peruvian revolutionary leader Gonzalo´s advice to renounce violence and adopt peaceful politics.

Speaking at a function in Pokhara, President Koirala urged the Maoists not to go against the democratic system and derail the peace process. He urged the Maoists to adopt the path of peace and constitution to bring about prosperity in the country.

“Even Peruvian revolutionary leader Gonzalo, who orchestrated the killing of about 70,000 people the guerilla war popularly known as ´Shining Path´, has asked the Maoists to adopt the path of peace. Maoists should follow the path of peace,” he said.

Gonzalo, who is currently serving a jail term, had reportedly sent a letter to the UCPN (Maoist) through his aides.

“The leader who led once of the greatest armed rebellion also acknowledged the importance of peaceful means. The Maoists should also acknowledge the fact,” he further said.

Koirala also warned that the Maoists would perish if they try to impose dictatorship in the country.

Nepal–“Party Could Split if We are Suppressed”: Gajurel

Sunsari, Sep 15: UCPN (Maoist) Secretary CP Gajurel has warned that the party might split if the establishment does not correct its course. Stating that they do not want the party to split, Gajurel said, “We are trying hard not to split the party but if the establishment tries to suppress the others it might split.”Condemning the establishment for resorting to physical violence, Gajurel said that it would not yield any positivity. “Can’t we even have a healthy debate within the party? If the establishment wants to dominate we would not keep mum,” said Gajurel.Addressing a convention of Baidya-faction at Sunsari, Gajurel also accused Prime Minister and party Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai of deviating from his ideologies after being elected as the prime minister.

Updated–Breaking News from Nepal: “Major Protests Against Disarming of People’s Army”

[Update: “We have just learned that the Prachanda and Bhattarai factions have announced that the will not step down from the moves to disarm the PLA. Not only will they hand over the keys, but they will also begin moving the countainers out of three of the cantonments. Kiran, Dev Gurung, and Biplab boycotted the meeting.”]

Kathmandu, September 2

By Eric Ribellarsi, Winter has Its End

One of many blockades throughout the country. Photo by Eric Rebillarsi

Today, the Kiran faction of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has launched a major protest program against the disarming of the People’s Liberation Army being led by Nepal’s new Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai. The Maoist rebels are demanding the immediate reversal of the decision to disarm People’s Liberation Army, a process which has already begun.

So far, this programme has included:

1. A nation-wide one hour blockade of major roads and intersection throughout the country. We have heard this took place at roughly 50 locations in Kathmandu, including Kalanki, the main road used for entrance into Kathmandu.

2. A boycott of major party meetings, including today’s Standing Committee meeting.

3. Torchlight marches throughout Kathmandu and in other cities throughout the entire country, beginning tonight at 6:00 PM.

We will keep you posted as we learn more.

Nepal: Leader of post-people’s-war ‘bourgeois electoral’ road wins Prime Minister post

Nepal elects Maoist PM who vows to end deadlock

By Deepak Adhikari (AFP)

UCPN(M) Party Chairman Dahal with new Prime Minister Bhattarai

KATHMANDU — Senior Maoist party leader Baburam Bhattarai was elected as Nepal’s prime minister on Sunday in the latest attempt to form a stable government after extended political uncertainty.

The outgoing prime minister Jhalanath Khanal took the job only in February when the role had been vacant for seven months in a power struggle following the ten-year civil war that ended in 2006.

Bhattarai, the vice chairman of Maoist party, won the vote after securing the support of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Marcha, a loose alliance of five regional parties from the country’s southern plains.

Maoist rebels fought the central government in a bloody conflict during which 16,000 died before turning to mainstream politics and winning elections in 2008.

However they do not have enough seats to govern alone and struggled to hold together the Maoist-led government that fell in 2009.

Nepal PLA Integration with National Nepal Army: UCPN(M) formally agree to Army-proposed modality

[Maoist Revolutionaries in the UCPN(M) are questioning and challenging this week’s agreement–is it more of a surrender or defeat than a successful peace move and step forward? — Frontlines ed.]

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KAMAL DEV BHATTARAI

KATHMANDU, MAY 19 –

The UCPN (Maoist) on Thursday formally decided to accept the modality offered by Nepal Army—a separate directorate within the Army for the integration of its former combatants.

The party’s Standing Committee took the decision after its proposal for a separate or a mixed force for the combatants was rejected by the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.  The decision comes amid growing pressure on Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal to expedite the peace process before the May 28 deadline of the Constituent Assembly.

The Standing Committee decided that the proposal to set up the Directorate of National Development and Security forwarded by Nepal Army early this year was “an appropriate” integration modality.

Dahal went ahead with his proposal with support from Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha. This left the hardliners in the party fuming.

Nepal Maoists: As peace moves sputter, revolutionaries press key issues

Internecine war: Baidya tries to corral Maoist chief Dahal

KAMAL DEV BHATTARAI

KATHMANDU, MAY 24 –
Amid intense negotiations between Nepali Congress and the Maoists, the internal party manoeuvrings of the Maoist hardliners is likely to affect their party’s position at the negotiating table. The UCPN (Maoist) faction led by Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya has begun a signature drive to put pressure on Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to stop him from conceding further ground to other parties on integration and other contentious issues in the new constitution.

Leaders close to Baidya say that they are prepared to cross the floor if the CA extension comes at ‘too high a cost’. “If Dahal offers to agree to NC’s conditions on integration to extend the CA, we will cross the floor and ultimately quit the party,” threatened a leader close to Baidya. Even leaders close to Dahal and Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai camps admit that Baidya has the support of over 85 lawmakers and a strong position within the PLA. The hardliners accuse Dahal of “selling out” and have objected to the approach on peace and constitution taken by Dahal. While Bhattarai and Dahal are busy negotiating with other parties, the hardliners are holding meetings of their cadres and rallying them against Dahal’s position. “For now, the signature campaign is aimed at demonstrating our strength in the CA and PLA,  but if he continuously ignores our concerns we will be compelled to take extreme steps, including leaving the party,” said a leader in the Baidya camp.

The hardline faction also wants see the continuity of the Khanal government, while Dahal has said he is open to an alternative if there is a broad agreement on power-sharing and other issues. The hardliners’ grouse against the party establishment is not new. During the party plenum last November, Baidya had threatened to quit the party if Dahal failed to mend his working style. The Baidya faction had registered a note of dissent when the party’s Central Committee passed the line of peace and constitution and when the Standing Committee agreed on the NA proposal on integration.

The US as Shepherd of Nepali Peace

US ready to provide ‘limited support’ for combatant rehabilitation

The United States has said it is ready to provide” limited support for some aspects of rehabilitation” of the Maoist combatants provided Nepal’s political leadership shows readiness to take the peace process forward.

Robert O. Blake

“When Nepal’s political leadership demonstrates its readiness to move forward on the final elements of the peace process, we stand ready to provide limited support for some aspects of rehabilitation such as vocational training or to help ease the transition of these young Nepalis back into civilian life,” Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert O Blake, said in a testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.

The Assistant Secretary said that with the formation of the new coalition government, the USA looked forward to a re-energised commitment from all parties towards finalising the rest of the peace process, especially the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants along lines agreed to by consensus among the parties.

Blake further said despite its halting pace, the peace process nonetheless remains intact, and there is no imminent threat of a return to armed violence.

Nepal: Sacked Maoist army fighters attack UN office

by Sudeshna Sarkar, NewKarala.com

Kathmandu, Feb 10 : Seven young men, who had been discharged from the Maoist party’s guerrilla army after a UN verification said their recruitment was illegal, attacked an office of the world organisation in farwestern Nepal, injuring two guards, vandalising vehicles and smashing window panes, police said.

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Led by Chandra Singh Khanal, the group attacked the UN office in Hasanpur village in remote Dhangadi district Wednesday, demanding food and shelter.

The UN, supported by European governments, has been offering vocational training to former Maoists who were discharged from the People’s Liberation Army last year after they were found to have been recruited in violation of international norms.

Of the over 4,000 discharged fighters, about 3,000 had been child fighters. The remaining were inducted after the Maoists signed a peace accord in 2006, ending a decade of armed insurrection that had killed more than 16,000 people.

Nepal: Maoist Rival Factions In Media War

myrepublica.com

KATHMANDU, Jan 30: In a clear manifestation of boiling intra-party turmoil, the rival factions of the UCPN (Maoist) have intensified their media war against each other – attacking the rivals’ characters and ideological positions.

The deepening animosity between Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai is reflected in the latest issues of Lal Rakshak and Samaya Bodh — two magazines launched by those close to Dahal and Bhattarai factions respectively.

Lal Rakshak accuses Bhattarai of fearing the “hurricane of people’s revolt” and running away from it, while Samaya Bodh paints Dahal as a leader obsessed with power and bereft of political vision.