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VOL. 28, NO. 08, Oct 24 , 2008 (Kartik 08 2065 B.S.)
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Shifting Alliances
The sudden out cry of three senior Nepali Congress leaders indicates a broader anti-Maoist alliance is in making
By KESHAB POUDEL
"Maoists have betrayed me and they are working to replace democracy with tyrannical rule. They undermined my role to bring them into national mainstream of politics. We have to rethink our relations with Maoists," thundered party president and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala at two day orientation meeting organized by Foreign Affairs Department of Nepali Congress (NC).
Chaired by Sujata Koirala, chairman of foreign department of NC, members of Constituent Assembly who took part in the two day orientation, raised objections at the recent activities of Maoists.
"Maoists are trying to establish authoritarian political system. That is unacceptable to us. If necessary, we will rebel from constituent assembly," said Nepali Congress vice president and former Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel, speaking at the Constituent Assembly meeting.
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"We have tolerated them in the past. The time is over now as Maoists are yet to return the seized property to internally displaced population," said Sushil Koirala, acting president of NC. "If Maoists are sincere, they must immediately return the land and property."
Whether it was just a coincidence or calculated move, the sudden outburst of anti-Maoist statements made by three top NC leaders, who had closely courted the Maoists in the past, seems to have certain political signal.
When some powerful congress leaders K.B. Gurung, Govinda Raj Joshi, Laxman Ghimire, Binaya Dhoj Chand and Sunil Bhandari questioned the Maoists' stand on nationalism and democracy, Koirala duo and Poudel termed them regressive. Now the previous regressive slogan seems to be a progressive Mantra for all.
Former prime minister and founding member of Nepali Congress Krishna Prasad Bhattarai even resigned from the ordinary membership of the party opposing Koirala's move to join the extreme bandwagon of Maoists.
"We have made many sacrifices to bring Maoists into mainstream. Nepali Congress is proud of its role in peace process. Their recent statements show that Maoists are heading to establish authoritarian system in Nepal," said Poudel.
But the outburst of these leaders have surprised some of the NC leaders who had all along opposed NC's proximity with the Maoists.
"If our colleagues defend agreements and peace process with Maoists, they don't have any moral rights to oppose the Maoists in the government. This government is by-product of those agreements signed between our colleagues and Maoists. If they want to oppose Maoists' intention, they must regret over their past alliance with Maoists," said Nepali leader Govinda Raj Joshi who has been opposing NC's stand to join with Maoists.
Along with Koirala duo and Poudel, leaders of four regional parties, all of whom voted for Maoist leader Prachanda in the election for prime minister, also sided with Koirala opposing Maoist government. "It is not acceptable for terai based political parties to accommodate ideologically oriented Maoist army into Nepal army. If Maoists insist to implement their agenda, we will pull out from the government," warned Minister for Works and Physical Planning Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, who is also a senior leader of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) – the third largest party in the ruling coalition led by Maoists.
Minister for Supplies and Commerce and leader of Nepal Sadvavana Party Rajendra Mahato, too, threatened to quit the government in case Maoists forcefully integrate their ideologically indoctrinated cadres into the national army.
Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party and other two splinters of Nepal Sadvavana Party also blew the whistle against the Maoists. "Maoists are slowly and gradually heading towards authoritarian political system," said leader of TMLP Hridayesh Tripathy.
With growing opposition among parties, the relations between president Dr. Rambaran Yadav and prime minister Puspa Kamal Dahal Prachanda is also said to be deteriorating.
According to a source close to the president, the meeting between president and prime minister has not taken place for last two weeks.
All these incidents indicate that it may not merely be a coincidence; - a process of destabilization of Maoist government has already begun?
Maoist-led coalition government holds more than two third of seats and it is one of the strongest elected government, but efforts are underway to dislodge this government.
Shifting alliance is an indication that something is cooking behind the scene.
