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VOL. 28, NO. 03, Sept 05 , 2008 (Bhadra 20 2065 B.S.)
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The Long March
Having captured the seat of power in the democratic republic, the former Maoist rebels embark on a journey to ‘a people’s republic’
By SUSHIL SHARMA
“We expect to win two thirds and then ninety percent majority in the forthcoming elections and rule the country for another 20 years and more,” said the chairman of the Nepal Communist Party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), in an interview last week.
Without mincing the words, the first elected prime minister of the democratic republic of Nepal went on to say, “We will move forward from here to a people’s republic. Our struggle is not over yet.”
There had been indications even earlier. In his first address to the nation after assuming office, Prachanda equated republic (ganatantra) with ‘people’s republic (janatantra)’.
He seemed more comfortable in using janatantra than the widely used loktantra.
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Pm Prachanda: Marching ahead |
Prachanda’s choice of words went unnoticed. Another important thing that few took notice of was the careful omission of a commitment to a multi party parliamentary democracy.
He emphasized on “multi party competition” not on multi party system, in his statement hours before a departure for China where multi party competition does exist, but not the multi party parliamentary democracy.
The remarks defied the hopes of those who believed that the former communist rebels had “changed” or “reformed”.
The Maoists have not made any bones about it, either. Said a senior Maoist leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi in a recent debate with a Nepali Congress leader, “to believe that the Maoists will change into a parliamentary outfit is an illusion.”
Raymajhi challenged his Nepali Congress counterpart, “if you win a two-thirds majority in the election you can introduce the Indian-style republic, but if we win we will definitely bring in the Chinese-style republic.”
Analysts say, prime minister and chairman Prachanda’s assertion of securing 90 per cent votes and moving forward to a people’s republic came as no surprise.
PRACHANDA
South-bound
By A CORRESPONDENT
Prime Minister Prachanda is set to make his first foreign “political” visit in the third week of this month.
The visit to India is taking place less than a month after a “sudden but necessary” visit to China.
No formal announcement has been made yet. But sources said that September 16 and 17 have been set as tentative dates for the visit.
The former communist rebel leader is set to proceed from Delhi to New York to attend the UN general assembly where he will rub shoulders with world leaders.
