VOL. 04, NO. 20, Apr 08 2011 (Chaitra 25, 2067)

By DINANATH SHARMA

The recent meeting in Sukute, Sindhupalchwok, has been able to settle all political differences within the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist. This may be a major setback for feudal monarchists and foreign elements that have made all out efforts to weaken UCPN-Maoist. In a living party like UCPN-Maoist, it is natural to see some sort of differences of opinion but such differences cannot split the party as wished for by pro-monarchist and pro-reactionary forces. Of course, there were delays in the process of decision making in some stage, yet our party’s standing committee meeting has taken a number of decisions including on the names to represent the party in the cabinet and the convention of Trade Union Federation.

One of the important aspects of the recently concluded standing committee meeting is that it conveyed the message that no one can split UCPN-Maoist which fought such a long people’s war to secure the rights of oppressed, marginalized and ethnic communities in Nepal. Reactionaries, deposed monarchists and foreign forces can dream to see a split in our party. I don’t think their dream will ever be fulfilled.  All the political forces that joined hands to abolish monarchy and make Nepal a federal, secular democratic nation need to be cautious about hidden designs of feudal forces. Realizing all this, our party leaders gave a message that the sacrifice and contribution made by more than 15,000 martyrs will not be wasted.

From the very beginning of our party joining the peace process, some forces have made efforts to split our revolutionary party to block the reforms and change. However, our party leaders have been able to crush all conspiracies hatched against Loktantra. I am proud to say that our party leaders have strongly expressed their commitments to the unity of the party. Taking part in the discussions, they have pleaded the need for party unity. All of them know that any split in the party will harm not only them but the whole movement of Loktantra and republic. Nepal’s traditional forces including monarchists are yet to accept the fact that their wish to restore the monarchy is just a day dream. People have already abolished the monarchy and no Nepalese wants to see this feudal institution coming back. We know that monarchists and families of former King have been making efforts to come back. Our party’s message of strong unity foiled all kinds of such possibility.

The standing committee meeting also suggested the way to overcome the disputes in trade union and labor problems. There are certain problems and misunderstandings in our trade union but it is not as bad as it was projected in the local media. Media have been making every effort to harm our party and encourage the split but one must not forget that our’s is a revolutionary party and it was established on the basis of ideology. Unlike other parties, UCPN-Maoist workers and leaders have a long history of sacrifice and struggle. This is the reason they know the ways to settle the problems.

Our standing committee meeting also reiterated the party’s commitment to promulgate the new constitution of Federal Republic of Nepal by end of May. The party also decided to start the negotiations and discussions with all the major political parties. We will again talk with Nepali Congress leadership and urge them to join the government. We don’t want extension of tenure of Constituent Assembly but want to have a new constitution in time. This is the reason our standing committee urged other political parties to support the efforts to write the constitution. Although we have a little more than two months left to write the new constitution but the time is still enough to write any constitution. What is required is the commitment from all the forces. If we delay the constitution writing process, it will benefit only the reactionary, feudal, monarchist and other hostile elements. Since republic and federalism is our party’s agenda, we cannot compromise with anybody on these. Our party is ready to go for necessary struggle against any move against republic and federalism.

The question of integration is a very important part of the peace process. Constitution writing is also another important element. Both the important components need to go side by side. We cannot pursue the integration without promulgation of new constitution. If we decide to integrate our People’s Army, we doubt that the new constitution will be promulgated. Our standing committee has a clear cut message and stand on this. Our party is committed to peace process and promulgation of new constitution and we cannot unilaterally integrate our forces without promulgation of new constitution. Nepali Congress is unnecessarily harping on this agenda and creating trouble in the peace making process. At a time when all regressive and monarchist forces are hatching conspiracies against the achievements made by People’s Movement II, Nepali Congress party’s uncooperative stand is supporting none other than such forces. As an ally of Janandolan II, Nepali Congress will ultimately support us and join the government to foil hostile activities of monarchists and feudal forces.

Our party has taken a clear stand since the Gurkha Plenum that if there is a necessity we will go for the rebellion. This official line was endorsed by the plenum and we abide by this decision. Along with this, our party also opened ways to send other voices of peaceful transformation to the grass roots level. There are no differences among out party leaders on this matter.

Of course, there are certain delays in expansion of the cabinet and announcement of new package for common and poor people of Nepal. The coalition has already expressed its commitment to bring relief package so that the marginalized and common people can feel relief.

(Sharma is a spokesperson of UCPN-Maoist. This is based on his statement.)

Nobody Can Marginalize Congress

By ANANDA PRASAD DHUNGANA

Nepali Congress has sacrificed everything to bring a long lasting peace in the country. However, some forces have been making efforts to marginalize NC from the mainstream politics. In the name of left unity, CPN-UML led by prime minister Jhalanath Khanal and UCPN-Maoist led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal are undermining Nepali Congress which brought the Maoists into the mainstream politics. Our late Girija Prasad Koirala had made a contribution to bring Maoists to the mainstream even by accepting their demands to hold the election to the Constituent Assembly. It is unfortunate that UCPN-Maoist leaders are now ignoring all these supports given them by Nepali Congress. As a party that symbolizes democracy, we are prepared to make any sacrifice and struggle for its cause. Our party has already fought several struggles in the last five decades to establish a democratic process in the country. Our party took the lead role to overthrow 104-year Rana Autocracy in 1951 and brought democracy in Nepal. Following three decades of struggle against Panchayat, our party restored democracy in Nepal in 1990. Our party took the lead in abolishing monarchy in Janandolan II. This means our party has a history of struggles. We fought with Ranas, Panchayat and King and now we are ready to fight with any forces which go against democracy.

Nepali Congress has made enormous sacrifices with UCPN-Maoist in the last four years. We accepted their demand of CA without any hesitation. After the revival of the House of Representatives, we accepted the demand to promulgate the interim constitution. We agreed to hold the elections of CA without integration of Maoist combatants. Is there any party in the world which gave up everything to bring an armed party into the mainstream? I don’t think so. UCPN-Maoist has to understand this reality. Had Nepali Congress leader late Girija Prasad Koirala stood against Maoists, they would not get the benefits and political advantages they are enjoying now.

I don’t think anybody can marginalize Nepali Congress Party which has a long history of sacrifices and struggles. This coalition led by CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal is not an exception. Since the formation of this coalition government, a conspiracy against democracy has started as the government has been making efforts to ignore the democratic values. This is the reason Nepali Congress has decided to remain in opposition to watch the activities of the coalition government led by CPN-UML leader Jhalnath Khanal.

Nepali Congress is serious about the present state of politics. By signing the seven point agreement, UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML have made it clear that they will not accept the presence of other parties and the views of others. What do they intend now is to get a two thirds majority in CA and promulgate the new constitution at any cost. Of course, Nepali Congress too wants to see promulgation of new constitution by May end but we will not accept the constitution which doesn’t have democratic ideals like pluralism, human rights, independent judiciary, press freedom and individual freedom.  Along with federal republic, we want all other democratic ideals in the new constitution. However, the seven point agreement between the two parties ignores this.

Nepali Congress has made it clear that it will not join the government as long as the pact signed between the two parties continues to exist. If Maoist and CPN-UML want our presence in the government, they must scrap the seven point agreement. This agreement is against the spirit of the interim constitution and peace process. How can two political parties say that they will mould the country into this or that direction? My hunch says that the present two parties in power want to establish a tyrannical communist state in the country. By removing monarchy, Nepalese people have already given a message that they will not tolerate any kind of totalitarian and authoritarian regime.

UCPN-Maoist is showing reluctance in the process of integration of their combatants. Nepali Congress has already made it clear that there is the need to complete the integration process before promulgation of the new constitution. We have accepted all kinds of reasonable and unreasonable demands of the Maoist in the past but we cannot do similar kinds of things this time. Our central committee has already taken the stand that the integration of combatants is the first condition for the promulgation of the new constitution later. We are taking this stand because Maoists cheated us several times in the past. They have yet to return the property and land confiscated by them. Displaced people are yet to go back to their homes. There is a limit to everything. Nepali Congress has given everything. This time we are sticking to our demands that integration of combatants is the prerequisite to promulgation of the new constitution.

In the recent time, regressive forces and monarchists are gradually coming forth. I don’t think they can make any changes and challenges to the present nature of state. Nepal will be a federal republican country and its secular image will not be changed. This is a fact now.  In a democracy, everybody has the right to express views and pursue causes they believe in a peaceful manner. I don’t believe that the monarchy will return again. Of course, former king, prince and princess are making various statements. Their statements cannot make any impact in the society. This is the beauty of a plural democracy.

Nepal’s loktantra has been facing various challenges and threats but nobody can reverse it. People have already tested the fruits of democracy, liberalism. If you see the recent case of resignation of finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal, he also mentioned that he wanted to protect his own freedom from intervention. This is a good sign that democracy is taking deep roots in Nepal and nobody can uproot it.

But then the seven point agreement is based on the CPN-UML and Maoist wish to turn Nepal into a communist state. Leftists alone cannot rule this country. Even CPN-UML leader Bam Devji has already proposed a government of communist alliance. They want to see Nepali Congress out of politics. This is simply against the spirit of Janandolan II and the interim constitution.

(Dhungana is an elected central committee member of NC)