NEPAL: Will the Maoists Continue with the Fourth phase of India Targeted Agitation? Update No. 216

NEPAL: Will the Maoists Continue with the Fourth phase of India Targeted Agitation? Update No. 216

By Dr. S.Chandrasekharan:

So far, there is no information that the UCPN (Maoists) will suspend the 4^th phase of agitation on civilian supremacy or of changing the agenda of the agitation which in the name of national independence is targeted on India for its alleged interference in Nepal.

The Indian Foreign Ministers during his three days’ visit to Kathmandu did meet Prachanda and his close aide Krishna Bahadur Mahara and tell them that he was deeply disappointed at the baseless attacks on India by the Maoist leadership. The Foreign Minister met a number of Maoists leaders in a dinner given by the Ambassador of India at his residence on the same day (17^th December).

Yet the Maoist leaders despite the meeting have continued to attack India and in fact it has become more intense and shriller.

Consider the following:

On 18^th Prachanda in the Parliament said “ It is evident that the government is run as per the signal of the foreigners as the language of those interfering in Nepal’s internal affairs and the language of those running the government are the same.” The imputation is that the government is running according to dictates of India! He also threatened that the party is willing to sacrifice hundreds and thousands of lives for the cause of national independence.
The Maoists cadres protested simultaneously before the Indian Embassy and the Singha Durbar against India on the border encroachment and Indian intervention in Nepal’s internal affairs. Senior leader Narayan Kaji Shretha while addressing the protesters repeated the accusation of India’s interference.
On 20^th Jan, Prachanda said that India is openly trying to take the place of the former Narayanhitti palace and to handle the parties and the political affairs in Nepal.
On the same day, Kiran on of the top leaders and one who has been consistently opposing the Party from joining the mainstream threatened to withdraw fro the HLPM ( High Level Political Mechanism) meant to move forward from the present political impasse if the government fails to ensure “National independence.”( meaning stopping Indian interference)

On 22^nd just on the eve of the 4^th phase of agitation, ten political parties of the ruling coalition once again urged the Maoists to withdraw its indefinite strike starting on the 24^th. A meeting of all the 22 parties that supported the government is meeting soon to take a “clear” decision on the protest movement of the Maoists.

It was refreshing to see Baburam Bhattarai conceding ( Outlook Interview in Jan. 25 issue) that often among many of his party leaders and even others, blind nationalism takes the form of “blind nationalism.” He also said that one should not be blaming India in a loose manner.

It looks that the agitation on civilian supremacy is being hijacked by the hard liners in the party(UCPN Maoist) with the movement taking clearly an anti Indian track..

In the meeting with the Indian Foreign Minister, Prachanda wanted to be invited to India and discuss the problems relating to India and Nepal with them. This would have been fine in the normal circumstances but not certainly when India is being abused daily by the party leadership. This should first stop before any serious discussion could take place. India cannot be blackmailed.

On the issue of integration and constitution making some progress in being made. The three member committee that was part of the HLPM- Dahal, G.P. K and Khanal, in its meeting on the 19^th formed a special task committee of six in all, representing the three parties to immediately make out an agenda and move forward to resolve the political issues. The HLPM earlier had spelt out three objectives namely, 1. Forge a consensus by taking the peace process to a logical conclusion. 2. Create an environment for timely drafting of a new constitution and 3. Resolve the current political deadlock.

On the question of PLA integration where the Prime minister’s concept note has been approved by the three major parties, the Defence Minister of ruling coalition has come up with a strange and totally unwarranted statement that the “PLA personnel cannot be integrated with the national army and that the decision of the Army Integration Special Committee will not be binding on her military and the army.” Such statements go beyond the accepted norms and if the Defence Minister is not in agreement with her Prime minister, she should resign rather than staying within and making unwanted statements that would vitiate the atmosphere and even derail the peace process.

UNMIN:

While the UNMIN Representative tried to give a rosy picture on the current situation in Nepal, the Secretary General in his report to the Security Council was frank in highlighting some of the problems being faced in Nepal.

These were-

The major disagreements that have brought the peace process close to a standstill remain unresolved increasing the risk of its collapse.
The mistrust between the Maoists, the government and the Nepal Army has put the peace process in peril
Urged the regional powers to play a supportive role in helping the peace process to a logical end.
No substantial progress has been made in addressing impunity and to ensure accountability for rights violations committed during or after the conflict.
UCPN (M) has so far failed to take any action to address the involvement of the party members in serious crimes.

Surprisingly it was G.P. Koirala who criticised the report and not the Maoists He said that the UNSG’s report is not based on Nepal’s internal dynamics and undercurrents.