Saorsa
28th June 2010, 04:44
The debates appear to have concluded for now, and the politburo has announced its decisions. The results are quite interesting, with all the factions involved appearing to have gained something.
The main issues being debated were as follows:
1: Should Prachanda be proposed as the only candidate for PM? Prachanda was arguing yes, Bhattarai disagreed. Kiran appeared to support Prachanda, but didn't speak out publicly on the issue.
2: Should the party declare it's primary contradiction to be with external forces, namely Indian expansionism? Or should it declare the primary enemy to be internal forces of feudalism and comprador-capitalism? Kiran argued the former, Bhattarai argued the latter, Prachanda didn't speak out on the issue.
There were other issues being discussed of course, such as when (and if) the party should hold it's General Convention which is due this year. But the two issues above were the main ones.
The decisions made were interesting. It was decided that the party will not propose any particular name as candidate for PM. However, in all statements so far the leader concerned has stressed that as party leader Prachanda should be the first choice.
And as for the second point, the party has announced that the external and internal enemy forces have fused, become one and the same, and the struggle against them cannot be seperated or divided.
These decisions seem sensible. They can take the party forward into further struggle, and provide a basis for unity.
Other important decisions: The party has announced that it is reviving the parallel governments. It is yet to be seen exactly what this will mean in practice, but this is a major decision. Over the past two years, various leaders from Gajurel to Bhattarai have talked about reviving the people's governments, but they were speaking in their individual capacity. This decision was made by the highest body of the UCPN (M), after a marathon session debating how to move forward. This is going to scare the shit out of the reactionary parties! The Maoists have announced that they will enforce their power to control price hikes, stop corruption and provide basic security... in other words, the Maoist-led people's governments will control the local economy, the local state apparatus and government institutions, and will fulfill the role of the police and the armed forces! This is a major, major challenge to the reactionary state.
The UCPN (M) has also taken a hardline approach on the issue of PLA integration. The reactionaries are pushing for no more than 5000 or so of the PLA fighters to be integrated, after passing tests and examinations, and then they are to be scattered throughout the armed forces.
The Maoists have said no to this, and instead proposed that every single PLA fighter be integrated en masse into a brand new security force set up for the purpose. In other words, we keep our army intact and under our control, but the state pays its salary ;-)
The party has also decided to step up its international work. It has announced that it will raise its voice against the oppression of people around the world, and will further develop its links with the Indian Maoists! It has promised to tighten its relations with revolutionary communist forces around the globe.
Read the media reports for yourself and take in information for yourself. This is a landmark moment in Nepal's revolutionary movement, and the events of the months ahead could be decisive. The Maoists have taken a confrontational, provocative and hard line approach from this politburo meeting - let's see what happens next.
Maoists to block budget
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, June 26: In a confrontational move, the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) has officially decided not to let the government table the annual budget at the parliament unless Prime Minister Madhav Nepal resigns.
The party took the decision at the politburo meeting arguing that the ruling parties failed to implement the three-point deal reached on May 28.
“The ruling parties misinterpreted the deal; they lack political morality and honesty. We will not allow the tabling of government policy and programs and budget until the incumbent government is converted into a caretaker one,” said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at a news conference held to inform the media about the decision of the politburo, which concluded on Friday.
Party should lead consensus govt: Bhattarai
When journalists asked Dahal if the party has opened the option for another party leader to head the national government, Dahal asked Vice-chairman Dr Bhattarai to reply to the query.
“I have already answered this question. Comrade Bhattarai has also been touted as prime ministerial candidate, so he will answer it,” Dahal said.
The meeting decided to stake claim over the government leadership, but did not pick any leader as party´s prime ministerial candidate. A few weeks back, the party´s top office bearers had decided that none other than chairman Dahal would head the consensus government.
http://www.myrepublica.com/Public/UserFiles/Image/maoistpressmeetbudget.jpg
There was a serious dispute between Dahal and Bhattarai over who should be brought forward as the party´s prime ministerial candidate. The politburo was postponed for two days to settle the issue.
Leaders close to Bhattarai had vociferously demanded that the party be open about Dahal´s alternative for prime ministerial candidate to pave the way for a consensus government. The party has now taken a middle-path approach to settle the dispute.
“The party should lead the national government; I have no disagreement with the party decision. When it has been stated that the party should head the government, it´s naturally the party chairman. The party´s official view is that it would be better to let Dahal lead the government, and I too share the same view. At this juncture however we have decided not to name the candidate. We will take appropriate decision as and when needed,” said Bhattarai.
As Bhattarai was not very much clear in his answer, journalists again asked the same question to Dahal.
“It is clear that Maoist party should head the government and there is no dispute that the party chairman would head the government,” said Dahal. But he added that the party would settle the candidate issue only after it becomes certain that the party will head the government.
All combatants should be integrated into state forces
At a time when the ruling parties are demanding that the Maoists fix the number of combatants to be integrated into the state security forces prior to the resignation of the prime minister, the Maoist party has decided that all combatants should be integrated into state forces.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) treats the Nepal Army and People´s Liberation Army (PLA) equally; the CPA´s spirit is that the Nepal Army should be democratized and PLA professionalized before creating a new force through integration,” said Dahal.
He said the CPA doesn´t specify the integration numbers. “The spirit of the CPA is that all UNMIN-verified combatants are qualified for integration,” he added. The party has decided to take the integration process, peace process and constitution-drafting process side by side.
Parallel governments to be revived
The Maoist party has decided to revive "people´s government" from the central to local levels. Dahal said the party took the decision in view of rapid surge in cases of corruption and price hike, and poor law and order situation.
The politburo also decided to postpone the general convention slated for February next year and instead hold a plenum this September.
Meanwhile, the party has stated that the decision to call back the leaders headed for the US would not affect the party´s relations with that country. Dissatisfied over the refusal of a visa to Maoist leader Agni Sapkota, the party on Friday decided to call back all members of the party who flew for the US on Thursday to take part in a discussion in Boston.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20357
The main issues being debated were as follows:
1: Should Prachanda be proposed as the only candidate for PM? Prachanda was arguing yes, Bhattarai disagreed. Kiran appeared to support Prachanda, but didn't speak out publicly on the issue.
2: Should the party declare it's primary contradiction to be with external forces, namely Indian expansionism? Or should it declare the primary enemy to be internal forces of feudalism and comprador-capitalism? Kiran argued the former, Bhattarai argued the latter, Prachanda didn't speak out on the issue.
There were other issues being discussed of course, such as when (and if) the party should hold it's General Convention which is due this year. But the two issues above were the main ones.
The decisions made were interesting. It was decided that the party will not propose any particular name as candidate for PM. However, in all statements so far the leader concerned has stressed that as party leader Prachanda should be the first choice.
And as for the second point, the party has announced that the external and internal enemy forces have fused, become one and the same, and the struggle against them cannot be seperated or divided.
These decisions seem sensible. They can take the party forward into further struggle, and provide a basis for unity.
Other important decisions: The party has announced that it is reviving the parallel governments. It is yet to be seen exactly what this will mean in practice, but this is a major decision. Over the past two years, various leaders from Gajurel to Bhattarai have talked about reviving the people's governments, but they were speaking in their individual capacity. This decision was made by the highest body of the UCPN (M), after a marathon session debating how to move forward. This is going to scare the shit out of the reactionary parties! The Maoists have announced that they will enforce their power to control price hikes, stop corruption and provide basic security... in other words, the Maoist-led people's governments will control the local economy, the local state apparatus and government institutions, and will fulfill the role of the police and the armed forces! This is a major, major challenge to the reactionary state.
The UCPN (M) has also taken a hardline approach on the issue of PLA integration. The reactionaries are pushing for no more than 5000 or so of the PLA fighters to be integrated, after passing tests and examinations, and then they are to be scattered throughout the armed forces.
The Maoists have said no to this, and instead proposed that every single PLA fighter be integrated en masse into a brand new security force set up for the purpose. In other words, we keep our army intact and under our control, but the state pays its salary ;-)
The party has also decided to step up its international work. It has announced that it will raise its voice against the oppression of people around the world, and will further develop its links with the Indian Maoists! It has promised to tighten its relations with revolutionary communist forces around the globe.
Read the media reports for yourself and take in information for yourself. This is a landmark moment in Nepal's revolutionary movement, and the events of the months ahead could be decisive. The Maoists have taken a confrontational, provocative and hard line approach from this politburo meeting - let's see what happens next.
Maoists to block budget
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, June 26: In a confrontational move, the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) has officially decided not to let the government table the annual budget at the parliament unless Prime Minister Madhav Nepal resigns.
The party took the decision at the politburo meeting arguing that the ruling parties failed to implement the three-point deal reached on May 28.
“The ruling parties misinterpreted the deal; they lack political morality and honesty. We will not allow the tabling of government policy and programs and budget until the incumbent government is converted into a caretaker one,” said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at a news conference held to inform the media about the decision of the politburo, which concluded on Friday.
Party should lead consensus govt: Bhattarai
When journalists asked Dahal if the party has opened the option for another party leader to head the national government, Dahal asked Vice-chairman Dr Bhattarai to reply to the query.
“I have already answered this question. Comrade Bhattarai has also been touted as prime ministerial candidate, so he will answer it,” Dahal said.
The meeting decided to stake claim over the government leadership, but did not pick any leader as party´s prime ministerial candidate. A few weeks back, the party´s top office bearers had decided that none other than chairman Dahal would head the consensus government.
http://www.myrepublica.com/Public/UserFiles/Image/maoistpressmeetbudget.jpg
There was a serious dispute between Dahal and Bhattarai over who should be brought forward as the party´s prime ministerial candidate. The politburo was postponed for two days to settle the issue.
Leaders close to Bhattarai had vociferously demanded that the party be open about Dahal´s alternative for prime ministerial candidate to pave the way for a consensus government. The party has now taken a middle-path approach to settle the dispute.
“The party should lead the national government; I have no disagreement with the party decision. When it has been stated that the party should head the government, it´s naturally the party chairman. The party´s official view is that it would be better to let Dahal lead the government, and I too share the same view. At this juncture however we have decided not to name the candidate. We will take appropriate decision as and when needed,” said Bhattarai.
As Bhattarai was not very much clear in his answer, journalists again asked the same question to Dahal.
“It is clear that Maoist party should head the government and there is no dispute that the party chairman would head the government,” said Dahal. But he added that the party would settle the candidate issue only after it becomes certain that the party will head the government.
All combatants should be integrated into state forces
At a time when the ruling parties are demanding that the Maoists fix the number of combatants to be integrated into the state security forces prior to the resignation of the prime minister, the Maoist party has decided that all combatants should be integrated into state forces.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) treats the Nepal Army and People´s Liberation Army (PLA) equally; the CPA´s spirit is that the Nepal Army should be democratized and PLA professionalized before creating a new force through integration,” said Dahal.
He said the CPA doesn´t specify the integration numbers. “The spirit of the CPA is that all UNMIN-verified combatants are qualified for integration,” he added. The party has decided to take the integration process, peace process and constitution-drafting process side by side.
Parallel governments to be revived
The Maoist party has decided to revive "people´s government" from the central to local levels. Dahal said the party took the decision in view of rapid surge in cases of corruption and price hike, and poor law and order situation.
The politburo also decided to postpone the general convention slated for February next year and instead hold a plenum this September.
Meanwhile, the party has stated that the decision to call back the leaders headed for the US would not affect the party´s relations with that country. Dissatisfied over the refusal of a visa to Maoist leader Agni Sapkota, the party on Friday decided to call back all members of the party who flew for the US on Thursday to take part in a discussion in Boston.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20357