My thoughts on the current juncture in Nepal

[DaringMehring]

I outlined my thoughts in general in a more polished essay I posted here a while ago called "Nepal: Unfinished Revolution," here's my more recent thinking:

Currently there appear 3 main leaders in the UCPN, each with their faction:

Bhattarai -- says main enemy should be domestic feudalism, can work within the context of a multiparty bourgeois republic to fight it.

Prachanda -- says main enemy should be domestic feudalism and Indian expansionism, can work within multiparty bourgeois republic to fight it.

Baidya -- says main enemy should be domestic feudalism and Indian expansionism, Party should seize power as multiparty republic is not working out.

I don't think however, that even Baidya has an aggressive enough program, because *what is the difference between Indian expansionism and Indian capitalism*?

None of them raise fighting Nepali capitalism, or Indian capitalism. But it is precisely these which must fall!

They all cite the lack of power of Nepal. Nepal could be easily crushed. Well, its always that way. Try striking with 100 workers against a multibillion dollar multinational, right here in the USA. There is no way you should be able to win. But a strike is more than just a single contest between two sides.

Take the Arab world protests. A struggle in little old Tunisia, has caused shocks in Yemen and Egypt. When those 100 workers struck, the community got dragged into the fight because they sympathized with and sided with the workers, and guess what, they more or less won.

The only way for the Nepali revolution to succeed, is to expropriate the Nepali capitalists, and then, to aid the comrades in India, in Bhutan, to build a movement in Burma, to give inspiration to China, in short --- to act as the buttress of an Asian revolution.

This is what Lenin argued Russia needed to do. He saw that socialism would be hard to construct in Russia, but insisted that they could act as a bastion of revolution, helping the western countries to win socialism, and then proceed to socialism at their own rate, having provided the means for the victory of the world revolution. This is plainly stated in Left Wing Communism.

Of course, in carrying this out, the Nepalis have to be careful to protect their revolution. Lenin also argued for this -- that Soviet power in the USSR should not be sacrificed as the ultra-left faction admitted it might be by continuing the war. Nepal can take some breathers, or consolidation phases, to be sure.

However, if it fails to expropriate its capitalists, or to aid the working people fighting against the capitalists of the other countries, then it is a doomed revolution. It will just fall back into the capitalist muck, having cleaned it up somewhat.

Concretely, they need to maintain the independent army, Baidya's line needs to win.

All support to the workers & peasants of Nepal in their struggle, all support to the workers & peasants of south Asia. Down with the capitalists!

[red cat]

India itself is not capitalist. So its imperialist policies are identified as expansionism.

Actually all three lines include the notion of fighting Nepali capitalism ( as in the big capital in Nepal ). Because most of the capital in Nepal which has native ownership is either controlled by the bureaucrats of the feudal state, or allies of the Indian expansionist compradors.

[DaringMehring]

So by your argument, fighting Indian expansionism and domestic feudalism, would equal, expropriating the capitalists of Nepal.

If that is so, then --- good!

But some of the rhetoric from Prachanda, say, seems to imply, that the UCPN is looking to actually promote capital accumulation in Nepal. Of course, I agree he might just be saying this to try to keep the heat off of Nepal.

As a side note - I don't agree that India is not capitalist. India in fact appears as an important piece of the capitalist world system. It has a bourgeois democracy, domestic capitalists, a proletariat, foreign investment, bourgeois property relations... I don't see how it can not be classed as capitalist.

[red cat]

So by your argument, fighting Indian expansionism and domestic feudalism, would equal, expropriating the capitalists of Nepal.

If that is so, then --- good!

But some of the rhetoric from Prachanda, say, seems to imply, that the UCPN is looking to actually promote capital accumulation in Nepal. Of course, I agree he might just be saying this to try to keep the heat off of Nepal.

Yes, I have seen those quotes attributed to Prachanda. But the point is, the sources are very few in number and not very reliable. If that was indeed their policy, then I would expect to see more mentions of it, specially in their own websites and magazines. Allowing uncontrolled accumulation of capital is considered to be a rightist line by Maoists. In the new democratic stage of the revolution itself many of the industries are under state capitalism ( in the orthodox Marxist sense, not in the Leninist sense ), and some of the major ones, like the construction and arms industries, start experiencing workers control in certain areas.



As a side note - I don't agree that India is not capitalist. India in fact appears as an important piece of the capitalist world system. It has a bourgeois democracy, domestic capitalists, a proletariat, foreign investment, bourgeois property relations... I don't see how it can not be classed as capitalist.Bourgeois democracy and bourgeois property relations do not exist in India. The domestic capitalists with well established companies are actually compradors, and the main role of India in the world economy is that of a supplier of raw materials at surprisingly cheap rates.

[RED DAVE]

Yes, I have seen those quotes attributed to Prachanda.Are they accurate or not?


But the point is, the sources are very few in number and not very reliable.But are they accurate or not?


If that was indeed their policy, then I would expect to see more mentions of it, specially in their own websites and magazines.But are they accurate or not?


Allowing uncontrolled accumulation of capital is considered to be a rightist line by Maoists. In the new democratic stage of the revolution itself many of the industries are under state capitalism ( in the orthodox Marxist sense, not in the Leninist sense ), and some of the major ones, like the construction and arms industries, start experiencing workers control in certain areas.What is going to happen now when the Maoists are supporting a bourgeois government?

Is that accurate or not?

RED DAVE

[red cat]

Are they accurate or not?

But are they accurate or not?

But are they accurate or not?

What is going to happen now when the Maoists are supporting a bourgeois government?

Is that accurate or not?

RED DAVE

The support is largely a tactical alliance due to some military questions. If it changes into permanent support, then the revolution will be lost. If the military actions against the ruling classes are resumed, then the revolution can be completed.

As for whether the quotes are accurate or not, I really don't have any idea. I haven't seen the quotes anywhere in Maoist sources.

[RED DAVE]

The support is largely a tactical alliance due to some military questions.What you are saying is that it is permissible for a working class party to engage in an alliance with a bourgeois party. This is explicitly anti-Marxist.

And, by the way, what "military questions." The Maoists have relignquished control of their own military while not touching the existing bourgeois military.


If it changes into permanent supportAnd there is every reason to believe that it is.


[T]hen the revolution will be lost.Thanks to the treason of the Maoists.


If the military actions against the ruling classes are resumed, then the revolution can be completed.Considering the fact that the Mapists have turned control of their armed forces over to a government organization that they don't control, this isn't likely.

Recall, also, that the Maoists have never engaged in major actions against the property of the Nepalese, comprador or foreign bourgeoisie in the cities.

[B]RED DAVE

[red cat]

What you are saying is that it is permissible for a working class party to engage in an alliance with a bourgeois party. This is explicitly anti-Marxist.

And, by the way, what "military questions." The Maoists have relignquished control of their own military while not touching the existing bourgeois military.

And there is every reason to believe that it is.

Thanks to the treason of the Maoists.

Considering the fact that the Mapists have turned control of their armed forces over to a government organization that they don't control, this isn't likely.

The Maoist CP still maintains control over the PLA. If they cease to do that, we will witness prompt engagement of the RNA against them, based on false accusations of them engaging in terrorist activities.


Recall, also, that the Maoists have never engaged in major actions against the property of the Nepalese, comprador or foreign bourgeoisie in the cities.

RED DAVE

Actually they have (http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/maoists-enforce-strike-close-hindustan-unilevers-nepal-factory-lead_100201978.html), in quite a few cases. If the radical line wins in the CP, we will see more of these and actual takeover by workers.

[RED DAVE]

The Maoist CP still maintains control over the PLA. If they cease to do that, we will witness prompt engagement of the RNA against them, based on false accusations of them engaging in terrorist activities.Do they, in fact, retain control?


Maoist combatants optimistic about future

SHAKTIKHOR: Maoist section Sub-Commander Sushil Singh at PLA Fourth Division based at Jhyaltungdanda in Nawalparasi, who arrived today in Shaktikhor, Chitwan to participate in the handover ceremony of the PLA command to the Special Committee, was very elated. 



Singh said, “The transfer of the command of Maoist combatants to the Special Committee had added new dimension to the peace process and statute drafting.” Singh, who has been living at the temporary cantonment for the past five years, expressed hope that the handover would expedite the army integration process. 



The official handover of Maoist combatants from the Maoist party to the Prime Minister-led Special Committee has cheered PLA personnel. 



Dhaniram Simkhada, Company sub-commander of Pratap Memorial Brigade at PLA Third Division, dubbed January 22 as historic and momentous day. Simkhada, a local of Kalikot, who joined the Maoist rebellion, hoped the peace and statute drafting processes would be completed as early as possible. “PLA is ready to make any sort of sacrifice for peace and constitution, but the government must not conspire against army integration”, Simkhada warned. 



Kaman Singh Moktan, commander, Ratna Sakuntal Memorial Brigade at PLA First Division in Chulachuli expressed happiness at coming under the state. A combatant identifying himself as Tarzan working at Basu Memorial Brigade called today’s PLA handover to the Special Committee a positive development. “I am ready to serve the nation after integration in the security forces,” he said. 



Similar was the view of brigade commander Yubaraj Terung of Bethan Memorial Brigade. “I want to serve the nation in the national army,” Terung said. 



Commoners present at the PLA transfer function too looked elated. Siva Dahal, a local of Bhandara, Chitwan, said the PLA handover has injected new hope in the people and country. “If the parties and their leaders work in tandem, sustainable peace and development is possible”, Dahal said. “The government has to expedite army integration process without delay[.]



The pomp and show at Shaktikhor impressed the locals. The scene of helicopters hovering in the sky since early morning was worth watching. Senior Vice Chairman of UCPN-M Mohan Baidhya said the PLA handover would expedite the peace process in a new way. Baidhya said, “The handover of Maoist combatants to the Special Committee is not the end of the PLA, its existence will continue until Army integration takes place.”
(emph added)

]http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Maoist+combatants+optimistic +about+future&NewsID=274070

RED DAVE

[red cat]

Do they, in fact, retain control?

(emph added)

]http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Maoist+combatants+optimistic +about+future&NewsID=274070

RED DAVE

That is only the PM led special committee formally placed above the PLA. Other than that, the whole structure and chain of command of the PLA is intact.