Andrei Kuznetsov
21st January 2004, 07:39
Eyewitness Report from Stronghold of the People's War
Nepal: A Walk into the Future
Revolutionary Worker #1226, January 25, 2004, posted at http://rwor.org/
In Nepal, a revolutionary struggle for liberation continues to gain ground and momentum. Since the People's War began in 1996, Maoist guerrillas have been waging fierce battles against the police and Royal Nepal Army. And today, millions of people live in areas under Maoist control.
The corrupt Nepalese regime has carried out massive crimes against the people in its attempts to crush the revolution. More than 8,000 people have been killed since the start of the war. And many more have been wounded, tortured, raped and jailed. The U.S. has allocated millions of dollars in aid to Nepal, supplied thousands of machine guns and other weaponry, and provided military advisers and training for the Royal Nepal Army. But despite all this, the People's War has gained widespread support, and the guerrillas continue to defeat the Royal Nepal Army in battle.
The more the People's Liberation Army has been able to "liberate" territory through armed struggle and carve out areas where the police and other government forces dare not enter--the more the Maoists have been able to build base areas and establish a new revolutionary political authority.
In base areas throughout the country under the leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), the masses of people are running village life--organizing local militias, distributing land, building schools and latrines, and setting up "people's courts" to settle disputes, grant divorces, and punish rapists.
Since the beginning, the Rolpa District in western Nepal has been at the heart of the People's War--a key area of strength and inspiration for the revolution. The following account of a visit to a village in Rolpa brings to life the exciting new developments in the revolutionary base areas and how, in the midst of intense fighting, the masses of people are taking things into their own hands--building the outlines of a new society and walking into the future.
January 12, 2004. A World to Win News Service. A Nepalese comrade from Rolpa living in India hadn't been able to go back home for some time. A few months ago, taking advantage of the ceasefire, he went to see his family and breathe in the red areas. Afterward, we were travelling by train in India where I got a chance to ask him, "What's new there, how has it changed?" He started explaining and by the time we arrived I figured I could share what I've heard with you. This is what he said.
Rolpa, in western Nepal, is famous as a stronghold of the People's War that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has been leading since 1996. Now the people rule most of the countryside through their village revolutionary committees and the U.S.-backed monarchy is not even able to fully control many towns. But the peasants and others in Rolpa rose up at the beginning, so revolutionary power there has been developed over a relatively long time.
I went by bus to the border city but the rest was mostly walking. There are dirt roads for buses in some areas, but the closest town to my village is about a three-day walk. Also because of the RNA (Royal Nepal Army) presence, not all the bus roads are safe, so we had to go around them by foot. In all, we had to walk about three weeks before I reached my village.
You can't go alone. There is a war going on and if you are checked by the RNA or their police, you can get in trouble. In our areas as well, since the regime sends spies, comrades are very vigilant. If you are not travelling with a guide, the village revolutionary committee has to be informed of your arrival and be waiting for you. Otherwise you have to wait around until they figure out who you are and what you want... continue this article @ http://rwor.org/a/1226/nepalawtw.htm
Nepal: A Walk into the Future
Revolutionary Worker #1226, January 25, 2004, posted at http://rwor.org/
In Nepal, a revolutionary struggle for liberation continues to gain ground and momentum. Since the People's War began in 1996, Maoist guerrillas have been waging fierce battles against the police and Royal Nepal Army. And today, millions of people live in areas under Maoist control.
The corrupt Nepalese regime has carried out massive crimes against the people in its attempts to crush the revolution. More than 8,000 people have been killed since the start of the war. And many more have been wounded, tortured, raped and jailed. The U.S. has allocated millions of dollars in aid to Nepal, supplied thousands of machine guns and other weaponry, and provided military advisers and training for the Royal Nepal Army. But despite all this, the People's War has gained widespread support, and the guerrillas continue to defeat the Royal Nepal Army in battle.
The more the People's Liberation Army has been able to "liberate" territory through armed struggle and carve out areas where the police and other government forces dare not enter--the more the Maoists have been able to build base areas and establish a new revolutionary political authority.
In base areas throughout the country under the leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), the masses of people are running village life--organizing local militias, distributing land, building schools and latrines, and setting up "people's courts" to settle disputes, grant divorces, and punish rapists.
Since the beginning, the Rolpa District in western Nepal has been at the heart of the People's War--a key area of strength and inspiration for the revolution. The following account of a visit to a village in Rolpa brings to life the exciting new developments in the revolutionary base areas and how, in the midst of intense fighting, the masses of people are taking things into their own hands--building the outlines of a new society and walking into the future.
January 12, 2004. A World to Win News Service. A Nepalese comrade from Rolpa living in India hadn't been able to go back home for some time. A few months ago, taking advantage of the ceasefire, he went to see his family and breathe in the red areas. Afterward, we were travelling by train in India where I got a chance to ask him, "What's new there, how has it changed?" He started explaining and by the time we arrived I figured I could share what I've heard with you. This is what he said.
Rolpa, in western Nepal, is famous as a stronghold of the People's War that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has been leading since 1996. Now the people rule most of the countryside through their village revolutionary committees and the U.S.-backed monarchy is not even able to fully control many towns. But the peasants and others in Rolpa rose up at the beginning, so revolutionary power there has been developed over a relatively long time.
I went by bus to the border city but the rest was mostly walking. There are dirt roads for buses in some areas, but the closest town to my village is about a three-day walk. Also because of the RNA (Royal Nepal Army) presence, not all the bus roads are safe, so we had to go around them by foot. In all, we had to walk about three weeks before I reached my village.
You can't go alone. There is a war going on and if you are checked by the RNA or their police, you can get in trouble. In our areas as well, since the regime sends spies, comrades are very vigilant. If you are not travelling with a guide, the village revolutionary committee has to be informed of your arrival and be waiting for you. Otherwise you have to wait around until they figure out who you are and what you want... continue this article @ http://rwor.org/a/1226/nepalawtw.htm