NEPAL: "On the Verge of City-Centred Revolution"

[Red Heretic]

I just saw this:

By Gopal Khanal
Febriary 3, 2007.

NEW DELHI, Feb 3 - Maoist Politburo member Chandra Prakash Gajurel "Gaurav" Saturday revealed that the CPN-Maoist's participation in the interim parliament and the recently thawing relations with India was "merely a stratagem" for declaration of a republic Nepal. Speaking at an interaction programme organised by the Maoist affiliated Democratic Students Union (DSU) of the Jawarlal Nehru University (JNU),
Gajurel stated that his party's foray into mainstream politics was also a part of their "ongoing revolution." He disclosed his party's strategies in reply to the Indian Maoist
affiliated intellectuals and leftist leaders who accused the CPN-M of being "unable to maintain its revolutionary image." He assured his supporters that Nepali Maoists had not "abandoned its revolution but were instead strengthening themselves to this end and that in the recent days, the party had managed to achieve a substantial increase in the PLA fighting force." "Since entering mainstream politics, we have increased our military strength from 10,000 to a 37,000-strong PLA. This in itself is a great achievement, " Gajurel said. "We are now capable of launching a fresh revolt any time." Gajurel's comments have confirmed conflicting reports in that past that the Maoists had been busy recruiting PLA fighters even after entering mainstream politics.
Gajurel, who is also the in-charge of the party's "international command", revealed that if the parliament failed to get results, they would also conduct a "city-based revolution."
"We are going to the elections and make sure that the results are in our favour. If the oppositions capture one booth, we will capture five," he added. He also divulged that a "People's Volunteers" was being formed for the party's city-based revolutions, elections and other "strategic activities". He also said that the "People's Volunteers" would have around 100,000 members, adding that the Maoist Chairman Prachanda would soon make an announcement to this end. Gajurel further stated that the refusal by senior leaders to participate in the interim parliament was also part of the strategy. "Why didn't Chairman Prachanda, Baburam (Bhattarai), Badal and I himself go into the interim legislature? Because, once there, they (parliamentarians) must speak the language of revolution, something those who were there on frontlines are capable of." He also said, if necessary, the CPN-M parliamentarians would lead the
street and city-centred revolutions. Disclosing that his party would take up guns as soon as peaceful measures failed to get results, the Maoist leader further added that his party was capable of being "locked and loaded within an hour." Gaurav's claim of the PLA's "ability" to be armed and ready for combat within has raised suspicions regarding the ongoing UN monitored Maoist arms and armies registration and storage.
Union's former chairperson, Rona Wilson had chaired the interaction programme that continued till midnight in the JNU's Sutlej hostel, in which around 100 leftist students and intellects were present. While Gajurel was busy giving away the party's internal strategy, members of his own Indian association, People's Right Protection Committee (PRPC), however, appeared "uncomfortable" . Gajurel, who was the chief guest during the inauguration of a PRPC programme recently, had faced criticism by representatives of Indian and international revolutionary forces who had accused his party of giving-in to a progressive outlook and forgetting the notion of class struggle, Although he did not reply to those criticisms in an open forum, he disclosed his party's "masterplan" to CPN-M's foreign well wishers that Friday night. During the programme, he also claimed that 80 percent of Nepali territory was still "under the Maoists' control." He also stated that the cordial relations with Indian government was
part of a strategy, adding that his party couldn't do its job while India remained incensed.

Posted on: 2007-02-03 08:23:05 (Server Time)
Source: Kantipur Online

[LSD]

Maoist Politburo member Chandra Prakash Gajurel
"Gaurav" Saturday revealed that the CPN-Maoist's participation in
the interim parliament and the recently thawing relations with India was
"merely a stratagem" for declaration of a republic Nepal.

YAWN

The reformist left sure does have a lot of "strategems", doesn't it? Strangely enough, though, they all seem to involve getting themselves into positions of power and authority.

I guess I'm just not understanding the intricicies of this ingenious strategy.


He also said, if necessary, the CPN-M parliamentarians would lead the
street and city-centred revolutions.

Yeah, 'cause no one's better at revolution than "parliamentarians"!

If only we in the west had some "parliamentarians" to lead us! I mean it's not like workers can actually organize themselves. Obviously we require a healthy cadre of profesional "leaders" (with state-funded expense accounts of course) to guide us to victory... :rolleyes:

There's something so incredibly pathetic about this entire story. It reminds me of Jack Layton ranting on about how the NDP is a "people's party" first; although I suppose it's actually even more sickening than that since the CPN(M) is actually participating in government.

I don't doubt for a second that the Maoists still have a whole lot of guns at their disposal, I just doubt that they have any intention of arming the population at large with them.

If they were to do that, they might find themselves kicked out of their cozy Kathmandu offices. And that's something that no "parliamentarian" can accept.

[Red Heretic]

Originally posted by [email protected] 07, 2007 11:04 pm
Yeah, 'cause no one's better at revolution than "parliamentarians"!
I'm thinking that is an error in translation, it doesn't make sense to me either (this is a VERY poor translation of his comments).

[Hiero]

I don't doubt for a second that the Maoists still have a whole lot of guns at their disposal, I just doubt that they have any intention of arming the population at large with them.

Even if they did you would criticise them anyway. They did for 10 years and you never supported them, so I don't see the point of this sentance.

[Severian]

You'll notice this is 1) Gaurav talking radical to fend off criticisms Indian Maoists who say they've sold out and 2)and then the article itself written by people on the bourgeois right doing a McCarthy about how the bourgeois democrats are falling into the clever Maoist trap. Whatever.

Meanwhile, what's actually happening in Nepal? The process of locking up the Maoists' weapons under UN monitoring continues. (http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=130103&version=1&template_id=44&parent_id=24)

And the big news is the protests by the oppressed Madheshi nationality spreading across the Terai region. At one point a Maoist cadre shot one of the protestors. And later, Maoist leader Prachada suggested the military suppression of the protests by a joint Nepali Army - "People's Army" operation, (http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?nid=99495), which the bourgeois-democratic leaders and social-democratic "Communists" rejected as too repressive.

The CPN(Maoist) is transforming itself into a reformist party - with a remnant "law and order" twist.


Yeah, 'cause no one's better at revolution than "parliamentarians"!

The Bolshevik Party definitely showed that participation in parliament can further street-level revolution. I gotta say your violent allergy to elected popular representation shows a certain elitist streak common among anarchists.

[Red Heretic]

You'll notice this is 1) Gaurav talking radical to fend off criticisms Indian Maoists who say they've sold out

Right, so you totally know all of the internal reasons within their party as to why they're saying things. I sure am glad I have internet revolutionaries in imperialist countries to explain the internal line of the CPN(M) to me!

Oh, and you're being dishonest about the Indian Maoists. The Indian Maoists have never said they "sold out," they warned that the CPN(M)'s tactics are very dangerous to the revolution.


Meanwhile, what's actually happening in Nepal? The process of locking up the Maoists' weapons under UN monitoring continues. (http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=130103&version=1&template_id=44&parent_id=24)

What's this? Since when did you ever care about the PLA's guns?

[Severian]

Originally posted by Red [email protected] 07, 2007 11:00 pm

You'll notice this is 1) Gaurav talking radical to fend off criticisms Indian Maoists who say they've sold out

Right, so you totally know all of the internal reasons within their party as to why they're saying things.
It says so right in the article, which you posted here and keep linking from other threads. He said these things in the course of responding to criticisms:

"Gajurel, who was the chief guest during the inauguration of a PRPC programme recently, had faced criticism by representatives of Indian and international revolutionary forces who had accused his party of giving-in to a progressive outlook and forgetting the notion of class struggle. Although he did not reply to those criticisms in an open forum, he disclosed his party's "masterplan" to CPN-M's foreign
well wishers that Friday night. During the programme, he also claimed that 80 percent of Nepali territory was still "under the Maoists' control." He also stated that the cordial relations with Indian government was part of a strategy, adding that his party couldn't do its job while India remained incensed.""

Do you bother reading these things before you post them?


What's this? Since when did you ever care about the PLA's guns?

I've always cared about them, obviously. But I'll guess at your intent and respond to it:

IMO reformism will be a step forward compared to the CPN(M)'s previous Khmer Rouge-like approach. But no such opinion can change the situation, or a cold-blooded assessment of it.

They are moving towards becoming a reformist party, more or less, regardless of whether one considers that good or bad.

[Guerrilla22]

I also fail to see how particpiation in this interim government will lead to anything meaningful. Are they planning on using their political particpation as a ploy to allow their forces to move into Kathmandu and try to pull a sudden seize of the city and government? I'm not really sure what the strategy here is?

[Spirit of Spartacus]

I also fail to see how particpiation in this interim government will lead to anything meaningful. Are they planning on using their political particpation as a ploy to allow their forces to move into Kathmandu and try to pull a sudden seize of the city and government? I'm not really sure what the strategy here is?

Essentially, yes.

It's what some of us have been saying all along. ;)

[Joseph Ball]

No, you can't lead a revolution from Parliament, which is why the leadership of the CPN(M) are not entering Parliament. Prachandra has no seat in the interim legislature, nor has Bhattari.

Some people have heard that 'power comes from the barrel of a gun' and then decide to carry on with a political vocabulary of no more than 8 words. People should read about the mass line and read 'On Coalition Government' by Mao Zedong (available at www.marxists.org).

The Indian Maoists are very courageous. Most of their militia seem to have only bows and arrows but they are still winning victories against the state backed Salva Judum death squads. The People's Liberation Army has even attacked Salva Judum concentration camps in an effort to liberate the inmates. Of course they are condemned for such actions by the 'human rights' brigade who think if they wring their hands about government abuses it absolves them for trying to take away the people's right to resistance.

Their has been heavy criticism of the CPN (M) by the Indian Maoists but it has stopped short of complete condemnation. If you want to read it go to http://peoplesmarch.googlepages.com/ then download the December 06 issue and it's on about p.30 (nb this paper is not an official organ of any party).

The Indian party is at a different stage of struggle from the Nepalese party. They are not strong enough to build a united front. When they get nearer to power they will make a new analysis and they will have to face the contradictions the process of building a united front leads to. Will they do better than the Nepalese party? Well all Communist Parties should strive to improve on past practice, so we must hope so.

[RNK]

These people have bled themselves dry for 10 years, and now that they've taken a 5 minute break, you shits pounce on them as if you had the right to tell them how to run the war they've been waging for a decade? Get off your ass and spend the next decade launching military actions against federal security forces. THEN you can come here and criticize the CPN(M). Until that happens you shouldn't concern yourself with anything other than your armchair internet revolution.

[The Grey Blur]

Your post itself is contradictory. They fought an ineffective, forced and unwinnable war for years and years...it's not something to be proud of.

If anyone believes that joining a bourgeois parliament, locking up guns etc is actually the way to a Socialist revolution then one hundred plus years of Marxist analysis have just been flushed down the toilet.

[Severian]

Originally posted by Spirit of [email protected] 08, 2007 11:21 am

I also fail to see how particpiation in this interim government will lead to anything meaningful. Are they planning on using their political particpation as a ploy to allow their forces to move into Kathmandu and try to pull a sudden seize of the city and government? I'm not really sure what the strategy here is?

Essentially, yes.

It's what some of us have been saying all along. ;)
Right, having your combatants and guns sequestered in camps in remote areas is a great first step to that "sudden" seizure. Nobody will notice when they unlock the guns and start marching towards Kathmandu.


Get off your ass and spend the next decade launching military actions against federal security forces.

If using weapons made you a revolutionary, then George W. Bush would be the greatest revolutionary leader on earth.

C'mon, people. There will be no resumption of the armed conflict. They would be in a much worse position than before they entered the "peace process". Especially politically - dashing everyone's hopes for peace, they'd accelerate the process of their former supporters turning on them.

[Joseph Ball]

Originally posted by [email protected] 09, 2007 10:08 pm


If using weapons made you a revolutionary, then George W. Bush would be the greatest revolutionary leader on earth.

C'mon, people. There will be no resumption of the armed conflict. They would be in a much worse position than before they entered the "peace process". Especially politically - dashing everyone's hopes for peace, they'd accelerate the process of their former supporters turning on them.
Severian seems to be adopting a 'peace' line. This was the line of Khruschev-peace at all costs, even if it means sacrificing class struggle. People who are malnourished and drink dirty water every day do not just yearn for peace and nothing else. They want peace and clean water and decent food. If the bourgeoisie cannot create the development necessary for this (as they cannot in the oppressed nations), then it falls to the Party of the Proletariat. And for this party to achieve these goals it must make peace a long-term rather than short-term goal.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by Permanent [email protected] 09, 2007 10:17 am
Your post itself is contradictory. They fought an ineffective, forced and unwinnable war for years and years...it's not something to be proud of.

If anyone believes that joining a bourgeois parliament, locking up guns etc is actually the way to a Socialist revolution then one hundred plus years of Marxist analysis have just been flushed down the toilet.
-Ummm, they control 3/4 of the countryside
-This is a mult-facited revolution. Gaurev proves this. They have continued recruite PLA soldiers and are pushing for early elections because they will gain major power which will allow them to advance a New Democratic revolution.

[Rawthentic]

You're very naive.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10, 2007 03:54 am
You're very naive.
:rolleyes: do you ever post anything ever of substance? Or do you just flame and troll as you have in every shitty as post of yours I've read. You have a brain (I think altough you may be the first person without one), why not use it? It can really help you in life.

[Rawthentic]

Hmm..and your post held any substance?

I'm not here for personal disputes, I merely stated that your faith in a Communist revolution is quite naive due to Nepal's backwards conditions. Nepal cannot be communist. It might become socialist, but that will be a very hierarchical structure.

And I'm not the only one that has serious problems with the stuff you post. I suggest you ask around.

[Severian]

Originally posted by Joseph [email protected] 09, 2007 06:44 pm
Severian seems to be adopting a 'peace' line. This was the line of Khruschev-peace at all costs, even if it means sacrificing class struggle.
Riiight. You're a fan of the CPN(Maoist), which is in the process of joining a bourgeois coalition government. But I'm the one who favors peace at all costs, even if it means sacrificing class struggle. That makes sense. Also: War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength, Freedom is Slavery, and 2 + 2 = 5.

[Red Heretic]

Originally posted by Severian+February 08, 2007 05:54 am--> (Severian @ February 08, 2007 05:54 am)
Red [email protected] 07, 2007 11:00 pm

You'll notice this is 1) Gaurav talking radical to fend off criticisms Indian Maoists who say they've sold out

Right, so you totally know all of the internal reasons within their party as to why they're saying things.
It says so right in the article, which you posted here and keep linking from other threads. He said these things in the course of responding to criticisms:

"Gajurel, who was the chief guest during the inauguration of a PRPC programme recently, had faced criticism by representatives of Indian and international revolutionary forces who had accused his party of giving-in to a progressive outlook and forgetting the notion of class struggle. Although he did not reply to those criticisms in an open forum, he disclosed his party's "masterplan" to CPN-M's foreign
well wishers that Friday night. During the programme, he also claimed that 80 percent of Nepali territory was still "under the Maoists' control." He also stated that the cordial relations with Indian government was part of a strategy, adding that his party couldn't do its job while India remained incensed.""

Do you bother reading these things before you post them? [/b]
Yes, I read things before I post them Sevarian. It's an article from the fucking bourgeois press, do you think the bourgeois press is a good source to look to find out what the internal thinking and strategies of the CPN(M) are?

I posted this purely to foster a debate about whether or not there is more going on with the CPN(M) than meets the eye, and to reaffirm that we need to wait for more information before making up our minds on the path they are following.

[Red Heretic]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10, 2007 04:48 am
Nepal cannot be communist. It might become socialist, but that will be a very hierarchical structure.
Do you even know what communism is?

Of course Nepal "can't be communist," there has to be a world-wide revolution to get to communism!

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10, 2007 04:48 am
Hmm..and your post held any substance?

I'm not here for personal disputes, I merely stated that your faith in a Communist revolution is quite naive due to Nepal's backwards conditions. Nepal cannot be communist. It might become socialist, but that will be a very hierarchical structure.

And I'm not the only one that has serious problems with the stuff you post. I suggest you ask around.
:lol: I'm flattered that you have asked around about what people think about my posts, I truly am, however creepy that is, but in all seriousness, communism can only come through worldwide revolution and the rest of your post is essentially elitist anti-peasant crap. Socialism can be built in one country, this is proven by the experience in Maoist China and Leninist USSR.

[Brownfist]

I actually know the people that organized the event at JNU. The fact is that the DSU, which is the legal student union of the CPI(Maoist) in Delhi, has remained supportive of the CPN(Maoist). I think that people have read too much into recent criticisms of the CPN(Maoist) by the CPI(Maoist). Regarding the comments of Com. Gaurav I think that this is slightly contrary to the statements that been consistently repeated by Com. Prachanda. However, having said that I think that people need to remember that Com. Prachanda and Com. Bhatturai have been part of the parliamentary process after a guerrilla struggle in the 1980's. The very fact that they have chosen to stay outside of the parliament demonstrates that party has not fully entered the parliament, and that they will try to achieve whatever gains are possible through the parliamentary process, and when those are exhausted will look at the new situation and possibilities. I think that people need to recognize that people's war, much like parliamentary struggle, is a tactical question not a strategic one, and needs to be employed properly. This has of course been the criticism of the CPI(Maoist), and its predecessors since the the late 1960's in India.

As for the Trotskyist decrying this tactic. They have decried every other move of the party why would they support this one. Until the day that Trot's actually lead a movement, they will decry every movement.

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Originally posted by Severian+February 09, 2007 10:08 pm--> (Severian @ February 09, 2007 10:08 pm)
Spirit of [email protected] 08, 2007 11:21 am

I also fail to see how particpiation in this interim government will lead to anything meaningful. Are they planning on using their political particpation as a ploy to allow their forces to move into Kathmandu and try to pull a sudden seize of the city and government? I'm not really sure what the strategy here is?

Essentially, yes.

It's what some of us have been saying all along. ;)

Right, having your combatants and guns sequestered in camps in remote areas is a great first step to that "sudden" seizure. Nobody will notice when they unlock the guns and start marching towards Kathmandu. [/b]
Oh no, they will notice.

But at that time, I suppose it would be too late for them to do much about it.

I'm not jumping to any conclusions yet.