Nepal: Communist paradise

When communism was dying in Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, changing in China and Vietnam and being crushed in Peru, paradoxically it was expanding, consolidating and even being radicalized in Nepal. First, after the restoration of democracy in 1990 Communist Party of Nepal-UML (CPN-UML) was voted to become number 2 in the political center stage. Despite that, Madan Bhandari, its visionary leader was quick to realize that time was not on their side. Learning from the wrongs of global communism he initiated ‘People’s Multi-Party Democracy’—a program of political reform intended to transform the party eventually into a democratic left. But his untimely death orphaned the whole transformation process. His successors who lacked both leadership abilities and direction adopted centrist policies without a matching effort to change or educate its hard-line and indoctrinated cadres. The inherent contradiction led to the split of the party, with large chunk of its cadres later joining the Maoist bandwagon.

If CPN-UML provided Maoists a vehicle, in the form of a large pool of readymade cadres, the misrule and intra-party fights of the Nepali Congress (NC) that was in power for most of the time during last two decades provided the cause, for revolution. Maoists recruited and brainwashed unemployed rural youths, especially from poor and marginalized communities, to fight a violent war against the ‘oppressive’ state and the upper class. Both coercion and promise of liberation and prosperity were used as tools to recruit.

Although Maoists’ achievements were enormous, they were never close to a total victory. That is why in the later phase they decided to simultaneously launch popular agitations by forming strategic alliances with other mainstream political forces. The agitations and alliances directed against the direct rule of ex-king Gyanendra Shah who was all set to crush the insurgency, paid handsomely; they achieved what they had never achieved through their 10-year long bloody war that claimed nearly 15 thousand lives plus huge colossal losses. Now, Maoists have completed a full circle of both power and opposition.

Some 18 years back CPN-UML was as radical as the Maoists are today, except that the former didn’t have an army or militias of its own. Yet, nobody can predict what will be the characteristics or sequence of change, should Maoists decide to change. Maoists have two choices: Change, or revert to a communist takeover through violent means. At present they are doing neither but talking about both possibilities. Nonetheless, either course has a price to pay. The first will anger large numbers in their rank and file. The second one will kick-start a bloodbath in the nation and subsequently a total defeat for the Maoists; for the power shift and real politic within the country and geopolitics in this part of the world is not in their favor.

A great debate is going on within UCPN-Maoist (taking the party to the verge of a major split) on which path to choose. Either decision will make it weak for some time to come. But in case it takes the right decision it will emerge stronger afterwards because no other force capable of challenging it is in sight.

Maoist success was more a result of their ability to play their adversaries against one another much as their victory in the CA polls was the outcome of muscle power and intimidation than popular support.

Maoists have large number of supporters and larger number of opponents. Supporters constitute certain have-not groups (like the landless), working class people and some oppressed and marginalized communities. Opponents form most of the middle class population and city dwellers, supporters of other political parties, victims of Maoist atrocities both during insurgency and peace time, majority of intellectuals and free minded people and peace loving common folks, apart from the national army who they still regard as their enemy.

Maoist success was more a result of their ability to play their adversaries against one another much as their victory in the CA polls was the outcome of muscle power and intimidation than popular support. They were successful in using lesser enemies against the larger one(s) of the time, whoever it would be, from Birendra and Gyanendra to Girija. Maoists even fooled India, who with all the wisdom of its leaders and intelligence of RAW could not but miscalculate their motives, methods and might.

As the saying goes—one cannot fool all the people all the time, India - who provided sanctuary when they were underground and support when they tried to form government - is now furious with the Maoists. Playing the China card against India and similar other misadventures of the Maoists have backfired tremendously. Almost all other political parties are wary of them as they intend to seize power and annihilate opponents. Thus, the single largest party is now facing isolation both on international and domestic front.

Maoists have done enough disservice to the nation, people, economy and the society by their acts of extortions, intimidation, violence and war and ethno-lingual provocations. It is time for them to give back at least a little. But it is extremely difficult to safe land extremism. Be it ethno-lingual, racial, ideological or religious great statesmanship is required to pilot extremism to safety; alas, Maoists are trained only to fly.

jeevan1952@hotmail.com