Maoists make volte face, bat for peace, constitution

KATHMANDU, Jan 31: After six days of heated debates, the UCPN (Maoist) has decided to take completion of peace process and constitution writing as the party´s main strategic move -- not an immediate revolt to seize state power as pushed by the party hardliners.



“We have decided to go for the completion of peace process and constitution writing. It is a historic decision. The leadership will move ahead in unity to achieve these goals,” said a Standing Committee member after the meeting on Sunday. [break]



Responding to the issues raised by the Standing Committee members, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday stressed the need for completion of the peace process and constitution writing and move ahead accordingly. Expressing concerns over the leaking of information about party´s internal conflicts in the media, Dahal also called for intra-party unity. “From today´s meeting, the party leadership will move ahead in unity,” Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma told media-persons after the meeting.



Top party officials will meet again on Monday to take decisions on a range of other issues, and Dahal will brief the media about them on Tuesday. Sharp differences had surfaced in the party over the party´s next strategic move and direction.



The party´s hardliners led by senior vice-Chairman Mohan Baidya pitched for declaring India the main enemy and going for an immediate revolt. Baidya also called for delay in the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants to help start preparations for a revolt.



Another vice-chairman, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, backed by some of the party´s influential leaders, had, however, staunchly pushed for writing the constitution and completion of the peace process. Bhattarai was of the opinion that if foreign forces and political parties conspired against the peace process and constitution writing, it would justify a people´s revolt and the party would gain mass support for that.



Maoist plenum slated for mid-February will identify the party´s main enemy. Maoists have so far maintained that the party´s main contradiction is internal -- that is with domestic feudal and anti-revolutionary elements. But the party hardliners, including Chairman Dahal, argued in the last central committee meeting that foreign forces, particularly India, should be declared the main enemy in the changed political situations. However other leaders, including Dr Bhattarai, have argued against it saying such a move would undermine the party´s programs and policies at home.

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