[Via... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: Magnus Bernhardsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 1:22 PM Subject: [red_activism] Nepal: Civil War in the Making This is an interesting report from Nepal. Especially the change in tone from CPN-UML... http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishweekly/telegraph/2001/may/may02/ index.htm#2 Civil war in the making: Maoists' the fourth political force! Kathmandu: The rumor spread by the government media mill that the constitutional monarch has already given his assent to the mobilization of the Army in the Maoists' affected areas remains yet to be substantiated from the responsible quarters. The monarch as the Supreme Commander of the Royal Nepal Army must notify the entire population that the rumors diffused by the government were accurate and that soon the Army will proceed to the Western parts of the country to contain the threats of the Maoists insurgents. The fact is that the Royal Palace is yet to confirm the talks of the mobilization of the Army as has been given to understand by the Koirala regime to the population. The practice has been that as and when such actions of such grave dimensions were taken, the Royal Palace releases a statement to that effect through the media section of the Palace. However, nothing so far has come out from the Palace that confirms the government's assertion or whatsoever. At a time when the popular will has been that the government initiate dialogues with the Maoists insurgents and bring about a peaceful atmosphere in the nation, the top hat of the main opposition, UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal has -deliberate or otherwise, point blank has elevated the rank of the Maoists party. "Whether one likes it or not, the Maoists have already become the fourth force in the country", said a beaming UML leader Madhav Nepal yesterday at a program conducted by a center led by former speaker, Daman Nath Dhungana. Interestingly, Madhav Nepal's blunt assertion in favor of the Maoists has come at a time when the government under Koirala is preparing major offensive against the insurgents under the camouflage of the integrated approach, which apparently has more sticks than carrots. The Maoists issue being a "political one", the government must deal with it in a political manner and refrain from the use of the army force to crush the insurgents, Madhav Nepal added. This sudden change in tone acquired by Madhav Nepal regarding his party's perception over the Maoists issue apparently is loaded with significance in the sense that it has come at a time when the nation remains divided over how to tame the Maoists: through the use of military force or opt for meaningful dialogues. The fact is that except the Girija regime, the rest of the major political actors of the nation prefer the option of the talks with the insurgents. Undoubtedly, Madhav's sudden sympathy and love towards the insurgents should have emboldened the latter for it was Madhav;'s statement that has surprisingly elevated the ranks of the Maoists forces and has brought at par with other political actors of the nation. To recall, the government under Koirala, though it has always treated the Maoists insurgency as a terrorist act, however, the regime has not been able to dub it as an out-lawed conglomerate for reasons unknown to many Nepalese intellectuals. Watchers of Nepali politics see in Madhav's statement some sort of "solidarity" in between the two communist groupings. The difference in between the two, in effect, is that one is championing the democratic process for the time being and the other one is in the jungles and vows to install "republicanism" in this Kingdom. How the government reacts to UML leaders' new declaration made regarding the insurgents is yet unclear. Similarly, whether other political actors, for example, the congress, the NSP, the RPP and a host of others, take Madhav's assertion will have to be watched. Be that as it may, Madhav Nepal's expression might appear to some of having little significance, but Kathmandu analysts attach great significance to his frank admission when he said at the said program that if the inclusion of the Maoists in arriving at a peaceful situation in the country, one must not think it the other way. In essence, Madhav suggested that the congress, the communists and the constitutional monarch must come to terms with the Maoists to save the nation from going to the brink. Now all that has to be carefully watched is the separate overtures of different political parties over Madhav's new proposition. Telegraph adds: In the meanwhile, Bamdev Gautam, leader of the ML too has hinted that the mobilization of the army could not be the solution to the Maoists imbroglio. He questioned as to what would happen if the military failed? What is the guarantee that the army will succeed in its new mission? What if the military succeeds and later disobeys the King? Others opine that the mobilization of the army in the affected areas would mean the "direct rule" of the army in those areas. Some even say that the already mobilized army will have its own rule there and will care little the dictates of the local civilian administration thus a sort of dual rule in the nation will commence which might invite a sort of civil war in the otherwise peaceful nation. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
