Prachanda blames India for Nepal's political crisis

A.V.

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KATHMANDU: Wrapping up a three-day nationwide general strike at a victory rally in the capital Tuesday, Nepal’s Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda warned it was also the announcement of a fourth protest movement against the government that would culminate in an indefinite general strike from Jan 24.

In the past, the Maoists had enforced a 15-day blockade during the 10-year “People’s War” and a 19-day peaceful general shutdown in 2006 as part of the pro-democracy movement against King Gyanendra’s attempt to rule the country with the help of the army. Prachanda said the new protests would start from Christmas Day as a mass awareness campaign to open people’s eyes to the presence of “foreign agents” in their midst. He also said the campaign would expose the corrupt indicted in the Rayamajhi Commission that was formed after the fall of the royal regime. Though the commission was formed to punish the perpetrators of the anti-people coup, including the king, its report was never made public.

The nearly two-hour rally in Naya Baneshwor - that was the site of violent clashes between protesters and security forces Sunday - saw Prachanda, for the first time throwing a direct challenge to India, accusing it of naked intervention in Nepal’s internal matters. “I held talks with the Nepali Congress (NC) leaders but they produced no result,” the former revolutionary said with biting sarcasm. “I held talks with the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), the Prime Minister... But none produced results. Now I have to go to Delhi for talks.”

Prachanda reminded his audience that in the years after 2002, when King Gyanendra had sacked Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and propped up three successive governments of his own choosing, the then governments had asked the underground Maoists to declare a ceasefire and start dialogue. “But we had refused, saying we will not negotiate with the servants,” he said. “We said we will talk only with the master. It is now time to say the same thing.”

The Maoist chief alleged that New Delhi had propped up Nepal’s coalition government, which was a “puppet” and a “robot” in its hands. When Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal returned from the UN climate summit in Copanhagen, Prachanda said the government did not project Nepal’s interests abroad but only tried to project that Indian premier Manmohan Singh had expressed his support for it as well as the Chinese government. “The Maoists are not NC or UML,” he said. “Treat the Maoists as Maoists.”

The new Maoist anger with New Delhi was stoked afresh last week after Nepal’s army chief Gen Chhatraman Singh Gurung went to India at the invitation of the Indian Army chief, Gen Deepak Kapoor, to receive the traditional honour of being declared general of the Indian Army by Indian President Pratibha Patil.

During the visit, at a banquet hosted by the Nepali general, Gen Kapoor was reported as saying that he opposed the merger of the Maoists’ People’s Liberation Army with the Nepal Army as that would lead to the politicisation of the latter. “The comprehensive peace agreement (that ended the Maoist insurgency in 2006) promises the integration,” Prachanda said. “Kapoor's statement was a naked intervention in Nepal’s internal matters and yet the corrupt ministers of the current government remained silent.”

Prachanda said that at a time his party was striving to restore civilian supremacy in Nepal by campaigning against the President, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, who had resurrected the possibility of another military coup by preventing his government from sacking the insubordinate army chief, it was clear that civilian supremacy was actually murdered in New Delhi.

The Maoists have laid down a five-point agenda for their talks with India. They have also announced a month-long campaign from Dec 25, after which, they have warned of an indefinite nationwide general strike from Jan 24.

Maoist agenda for talks with India

- All unequal treaties should be scrapped, including the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty; all secret treaties have to be revealed

- All border disputes have to be resolved; India has to recall troops from Nepal’s Kalapani area

- Trade deficit with India has to be corrected

- India should enact prompt strategy to make Nepal gain from being sandwiched between the world’s two fastest growing economies

- India has to accept Nepal as an equal state.


Prachanda blames India for Nepal's political crisis - South Asia - World - The Times of India
 

ppgj

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maoists in nepal are on record for thier support to their brethren in india. GOI has taken a tough stand against indian maoists. in the light of the nepali maoist support, how do they expect india to accept their demand for talks?
they must also stop being the stooges of the chinese govt. unless they take an impartial view, they are heading to a dead end.
 

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Note No. 560 24-Dec-2009

NEPAL: Prachanda’s Call for Direct Talks with India: Not to be Taken Seriously- Update No. 214;

By Dr. S.Chandrasekharan

In a mass meeting at the end of the third phase of massive protests, Maoist leader Prachanda made a surprising statement that having failed in his talks with the Nepali Congress and the UML, he would hold talks directly with India.

In his speech he made more insinuations against India. He said that both Nepali Congress and the UML have no authority to decide on their own and that the Robots (which control them) cannot see the people and the nation. He obviously meant India, as earlier he, as well as his deputy accused India of interfering with the internal affairs of Nepal.

Prachanda then continued and said that his party had five points in his agenda to talk to India "to correct the unequal relations" between the two countries.

Since Prachanda mentioned more than five points, one has to guess what the five points were. These could be

1. Scrapping of the 1950 treaty between Nepal and India.

2. Revising India’s policy to ensure Nepal’s right to international transit.

3. A tripartite strategic plan to be drafted among Nepal, China and India for mutual development.

4. All border disputes including the Susta to be settled.

5. Indian Army to withdraw from the Kalapani area.


Of these, Prachanda has a case for scrapping or reviewing or even replacing it with a fresh treaty. If it is a case that the Nepalese are dissatisfied with the current treaty, immediate steps should be taken. In a limited poll conducted by a local newspaper in Kathmandu, 63 percent considered the treaty as a bane, 30 percent considered it as a gain while 7 percent did not have an opinion.

On international transit, Nepal is getting more exits than what is considered as minimal by international standards. India could then follow the international standards.

The tripartite strategic plan is the most mischievous one, giving China a handle to interfere in what is purely a bilateral relationship between India and Nepal

On the other two issues, talks are going on with Nepal and these should be expedited.

Another major point raised by Prachanda was that a "balanced trade treaty should be signed as Nepal was incurring heavy losses". This is certainly not the case and perhaps this could be taken along with the revision of the 1950 treaty where some sections in Nepal have been demanding that Nepal should be treated as a sovereign state ( which it is ) on all issues included issues relating to economy.

Prachanda’s statement was widely criticised by all non Maoist parties. The UML Politburo declared the speech as "anti national."

Sensing criticism all round, the Deputy Parliamentary leader of the Maoists- Narayan Kaji Shrestha told the press that Prachanda’s speech should not be taken literally and it was rather a satirical remark on the parties.

It looked more like an "angry outburst" given at the spur of the moment, but the issues had raised are serious ones that need attention.

The third day of the third phase of agitation of the Maoists witnessed less violence though sporadic vandalism did take place in Ilam, Pachattar, Morang, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Palpa and Bhaktapur.

Soon after the completion of the third phase, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai head of the UNPM ( United People’s Movement) announced the fourth phase of the agitation starting from 24th of this month.

It was thought and there were indications that the Maoists were planning to focus against India for its interference and blaming India for all the problems in Nepal ( though some were created by themselves). Anti Indianism sells in Nepal ( I am not going into the historical reasons now) and the agitation could have ended in violence against Indians and people of Indian origin as it happened over the agitation against Bollywood Actor Hrithik Roshan.

Now it has been converted into a month long "awareness campaign" till January 24th and also "action against the corrupt and the agents of foreign powers."

While still taking a belligerent posture, the Maoists have announced that they have withdrawn the protest inside the parliament, thus letting the Parliament tun smoothly from now on. It is a good sign as the Maoists must have realised by now that their campaign against civilian supremacy has its limitations and they cannot start another Jana Andolan on these issues or capture power by these protests.

NEPAL:  Prachanda's Call for Direct Talks with India- Not to be taken Seriously- Update No. 214
 

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Prachanda to lead protest against Indian ‘encroachments’

PTI Kathmandu, January 2, 2010


Chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Prachanda after his election in Katmandu in 2008. The former rebel announced that he would lead an agitation against India's alleged 'expansionist attitude'. File photo

After blaming New Delhi’s “naked interference” for the deepening political crisis in the country, Maoists’ supremo Prachanda said he would lead protests against alleged encroachment of Nepalese territories by its giant neighbour.

The politburo of the main opposition Unified CPN (Maoist) today decided to organise protests in the disputed border regions where India has allegedly encroached Nepalese territories. The former rebels will also protest against alleged unilateral construction of dams by India near the border that has led to Nepalese territory being inundated.

Maoists chairman Prachanda will lead the protest in the disputed Kalapani region, the tri-junction between Nepal, India and China, said Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the deputy leader of the Parliamentary party.

Mr. Prachanda has called for the withdrawal of Indian troops from Kalapani, a disputed part of Nepal’s territory on the borders of India, Nepal and China.

Vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai will take charge of protests in Susta of Nawalparasi district while hardline leader Mohan Vaidya Kiran will lead the protest in Pashupatinagar in Ilam district.

Mr. Shrestha will address anti-India rallies at the Laxmanpur dam site, which the Maoists claim has led to Nepalese territory being inundated due to alleged unilateral construction of dams by India near the border.

Mr. Prachanda has demanded the scrapping of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty along with all other “unequal” pacts with India and sought the ending of “special relationship” with its southern giant neighbour.

The Maoists’ party is yet to decide on the date of the agitation and decision of the politburo has to be endorsed by the central committee meeting to be held shortly.

The Maoists have threatened to paralyse the country with an indefinite general strike from January 24 if the government failed to rectify the “unconstitutional” decision of President Ram Baran Yadav, who reinstated the then army chief Gen Rukmangad Katawal, dismissed by Prachanda in May last year.

The Maoists have declared that the fourth phase of their agitation will focus on opposing the alleged “expansionist attitude” of India.

The anti-India move of the former rebels comes ahead of a planed three-day visit by Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna to Nepal in mid-January.

The Maoists have alleged that the present 22-party coalition led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar in Nepal was formed by India's initiative and that the government is acting like a “puppet”.

Political tensions have been high in Nepal since the government led by Mr. Prachanda resigned last year amid the dispute with the president over the army chief’s refusal to incorporate former Maoist rebels fighters into the military.

The Hindu : News : Prachanda to lead protest against Indian ‘encroachments’
 

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Prachanda says his life is in danger

Prerana Marasini, KATHMANDU, January 10, 2010


Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has reportedly said his life is in danger. File Photo: AP

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has reportedly said his life is in danger as he has been speaking against India these days.

According to reports, Mr. Dahal said in a programme on Saturday that King Birendra Shah and CPN-UML leader Madan Bhandari were killed “because they were nationalists” and that they had chosen not to be close with India. He said his fate could be the same.

Sunday’s newspapers carried the news, but Mr. Dahal later clarified that his remarks were distorted and that he did not mean it that way.

“I just wanted to raise an issue that may be Birendra was killed because he wanted to import arms from China, and Bhandari maybe because he took the side of protecting national sovereignty,” Mr. Dahal said.

King Birendra Shah was killed along with all his family members in a massacre in 2001 while Bhandari was killed in a jeep accident in 1993.

Federalism opposed

Life in Kathmandu was partially affected on Sunday as a bandh was called by the Rastriya Janamorcha party which maintains that federalism would only break the nation. Although it was decided by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly in 2008 that the country would be turned federal, the party believes federalism is not required in Nepal.

The Hindu : News / International : Prachanda says his life is in danger
 

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Note No. 562 11-Jan-2010

NEPAL: Maoists Mount a Vicious Campaign Against India: Update No. 215

By Dr. S. Chandrasekharan

It is now official. The fourth phase of the Maoist campaign for civil supremacy will be directed against India. Civil supremacy is not the priority anymore.

Nationalism and Anti Indianism:

In the just concluded Politburo meeting of the UCPN (M), the party on receiving the political report of Prachanda, has decided to take up the issue of nationalism as central to the political strategy to be followed henceforth.

The issue of nationalism is unfortunately equated with anti Indianism and this is understood by all the political circles in Nepal. This is nothing new and has been the official approach from the Panchayat days

The slogan for the fourth phase that has threatened total strike from 24th of this month- is “Dialogue and Struggle with the Indian State and Solidarity with the Indian people”

This crude attempt to separate the Govt. of India with the people of India on their campaign against India may not sell in India but could whip up strong anti Indianism and protests in Nepal.

A decision has been taken to send the five top leaders to five different “disputed border locations”- the Kalapani, Susta, Pashupathi Nagar, Laxmanpur and Khurdalautan. There are plans to publicly burn copies of Indo Nepal Treaty of 1950 as well as other agreements (Sugauli treaty?) and hold demonstrations in front of the Indian Embassy at Kathmandu. The top leaders are hoping to inspect the small dams constructed within the Indian side to investigate whether the construction works on the Indian side have any adverse effect on Nepali side.

While inspection from the Nepali side should be welcomed, I hope the Govt. of India will be firm to ensure that visitors from the other side are allowed to inspect the structures only on an official request from Govt. Of Nepal and prior permission taken.

Dinanath Sharma, one of the top leaders of the Maoists and said to be close to Prachanda described the theme of the fourth phase of their agitation as follows. “It is our conclusion that we cannot become free citizens without liberation from national self capitulation. Hence the need for keeping nationalism and independence as the centre of our movement.”

The focus on civil supremacy is now shifted to preservation of nationalism (read anti Indianism)

Narrow Nationalist Posturing!

One analyst, Anil Bhattarai has called this move as “narrow nationalist posturing.” He pointed out, in his brilliant essay how India comes in for help when portions of the country are facing total famine. In view of the famine conditions prevailing in Karnali Region, in the districts of Humla, Jumla, Mugu and Kalikot, all the families including elders and children have started moving towards India!

The point is, both countries need each other for the regional stability.

The Maoists do not seem to be concerned about major problems facing the country on food, clean water, health care, public transportation, housing, restoration of degraded landscape and many more. Power cut in Kathmandu is going to increase from 8 hours to 12 hours a day and may go even up to 18 hours! The country is producing less than 700 megawatts when total realisable power is above 80,000 megawatts!

Maoists believe that mobilising masses should be part of their ultimate strategy to capture power rather than suggesting or helping the common people on the many day to day problems facing them! To whip up the masses they have found anti Indianism as the best weapon. But this may go awry.

Targeting India:

Consider the following statements of the Maoist leaders in the last three weeks

*

Narayan Kaji Shrestha on 21st December said that the fourth phase of the agitation will be on “protection of national independence” and against foreign interference in Nepal’s internal affairs. He charged that regional hegemony prevailed in Nepal’s internal affairs and all nationalist forces should unite to fight against foreign interference.
*

Kiran said on 27th- “What we have perceived is that the civilian supremacy was abducted not only from within the country but foreign powers are also responsible for it. He hinted at changing the focus of the agitation to preserving nationalism from civilian supremacy.

This change has been effected since they have by now realised that they can get nothing more out of the civilian supremacy issue. He was more specific earlier on the 26th when he said that the focus will be on the issue of national sovereignty and fighting “Indian expansionism” Strangely he suggested that even the President’s move in cancelling the sacking order of Army Chief had the backing of India!

*

Prachanda on 30th December accused foreign powers of attempting to stop the changes in Nepal. Earlier he said that the Indian Army Chief’s statement that the Maoist combatants should not be integrated en masse, during the visit of Nepal Army’s Chief as “naked interference in Nepali Internal Affairs”!
*

Baburam Bhattarai on 27th December claimed that foreign interference is on the rise in Nepal.

Official Indian reaction on the systematic condemnation of India is not known. The Indian Army Chief’s comment on PLA integration, if true was unfortunate. But I see a bigger design of the Maoists in condemning India by all the top leaders of the party. But they should also know that India will be concerned if destabilsing forces continue to run riot in a neighbouring country having an open border with free flow of people to either side.

PM’s Visit to China

Prime Minister Madhav Nepal’s visit to China was considered a success. He met the top leaders of China including Hu Jintao and Wen JiaPao. The visit included a trip to Xian and Shanghai.

Prime Minster Madhav Nepal is said to have briefed the Chinese leaders about the latest political developments in Nepal including the ongoing peace and constitution making process. Hu Jintao is said to have told the Prime Minister that he wants to see peace, stability and development in Nepal. President Hu did not touch on the present ongoing phased agitation of the Maoists on the issue of civilian supremacy or on the national independence.

Chinese help has been assured in improving land and air connections, development of districts of Nepal bordering China, support in hydro power construction, infrastructure development, health, education, human resource development, promotion of trade ties and human resource development. Construction of the road to Tibet through Rasuwa pass will be completed by this October.

The successful visit of Madhav Nepal is considered to be an indicator of Chinese support to the government which has been condemned by the Maoists as an illegitimate one. The message is more to the Maoists.

Prachanda’s Mysterious Visit to Hongkong:

Prachanda made a mysterious one day visit to Hongkong along with his close confidante Krishna Bahadur Mahara on the 7th of this month ostensibly to attend an NRN function. It is reported from Hongkong that Prachanda was not available for three hours and no one knew (except the Chinese authorities) where he went and whom he met.

Positive Developments:

Some positive developments have also taken place and the Maoists have relented on some issues. This is interesting and there has to be some reason for the Maoists to change their line. These include

1. The Special Committee on the integration and rehabilitation of UCPN Maoist combatants headed by the Prime Minister, approved the action plan made out by the PM. The plan envisages completion of integration within 112 days. The UCPN (M) has formally agreed in principle to the plan. But they have demanded that there should be an agreement first on the number of ex combatants to be integrated with the National Army.

There are 19602 combatants waiting to be integrated/rehabilitated that includes 15756 males and 3846 females. A number of 5000 to be integrated into the regular army is being talked about and this figure was the one that was privately supposed to have been accepted by G.P. Koirala when the latter was the Prime Minister. There has been no confirmation yet on the figure and G.P. has not so far openly confirmed or contested. Perhaps his then Home Minister K.P. Sitaula could throw some light on it.

2. Discharge of disqualified combatants has begun from 7th of this month. There are 4008 in number to be discharged. The first batch of over 200 left Dudhouli camp in the presence of UNMIN representative and Pasang of PLA. Each discharged person was given a sum of Rs 22000- (10,000 from UNMIN and another 12,000 from the PLA personnel in the camp). It was a moving farewell and Pasang told those discharged to stay committed to the peace process.

3. There was a general agreement that constitution making and the PLA integration should go on simultaneously and that the new constitution will be implemented only after the integration is completed The Government is planning to request the extension of UNMIN to May 15 of this year.

4. The UCPN (M) has also agreed to assist in the procedure for the 7th amendment of the interim constitution to pave the way for oath taking in one’s mother tongue by the President and the Vice President. This would result in activating the post of Vice President once again by a joint resolution in the House tosolve the impasse created by the then Vice President in not taking the oath in Nepali.

These moves show that the Maoists have realised the folly of continuing their agitation that comes in the way of completing the peace process and at the same time continue the agitation at a higher level to mobilise the masses to be directed against India under the cover of preserving one’s national independence.

NEPAL: Maoists Mount a Vicious Campaign Against India: Update No. 215
 

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Nepal Maoist number two flays Prachanda for anti-India stance

Days after they sparred over who is India's favourite for Nepal's premiership, Maoist number two Baburam Bhattarai has flayed party chief Prachanda for his anti-India stance and said "blind nationalism" does not work.


"Anti-Indian nationalism has always prevailed in Nepal. But blind nationalism does not work. I have always been in favour of a rational debate and consensus, but there are people in my party as well as other parties who are followers of blind nationalism," Maoist ideologue Bhattarai said in an interview to the 'Outlook' magazine.

"Anti-Indian venom is the result of such blind nationalism," he said.

Criticising Maoist chairman and former Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda for his anti-India stance, Bhattarai said political differences between Kathmandu and New Delhi should be settled in a "polite" manner.

"A leader should be diplomatic and political when he speaks. We shouldn't be blaming India in a loose manner. We should be able to put across our differences in a polite but clear manner, and seek its resolution to the best of our national interest," he said.

The comments came days after Prachanda said in a programme in Kathmandu that India wants to make Bhattarai the Nepal premier and has been "putting pressure" in this regard. Bhattarai had then slammed the party supremo's statement and called it "an attempt to assassinate my character."
 
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The nations around India need to stop blaming India and start realizing their incompetencies and coruptness as the roots of their problems, blaming India will not change these things but stepping down and having a competent person lead may.
 

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India ready to address our problems: Prachanda

Prerana Marasini, KATHMANDU, January 16, 2010


Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”. File photo

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has said that India is serious in solving the issues his party has raised to protect Nepal’s sovereignty.

He said this to reporters after meeting External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Saturday.

“They [the Indian delegation] have expressed that they are serious to solve all these concerns,” said Mr. Dahal.

“We are raising these issues of old treaties and border problems not to disturb our relation with India but to create a more positive and more scientific basis to have a good relation with India,” he said. The Maoists demand that all “unequal agreements” with India need to be replaced and “border encroachment” stopped.
The Hindu : News / International : India ready to address our problems: Prachanda
 

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