Maoist cultural wing splits

KIRAN PUN
KATHMANDU, Aug 13: The recent efforts within the UCPN (Maoist) to end the continuing intra-party feud seems to have fallen apart, with a split in the party´s top cultural group - Samana Pariwar -- on Friday.

Members of Samana Pariwar close to party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal formed a separate cultural group, splitting from the group dominated by Senior Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya.

The faction of the cultural group close to Baidya was in Birtanagar for its cultural campaign “Saman Jansangeet Abhiyan” when the Dahal-faction announced a parallel group in Kathmandu.

“Finally, we announced a 23-member committee,” Bhim Kumakhi, newly appointed coordinator of the group close to Dahal-faction, told Republica. Earlier, he was the coordinator of the Magarat Pariwar.

This is the first time that the establishment faction of the largest party has split a sister organization. The group is the second wing of the party to have faced a split after the party´s trade union. The trade union was split into three groups.

Samana Pariwar had played a pivotal role in educating common people in rural areas about the Maoist ideology during the conflict.

The feud in the Maoist cultural group had surfaced some three months ago after the Dahal faction forcefully separated its members from members close to the Baidya faction.

Both the teams had conducted separate cultural programs in Rastriya Nachaghar and Nepal Academy last month in a clear indication of an imminent split.

Meanwhile, both the cultural groups have claimed to be the legitimate group of the party.

“The party should decide which group is legitimate,” said Bijaya Sampang, coordinator of Samana close to the Baidya faction. “We will file a case in the party against another group.”

Maoist cultural bureau in-charge Ninu Chapagain said the split is the reflection of the continuing intra-party feud. “The split reflects intra party rift. Disputes can be resolved if the faction leaders so want.”

After the split, both the factions have accused each other of being counter-revolutionary.

   
   
Published on 2011-08-13 03:30:36