Compromise on peace, constitution a mistake: Dahal

Maoist cadre-orientation --Newa and Tamsaling state committee --Khanna Garment, Lalitpur on  Thursday POST B BASNET/KIRAN PUN KATHMANDU, Jan 20: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal conceded at a closed-door party meeting on Thursday that he made a mistake in compromising with the parliamentary parties on the issues of peace and constitution, and pledged he would no longer enter into any such consensus against the party´s fundamental principles. "The parliamentary parties humiliated us and tried to force their way through the peace and constitution drafting process, knowing full well that we were deeply divided. And that´s why we have taken a tough stance now," a Maoist leader quoted Dahal as saying during the cadre orientation program held at Khanna Garments. Dahal said that after the NC and UML pushed hard on PLA integration and constitution drafting issues and sought compromises one after another, he asked party leaders including Janardan Sharma and Nanada Kishor Pun to speak up for "dignified integration" and a directly-elected presidential system of governance. "And the strategy has really created panic in the NC and UML," a leader quoted Dahal as saying. The leader of the former rebels also admitted that he has seriously violated the party´s fundamental principles while making compromises over peace and constitution drafting. "There have been concessions on some issues, but it´s wrong to say I have compromised on all issues, violating the party´s fundamental principles. In fact, the most important issues are yet to be resolved," a participant quoted Dahal as further saying. He told bemused cadres that the party is united on pushing for a "pro-people constitution that is anti-imperialist and anti-expansionist in nature" and fomenting an urban insurrection if the party fails in its endeavor. The party began the cadre-orientation program Thursday and this will continue over the next two weeks. The objective is to inform cadres about the party´s latest strategy in the wake of the just concluded CC meeting. At the program, Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya told the cadres that the basis of party unity is twofold: To frame the constitution of a "people´s federal democratic republic that is anti-materialist and anti-expansionist in nature", and to prepare the ground for a revolt. "The political line of federal democratic republic [forged by the Chunbang meeting] is no longer relevant. We have agreed to move beyond that, to a people´s federal democratic republic [the line passed by the Kharipati meeting]," a participant quoted Baidya as saying. He called on Dahal to remain committed to the communist movement in Nepal and effect a revolution. "Don´t try to become a statesman as the parliamentary parties urge you. Become the leader of the proletariat to lead a revolution," a participant quoted Baidya as telling Dahal. Prime Minister Babauram Bhattarai, who ranks third in the party hierarchy, stated that the party will put in efforts to frame a pro-people constitution, and if that fails the party will naturally opt for a revolt to capture state power. He also told the cadres that he is ready to resign from the government whenever the party decides to recall him. "But we should not quit the government front without a better options," a leader quoted Bhattarai as saying.