Where has Prachanda Path gone?: Maoists

KIRAN PUN
HETAUDA, Feb 6: Strongly criticizing the proposal to hold a referendum on the issue of disputed borders, the chiefs of discussion groups at the ongoing UCPN(Maoist) general convention have expressed grave concern that the proposal could turn Nepal into Fiji or Sikkim.

Presenting the views of the groups at the general convention venue at the Hetauda textile factory on Tuesday, they also termed Dahal´s political document a ´political document for elections´ or ´a proposal of an NGO´.



They demanded investigation of the chiefs of the two commissions, Post Bahadur Bogati and Amik Sherchan, asking what had happened to the commission reports.
They asked the party chairman where Prachanda Path had gone?

"The representatives have expressed ´critical support´ for the document," said Shyam Kumar Budha Magar, chief of group no. 16.

"Comrades have expressed misgivings about the proposal for a referendum on border issues, saying it could be misused for turning the country into a Fiji or Sikkim."
Dahal had mentioned that the disputed issues concerning borders should be decided by a referendum.

Not just the representatives but party Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha also claimed that the referendum proposal should be removed from the document.

Talking to journalists at the information centre, he added, "We will remove it. A referendum cannot be held."

Expressing the views of their own groups, the group chiefs also asked Chairman Dahal where their Prachanda Path had gone.

"Chairmanjyu, where has our Prachanda Path gone?" a participant quoted the group chiefs as saying.

Prachanda Path was discarded after the unification of the party with the Narayan Kaji Shrestha-led CPN (Unity Centre-Masal).

After the unification, the party´s name was changed to UCPN (Maoist).

After the unification of the two parties, the Maoists had abandoned Prachanda Path and adopted Mao Tse-tung Thought as the guiding principal of the party.

The Maoists now have Marxism, Leninism and Mao Tse-tung Thought. Earlier, the Maoist guiding principal was Marxism, Leninism, Maoism and Prachanda Path.
But after strong views were expressed calling for the removal of Mao Tse-tung Thought, the Shrestha group agreed to remove Mao Tse-tung Thought and accept Maoism.

"We had agreed not to mention both Maoism and Mao Tse-tung Thought. Now, Maoism can be the guideline principal of the party. But Prachanda Path cannot remain," added Shrestha.

The representatives also raised a strong voice over why Dahal did not clearly and adequately mention the 10-year insurgency.

"The people´s war has been devalued," said Suk Bahadur Roka Magar, refering to the reports of the group leaders.

The group leaders also asked why the commission reports were not made public.

"What was the conclusion of the commissions? Why were they not made public? Investigations should be carried out against both commission chiefs," said a participant, refering to the reports of the group leaders.

At the Brikuti Mandap plenum, Chairman Dahal had expressed commitment to shifting out of Lazimpat after the obstruction of the plenum by former PLA who were demanding investigation of corruption.

"We could not find a house for shifting into from Lazimpat," said Sapkota at the press meet.

They also asked who was the principal enemy -- India or Nepali Congress or UCPN? It should be clear, they said and wondered how the party could move without mentioning who was friend and who foe.

"Has the party abandoned class struggle or not? It should be mentioned clearly," said Ajay Shakti Pun, who is from Rukum, quoting the reports.

Similarly, Vice-chairman of UCPN (Maoist) Narayan Kaji Shrestha presented his differing views Tuesday. Putting forth his views verbally, Shrestha stressed the launching of discussions on the issue of national independence to correct ´past mistakes´.

Stating that the controversial BIPPA agreement with India was also an issue of national independence, he said the ongoing general convention should forge a clear stance on the bilateral trade agreement.

Talking to journalists, Shrestha also said he would air his dissent in written form if the party failed to assure him that the issues of national sovereignty, including BIPPA and disputes surrounding the Nepal-India border, would be discussed at a plenum to be called within six months.

"I want to discuss my views at the convention. But I can wait if the party assures me that the plenum will be called within six months just to discus in this issue,"´ said Shrestha, adding that otherwise he would bring in his written version.

He said that the BIPPA agreement contradicted the party´s political line. So it was not good for the country.

"You can interpret it as anti-national or not. I can say that it contradicts the party´s current political line. The line is to promote national capital but BIPPA is against that," added Shrestha. He said there are many issues to settle the issue of national sovereignty.

Fourty group leaders out of a total of 63 have presented their views. After the submision of the views Dahal will give his answers.
from Republica