Red salute to foreign powers?

By Navin Singh Khadka

The Maoists' tidal victory in direct elections tends to belie the theory that Nepal's politics is largely foreign influenced. But if that is not the case, the former rebels now on the great march will soon have to deal with the same foreign powers. The trouble is some of them have not been comfortable with the Maoists. Perhaps Prachanda has seen that coming and is therefore already talking about working with the international community.

"We would like to make our policy clear that for peace and prosperity we are for working together and maintaining diplomatic relations with our neighbours India and China and other countries of the world." he said in his elated new year statement. By the time he said that, election results were already showing Maoists emerging strong.

During the campaigns for the same elections the Maoist chief often blamed some foreign powers of trying to sabotage against his party.

Although he refrained from naming them, bashing what they called American imperialism and Indian regional hegemony was his deputies' favourite sport.

With Maoists still in the US terror list, their uneasy relation with Washington remains a public knowledge. The love-hate relation with New Delhi is increasingly becoming evident as the former rebels blow hot and cold on Indian establishment.

During his recent visit to Kathmandu, Indian national security advisor MK Narayanan was quoted by the media saying, "We're unsure as to where we stand with regard to the Maoists despite professions on both sides that we can work together." Narayanan has not refuted those reports.

Just like the Nepali intelligentsia, there were no indications that India and the US foresaw Maoists would secure majority in the elections. Official India, wrote The Hindu in its editorial, erroneously worked on assumption of a Maoist defeat.

Now that the results have been quite unexpected, foreign powers like India and the US will also have to brace themselves up. "It would be destructive if New Delhi were to have a Nepal policy that does not unambiguously repose confidence in a ruling arrangement in Kathmandu that so clearly derives its power from a popular mandate," read an Indian Express editorial.

Indian and US foreign affairs officials will have to scratch their heads even more if Maoists are seen becoming Chinese favourites.

But in any case it would be more challenging for the comrades now catapulted as a major force. Reason: It cannot be business as usual. Certainly not the guerrilla warfare way.

That both over and underground politics in the region cannot avoid geopolitics was something Maoists knew right from the beginning. Otherwise they would not have harped on international order when they came out for peace talks for the second time three years ago.

Two years down the line just when there were talks that they would capture the capital militarily, the then rebels instead went to New Delhi to join hands with political parties and gang up against King Gyanendra.

With that partnership having led them to a major victory in the elections, the argumentative Maoist leaders by now must have felt the comfort of legitimacy in mainstream politics.

If they are to sustain that legitimacy, the former rebels will now have to deal with foreign powers as a responsible national level political party, if not as a major coalition partner or a major bloc in the Constituent Assembly.

They did see for themselves what importance Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had to give to foreign powers during the ongoing transition. On the day the Maoists registered motions in the parliament last year demanding republic and proportional representation election system, Koirala referred to the international community seven times in his five minute speech.

Maoist leaders may argue they are diametrically different from Koirala's centrist Nepali Congress that has at times been accused of being pro-India.

They may well be. But that does not mean they can get away without having to deal with the foreign powers that have dominated Nepal's internal politics for ages.

Voracious readers in the Maoist fold must have read what Nepal expert Professor Leo Rose wrote: That it is one of the few countries in the world whose foreign policy is heavily shaped not by what happens inside the country but by the developments outside.

Revolutionaries as they introduce themselves, whether Maoists will be able to change that is something their dealings with the major foreign powers will show.

(Navin Singh Khadka is a journalist with the BBC Nepali Service in London and can be reached at: navin.khadka@gmail.com)

(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to editors@mos.com.np)

Have your say ! (Registration required)