Walking A Tightrope
Prachanda downplays plenum decisions by posing them as positions, not preconditions, for the elections
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
At a time when other political parties criticized the Maoists for putting forth republic and proportional representation as preconditions for the Constituent Assembly elections, chairman Prachanda has tried to walk a tightrope by downplaying the decision of the fifth plenum.
At a press meet early this week, Prachanda indicated that these are the positions of the party and not preconditions. He added that they will not boycott the Constituent Assembly (CA) election even if these 'positions/preconditions' are not met.
"Republic is our mandatory condition. Proportional representation and federalism are our positions, not preconditions. But we will not boycott the election," he said.
In another move to placate the 'revolutionary comrades' of his party, Prachanda has also said that since the party has concluded that the moral, legal and political basis for their remaining a member of the government has diminished, the party will decide, within 10 days, whether to remain in the interim government. He reiterated that the party will launch peaceful movement and 'revolt' if necessary.
The latest pronouncements from Prachanda make it clear that he is trying to strike a balance between implementing its past pacts with seven parties and placating the growing disquiet among the rank and file of his party.
As soon as words got out that the August 3-10 plenum of the party had decided to put forth preconditions for the elections, other parties had accused that the Maoists may be trying to avoid the election. "We didn't see Maoists' commitment on the CA. They were the ones who raised the issue of CA the most but now by bringing out conditions that have not been agreed upon (by eight parties), they are trying to foil the November election," said Ram Chandra Poudel, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction.
Even parties like People's Front that have been supportive of Maoists at most times urged them not to set preconditions for the elections at this juncture.
Although the fifth expanded meeting or plenum passed the political report by Prachanda, unanimously, with some amendments, Prachanda had to face a pretty tough questions from a section of his party leaders who are not at all happy with the "flexibility and compromises" made by them in the past one year.
There are even sections of Maoist leaders who have openly announced rebellion by accusing the leadership of "abandoning revolution." Laxman Tharu aka Roshan, ex Maoist leader of its Tharu wing, is one such rebel who has claimed that his group is swelling by the day. Tharu claimed that PLA fighters deserting cantonment have joined his group. He even said he has three battalion force ready.
Just last week, one Raj Kumar Regmi aka Sandesh rebelled from the party and attacked a police post in Nuwakot looting weapons. Although the Maoists quickly took him under control and returned looted weapons, the incident indicated a brewing trouble for the party.
"If the Maoists are not able to convince their rank and file, there are chances of further rebellion, which could undermine the whole peace process," said Shyam Shrestha, a leftist intellectual.
For the time being, however, Prachanda has attempted to divert the frustrations among his workers and leaders by talking about movement and revolt. "We will be preparing an election manifesto, which will also be our manifesto for the movement," Prachanda said at the press meet. A team led by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has been formed to draft the manifesto. On the other hand, with the aim of bringing indigenous groups and other agitators on board, the party has also formed a team led by Ram Bahadur Thapa aka Badal to hold roundtable conference with them. And to strike a broader leftist unity, it has formed a team led by Mohan Baidya aka Kiran to hold talks with communist parties.
Meanwhile, the 34 central committee members of the party have stated that they collectively own Rs 36.3 million worth properties. According to reports, Ram Karki has the highest amount of properties at Rs 3.8 million followed by Lekhraj Bhatta, Ananta and Agni Sapkota (Kanchan) who own Rs 2.5 million each. Prachanda owns Rs 400,000 cash. Likewise, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has recorded that he owns Rs 300,000 worth properties while his wife Minister Hishila Yami has Rs one million. Information Minister Krishna Mahara is reported to own Rs 300,000 while Dinanath Sharma owns Rs 475,000. Lokendra Bista, Maoist MP, is reported to have recorded the lowest amount of property at Rs 3000.
