NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Who Are The Maoists?

Girija Prasad Koirala’s criticism of the palace and India for supporting the Maoists revitalizes the debate over the origins of the insurgency.

By KESHAB POUDEL

After maintaining relative silence since resigning in July, former prime minister and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala has fueled a new round of debate on the Maoist insurgency by accusing the palace and India of supporting the rebels.

Koirala, who was prime minister for more than eight of the 12 years since the restoration of democracy 1990, made the allegation as Maoist activists continued with extortion, forced donations and intimidation even after they agreed to a cease-fire with the government.

The ruling party chief also announced that he would go on a nationwide whirlwind tour to boost the morale of the people against terrorism. At a time when many Congress leaders are afraid of visiting their constituency, Koirala’s announcement underscored his fighting zeal. The political message: he is certainly not a spent force.

Although leader of main opposition CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal, a former defense and foreign minister, also charged India, the palace and the Nepali Congress with promoting the Maoist insurgency two weeks ago, his comments did not create the kind of furor Koirala’s have.

The Indian Embassy reacted immediately to Koirala's accusation, denying any involvement in the insurgency. The strong reaction to Koirala’s statement from various quarters is understandable. The former prime minister, who is described by left political parties as being soft on India, expressed anger over India’s decision to provide shelter to the Maoists, who are waging a "people's war" to topple the constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.

Koirala’s statement was widely covered by major Indian newspapers as well. On the other hand, UML general secretary Nepal's statement was ignored, as it did not carry much weight. After all, Nepalese communists have always been regarded as India baiters.

"The palace is the originator and India is the guardian of the Maoists," Koirala claimed at a public function. "Doesn’t India know that the Maoists who have been launching terrorist activities in Nepal are living in India? Is India’s intelligence network so weak?" he asked. "I don't know why Indians are giving shelter to the Maoists," he said. (Kantipur\Spacetime September 7)

GOVT.MAOIST TALKS : Crisis of Confidence The government and rebels prepare to sit for second round of talk amaid building uneasiness on both sides.

Koirala’s statement came after a group of Nepalese communist leaders, including UML general secretary Nepal, met top Maoist leaders, including Chairman Prachanda, in the Indian city of Silguri in West Bengal state, which is ruled by the Communist Party of India-Marxists. Interestingly, Koirala made the accusation at a time when the government of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Maoists completed the first round of peace talks and were in the process of starting the second phase.

The Congress chief made the allegation while inaugurating a photo exhibition organized to commemorate the 88th birth anniversary of B.P. Koirala, who ended his eight-year exile in India by returning to Nepal in 1976 with a policy of national reconciliation.

Supporters of Prime Minister Deuba and some communist leaders accused Koirala of trying to sabotage the talks with Maoists. "As a former prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala must prove his allegations in parliament," said Lilamani Pokharel, MP and president of United People's Forum.

Others also questioned Koirala’s remarks, accusing him with violating the dignity of the prime ministerial position. "This is an aggression against dignity (maryada). When Koirala and Nepal met Indian Foreign and Defense Minister Jaswant Singh during his recent visit to Nepal, both of them were understood to have kept mum on the issue. Did Nepal come to know [of India’s involvement] only after his meeting with Prachanda in Silguri? And did Koirala acquire this information only after his resignation? They have to prove their allegations in parliament," wrote Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of Kantipur daily, in his column this week.

Koirala and Nepal are not the first political leaders to raise the issue in public. Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai made similar allegations while he was in office. Then-foreign minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat brought up the issue, in vain, with his counterpart, Jaswant Singh, two years ago.

Regardless of the impact Koirala’s allegation may have on the peace talks, the fact that a leader of his stature has spoken in this way would provide sufficient fuel to extend the debate over the genesis of the Maoist insurgency.