Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) – CPN (M) P.G. Rajamohan Institute for Conflict Management Formation repercussions.3 Some splinter groups of the communist party and prominent leftist Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is a leaders like Keshar Jung Rayamajhi have splinter group from the revolutionary been pro-palace and were supportive of the party-less Panchayat system while Communist parties alliance- Communist other groups were active in the struggle Party of Nepal (Unity Centre) (established in May 1991) - during mid-1994, formed for the re-establishment of multi-party under the leadership Pushpa Kamal Dahal democracy, under the umbrella organization United National People’s alias Prachanda.1 At the same time, the Movement (UNPM). After the restoration political front of the Unity Centre– United People’s Front of Nepal (UPFN), which of democracy and 1991 Parliamentary had 9 Members of Parliament in Nepal, election, Communist Party of Nepal also divided into two groups. The UPFN (Unity Centre) emerged as the third largest party in the Parliament, next to faction, led by Baburam Bhattarai Nepali Congress and Communist Party of expressed their willingness and support to 4 work with Communist Party of Nepal Nepal (UML). Ideological confrontation (Maoists) under the leadership of Pushpa and dissatisfaction over the multi-party democratic system under constitutional Kamal Dahal.2 The alliance of two monarchy among the CPN (Unity Centre) revolutionary factions -CPN (M) - was not recognized by the Election Commission to leaders led to the disintegration of the contest in the 1994 parliamentary mid- revolutionary and political front split into term election. They stayed outside and two factions. The two different factions led by Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai criticized the parliamentary democratic at one end and Nirmal Lama and Niranjan system and insisted their cadres to get ready for ‘radical change’ through the Govind Vadiya on the other end. The armed struggle. rejection of Election Commission to contest in 1994 election and the revolutionary zeal in the minds of the People’s Movement to People’s War rebel leaders led to the formation of CPN (Maoist) and go underground. The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) was officially established under the Analysts, opine that the armed struggle leadership of Pushpa Lal Shreshtha in from the mid-Western hilly districts 1947. Communist Party of Nepal has became more vigorous especially after the experienced number of significant Government initiated police operation divisions throughout its history, not only during late 1995 - “Operation Romeo” – in as a result of different orientations Rolpa and Rukum districts, and operation towards popular struggle and revolution kilo sierra II, which were aimed to restrict within Nepal, but also as a result of the Sino-Soviet split and its international 3 See, R. Andrew Nickson, “Democratisation and the growth of Communism in Nepal: A Peruvian Scenario in the Making?” Journal of 1 Arjun Karki and David Seddon, “The People’s Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, vol. 30, War in Historical Context,” in The People’s War in no. 3, November 1992. Nepal: Left Perspectives, (Delhi: Adroit Publishers, 4 See, House of representative members’ election – 2003), 17. 2048: Final results (Kathmandu: Election 2 Ibid. Commission, 1991), 183. IPCS Database on Armed Groups in South Asia the growing radical communist failure to respond to implement their 40- movement in this region. During an point memorandum was the immediate interview, Maoists political wing leader reason for the declaration of armed Baburam Bhattarai said ‘under this armed struggle. At the end, the Communist Party police operation around 1,500 police of Nepal (Maoists) declared armed personnel, including a specially trained struggle against the government known as commando force sent from Kathmandu, ‘People’s War’ on February 13, 1996 and have been deployed to let loose a reign of they conducted raids in the police check terror against the poor peasants… the posts at Holeri in Rolpa, Atbhiskot in continuing police operation and the Rukum and Sindhiligadhi in Sindhuli virtual reign of white terror seems endless district and looted explosives and other at the moment.’5 The Government’s weapons.10 The Maoists first time ineffectiveness to address the surfaced with violent activities, in the fundamental issues of the people and the most visible and tangible form. On the security forces repressive operations same day, a group of around 300 Maoists against the Maoists cadres resulted in civil attacked farmers development bank at war in Nepal. Maoists anger against the Chyangli in Gorkha district and set fire Government and the King reflected in the accounts documents.11 Bhattarai’s words, “every revolution appears a dream before it is made. Ideology and Objectives Moreover, it appears like a ‘nightmare’ for the reactionary classes before and after it Immediately after its birth in 1994, the is made”6 The period 1994-95 could be said to represent the first ‘preparatory’ CPN (M) adopted Marxism-Leninism- phase of the People’s War in Nepal. Maoism as their ideological firmament after long deliberations and discussions, On February 4, 1996, Maoists political and it adopts its long term aim of People’s wing leader Baburam Bhattarai led a War as the only path for the successful three-member delegation submitted a 40- establishment of communist society point memorandum to the then Prime through ‘New Democratic Revolution’ with a people’s democratic dictatorship Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.7 In a broader sense the memorandum included under the leadership of proletariat based demands concerning nationality, people’s on the unity of workers and peasants 12 democracy and questions of livelihood. against feudalism and imperialism. The other demands include abolition of Accordingly the nature and orientation of special privileges of the King and the the Nepalese armed struggle has been royal family and the promulgation of a clearly specified by the Maoists as, ‘the new republican constitution by the line of protracted people’s war based constituent assembly consisting of elected upon the strategy of surrounding the city from the countryside’.13 On February 13, representatives of the people.8 Maoists gave three days deadline for the 1996, during the riots Maoist cadres government to fulfill their demands, marched with the slogan “let us march unless they threatened to start armed ahead on the path of struggle towards establishing the people’s rule by wrecking struggle.9 They claimed the Government’s the reactionary ruling system of state”. 5 Published in The Independent, Kathmandu, vol. 5, no. 41, December 13-19, 1995. 10 See, Nepali Patra, Kathmandu, February 16, 6 Ibid. 1996. 7 The Gorkhapatra, February 5, 1996. 11 The Rising Nepal, February 15, 1996. 8 The Janadesh Weekly, Kathmandu, February 6, 12 Document adopted by the Third Plenum of the 1996. CC of CPN (Maoist) in March 1995. 9 Ibid. 13 Ibid. 2 Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) – CPN (M) Maoists strongly believe in the philosophy an interim government and iii) election of Mao Tsetung that “Political power and formation of Constituent assembly. grows out of the barrel of a gun.”14 Areas under Maoists influence Maoists also draw inspiration from the Peru’s left wing extremist guerilla movement, the sendero Luminoso (Shining The Maoist insurgency initially Path) (started in 1980), because of many commenced in the three district of Rolpa, commonalities between Nepal and Rukum and Jajarkot districts in mid- Peruvian society, economy, politics and Western region of Nepal and eventually spread throughout the country with geographical situations.15 The radical 18 communist parties from different parts of varying degree of influence. Commonly, the world including from USA, India have Western region, mid-Western region and provided ideological sustenance for the partially in Eastern region will be Nepali Maoists. considered as Maoists strong base areas. By February 2000, the Maoists claimed The political goal of the Maoists is that there were only 9 (out of a total of 75) therefore very clear viz., to capture power districts that had not come ‘under their 19 in the name of establishing ‘new direct influence’. But reports indicate democracy’. The aim of the People’s War that the guerrillas operate to varying is an “historical revolt against feudalism, degrees in 68 of the 75 districts, but it imperialism and so-called reformists”. The varies between moderate to extreme in parameters of new democracy emphasizes these districts. The military activities of justice and equality for the backward, the Maoist movement now began to indigenous and suffering people of Nepal increase both in scale and scope, and in and it won’t provide any room for the frequency. The capacity of the Maoists to dominance of feudal forces and capitalist wage their People’s War across a significant area of the countryside was democratic parties.16 In an interview, Maoists leader Prachanda said, “There now becoming increasingly evident will be full freedom to all the anti-feudal through recent attacks in Bhojpur district 20 and anti-imperialist political parties in the and Beni Bazaar in Myagdi district. This has led to the creation of numerous ward, New Democracy”.17 The party has formulated main strategic slogan for the village, area and district-level ‘people’s future as “consolidate and expand base committees’, which are generally known areas and local people’s power” and as ‘people’s governments’. As of now, “March forward to the direction of ‘district people’s governments’ have been 21 building central people’s government”. formed in 21 districts. They have set up Apart from this Maoists immediate "People's Courts" which looks into cases & demands include i) round table giving verdicts, suggesting local conference with all political parties, commanders to take judicial action, where Government and the King, ii) formation of security force have deprived of any such activity against the insurgents.