Rajat KC: Dangerous Game Plan of Maoists

In Nepal we regularly see the faces of the Maoist leaders almost in all means of Media everyday. In the past, when then Prime Minister Sher Bahahdur Deuba announced price of the head of alleged terrorist (Maoist), those faces were known very little. Imaginary picture or sketches created by security forces used to display in the "Wanted" list. People were very curios to see the faces of those culprits. Initially when they came out of underground life, people were very eager to see them with keen interest. In fact people were trying to figure out a face of so called charismatic leader who are vying to lead the country. But over the period of time normal people started to become so pessimistic by their rockiness. Now truly speaking people have no interest on them rather irritated because of too much exposure in media and misleading behaviors. It is really ridiculous to hear same indoctrinated views which are mugged up by them like parrots no matter in which forum they are speaking, what topics are they talking or what questions are they dealing.

Personally, I rarely give attention to their activities unless that affects my day to day life. Recently, I am attracted with two major issues which is becoming hot topics in Nepal. Those issues are a) The Maoist Chairman Prachanda's claim of conspiracy of palace to assassinate the US officials in Nepal and put the blame on Maoist, and b) formation of interim government. Dirty Propaganda

When the US embassy has expressed deep concern over Prachanda's claim of a plot of pro-palace elements to assassinate US officials in Nepal, my attention was obviously drawn to media. The US Embassy has asked Maoist leader to provide evidence if they have any. The US statement further warned if the Maoist cannot provide proof, then such remarks will be irresponsible and dangerous. Prachanda's such statement came when the Under Secretary of State for Management Ms. Henrietta H. Fore was paying an official visit to Nepal

This may be a coincident or well designed "game plan" that the day he made such remarks at Pokhara, some unidentified elements planted "pressure cooker bomb" and Improvised Explosive (Sutali bomb) at the residence of two prominent civil society leaders – Devendra Raj Panday and Krishna Pahadi respectively. Both the bombs were found unexploded and were defused by police (army is usually involved as they have better expertise to dispose bomb) before they could go off. Interestingly, on the same day the Maoists together with its affiliated leftist party registered proposal for republic state at the parliament.

As per the poorly orchestrated game plan the Maoists plotted to create big misunderstanding between the US authority and Monarchy whom they believe are the biggest hurdles in their path. Same day the Maoist laid pressure cooker bomb at the residence of two civil society activists. Both of them are not the US citizen and not working for the American interests. There is an allegation that these both activists together with some others are anti-monarchist and covertly working for the Maoists in the cover of civil society. They used to act against the Royal regime in the past and now giving pressure to the Prime Minister in support of the vested interest of the Maoists. Pressure cooker bombs and Improvised Explosives are indigenous products of the Maoists and planted in selected targets which could mislead to people. In the meantime, Sitaula also did not allow using properly trained and fully equipped bomb disposal squad from the army and formed a police team to investigate the incident. This drama might be effective to mislead the innocent Nepali people but they couldn't mislead the US authorities. The US authority understood the ground reality very clearly and expressed deep concern about the irresponsible remarks from the Maoist leadership. They also challenged Maoists leadership to provide evidence. Prachanda reacted by saying that they are in the process of collecting evidence. Prachanda's reaction is a big joke that, how can a so called national level leader make public remarks without having enough evidences? Sometimes ago, the Maoists made similar allegation that, a group of people are mobilized by the palace and Nepalese Army to assassinate Maoist leadership. Later on it was revealed that they have arrested and tortured their own activists who broke away from them together with Rabindra Shrestha and Mani Thapa, who had no plot of that kind and no evidence were found that they are mobilized by palace or army. One of the activists who managed came out from the Maoists custody gave detail accounts that how he was behaved and tortured to commit his involvement in such activities. When this guy refused to take responsibility of falls allegation, the Maoists had to finally release him.

Prachanda is likely to create another story as he claimed that he will furnish proof to the US authority. It is not a time to create conspiracy which will further create chaos and uncertainty but need to be serious to make peace process successful. If the Maoist has faith on peace process they ought to have guts to face the election and materialize the prime agenda in legitimate manner.

The Maoists are the one who initiated the idea of election for Constituent Assembly in Nepal, and other seven parties accepted that agenda while they signed eight points agreement in New Delhi. As the situation developed in Nepal the Maoist realized that proposed election will not be in their favor. The Maoist's Central Committee has already decided to disrupt the election indirectly. Some local cadres of Maoists mentioned that they have already received secret circular from their high command to create environment unfavorable for the election, whilst, they are trying to disguise the world stupidly by blaming others, particularly royalists, for trying to disrupt the election.

Terai upsurge is the incredible victory for the rebel fractions of the Maoists and big setback to The Maoists. The Maoists are loosing confidence in Terai to win the election where as with the new arrangement Terai become the decisive factors to gain the majority in the election. For the Maoists, other cities in the middle hill are also not fully in their grip. Though one of their leaders (CP Gajurel) time and again claimed to capture booths, but, it will not be as easy as they thought to capture the electoral booths due to international involvement in the peace process. Only few seats from the remote electoral constituency of mid-western region will not be enough to gain majority in the constituent assembly. As per their analysis they have understood that, if the election will be held free and fair, they will be in the minority and their grand design to make Nepal a totalitarian communist regime will jeopardize.

First time in the history of Nepal, the parliament is dominated by the leftists. For the Maoists, probably this is the most favorable time to impose their ill-ideas ever since they have started their campaign 12 years ago. In normal life fears and atrocities from the Maoists is even more worsening then the time they were fighting insurgency. In such situation if the Maoist joins the government they can directly influence every faces of life throughout the entire nation. Formation of Interim Cabinet

It has been said that the main hurdles to form the interim government is two fold. First of all, there is tremendous pressure that the Maoists should not be included to the interim government before they renounce the violence and show the character of real political party. Second of all, there is rumour that most of the parties including Maoists wants to have attractive ministires. The Maoists are going all out to grab the Deputy premiership with home minister for their party and wishes to appoint Krishna Prasad Sitaula, present home minister, as defense minister of interim cabinet. For the Maoist, appointing Sitaula as defense minister is more favorable then appointing their own man in that portfolio. Because it is already known to all that Sitaula works for the vested interests of Maoist instead of national or his own parties' interests. In lieu of that, the Maoists are protecting him from all aspects despite of pressure for him to step down on moral ground for the loss of life and properties in Terai. Number of death toll in Terai uprising is almost double than the number of loss during Janandolan II. The dialogue with Madhesi stakeholders is deadlocked due to attitude of Sitaula. The Maoists are covering Sitaula even when the parliamentarians from Nepali Congress demanding his resignation. Poor Prime minister is reluctant to do any thing against Maoists wishes due to unknown reason. Minister Sitaula as a Home Minister and coordinator of government's dialogue team has done enough damage to national interests by safeguarding Maoists interests. Following the formation of interim government, the focus of peace process will be shifted to security sector reforms along with demobilization and reintegration of the Maoist combatants. The Maoists will certainly want to plant "their man" in Ministry of Defense to serve in their favour.

As Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai mentioned in Dang in public speech that for them other political parties are nothing, but their battle is with Monarchy only. They have decided to take advantages of present fluid situation. The Maoist knows that if they evict monarchy from Nepal that will open easy axis for them to achieve their desired objective – to declare Nepal one party totalitarian communist regime. Earlier they have announced that they will declare republic in the month of Baisakh (second half of the April) if CA pole is postponed by any reason.

In the course to fulfill their dream it is revealed that the Maoists have designed a new "game plan". According to that plan they have decided to declare republic through leftists dominated parliament. They know implementation of such plan will be very complex due to opposition from palace, international community and some key parties within the parliament, because the present parliament is just an interim and not elected. Consensus has already been reached that decision about monarchy will be as per the people's verdict through the election of constituent assembly. Such arrangement is well acknowledged by almost all concerned international power. As per the Maoists plan, they want to give impression that they enjoy people's support by mobilizing hundreds of thousand of people forcibly in the streets of Kathmandu as they did together with seven parties during the time of Janandolan II. For this plan they know that majority of Nepali people and international community, mainly USA, will not support their unilateral decision. They may have to face strong pressure from the USA if they resort back to violence. The Maoists must realize that the USA has perceived their (Maoist) grand design correctly and always opposed them to safeguard the democracy in Nepal. Bottom-line

This time the Maoists have exposed themselves very badly with improperly orchestrated propaganda which ultimately became unproductive and defamed their image (whatever image they have). No matter how much the people of Nepal express serious concerns about the violation of peace process, the Maoist are still rigid on their outdated philosophy and want to impose everything they want. If their hidden motives remains unchanged no one can avoid another crisis in Nepal. Such crisis will certainly wash away the real culprits, whether it is Maoists or any other anti-national elements.

ENDS

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