We will form our own army: Matrika Yadav

GHANASHYAM OJ

Matrika Yadav revolted when the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) decided to unify with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Center-Masal) in January to form the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Politburo member of the then CPN (Maoist) led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Yadav has vowed to restructure the mother party. Talking to myrepublica.com in an exclusive interview at his residence, Yadav accused Prime Minister Dahal of compromising on revolutionary ideals and promised to fight with renewed zest and vigor for the total liberation of the Nepali people.

Excerpt from the interview:

myrepublica.com: What is the basis of your claim that you will form a strong communist party as an alternative to the current Unified CPN (Maoist)?

Matrika Prasad Yadav: I have learned through the decade-long armed struggle that people want total liberation against suppression and corruption. Their awareness on socio-political issues has improved beyond imagination. People across the country are now saying they haven’t found any difference between the past governments and the one now. Martyrs have not yet received national recognition. Dalits, various indigenous groups, women and poor people, who supported our armed struggle, are now completely frustrated. They say that the Maoists are no longer revolutionaries. The charge is that the Maoists are already on their way to becoming revisionists. The people have lost hope on Prachandaji. I think people are looking for an alternative Maoist party which will respect the values of the decade-long armed struggle that will fight for total liberation of all the people. However, I think there are dangerous challenges ahead to head a revolutionary Maoist party.

Dipesh Shrestha

myrepublica.com: What are the dangerous challenges? Is it there within your party or somewhere else?

Yadav: There are dangers from national and international reactionary forces. I especially feel that there is a danger from the Unified CPN (Maoist), both ideologically and physically. Prachandaji and others in the unified Maoist party are good at telling lies and confusing people. I think a major challenge for me would be to expose those lies and keep people informed about the reality. My major ideological battle will always be with the unified Maoist party. They have power and resources as they are in the government now. My cadres are concerned about my security. They are asking me to consider taking security measures while in public. But I don’t care about my life. If they {Unified CPN (Maoist)} make a mistake by attacking me physically, they will get destroyed in no time. I don’t rule out the threat to my life. They must understand that ideology can never be killed.

myrepublica.com: How will your party be different from other communist parties including the newly-formed Unified CPN (Maoist)?

Yadav: We will always remain a revolutionary party. We won’t let poor people return seized property to those corrupt feudalists. We will fight for total right of the Madhesi people. We will request the Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) combatants not to be ready for dissolution. Prachandaji is trying to eliminate the identity of the PLA, who fought for people’s total liberation. None of the communist parties including Prachandaji’s have been able to provide justice to the families of those disappeared persons. They just tell lies but we will walk the talk. The unified Maoist party is no longer a real communist party. Prachandaji has welcomed those people in the party who always criticized the decade-long armed struggle. He (Prime Minister Dahal) has close alliance with those reactionary forces. I have asked him to read his own articles about revolution and people’s liberation written in the past.

myrepublica.com: You haven’t announced the formation of your party. You also don’t have an army with you. How confident are you of getting support from the PLA?

Yadav: You should remember that we didn’t have an organized army or arms when we launched the armed struggle in 1996. We learnt how to use arms. We developed a competent army to lead the armed struggle. Now, my party will form its own army, if we feel it is necessary. And I am sure many PLA combatants will join my party because I know our PLAs. The PLA combatants joined the war not for any personal gain. Many of them lost their relatives in the war. They want total liberation of the Nepali people. I have heard they are extremely frustrated now. They are saying their sacrifice has gone in vain. But I won’t let their efforts go down the drains. I will ask them to join the real Maoist party and continue revolution for peoples’ power.

Dipesh Shrestha

myrepublica.com: Do you think any known face from the Unified CPN (Maoist) will join your party?

Yadav: I don’t think anybody from the central level will join my party. There are many intelligent people in the unified Maoist party. But I am surprised why those intelligent leaders are staying with the unified party when it has lost all Maoist values. Be assured, the majority of Maoist cadres across the country will join my party. Everyday I receive hundreds of calls from my well wishers. They are excited about joining the real communist party. Tamsaling Rastriya Mukti Morcha and Kirant Janabadi Workers’ Party have already joined me. Some people say Matrika will form a regional party. But I know I will completely collapse if I form a regional party. People from the hills to the Tarai have expressed their strong support for my party. Therefore, it will be a national party. People from all across the country will find their voice in my party.

myrepublica.com: Will your party join hands with armed groups in Tarai?

Yadav: Ha ha … you raised a good question. Everybody asks me this question. I talked to Goitji and Ram Bilash Yadavji about this issue. I found that many armed groups in Tarai are now involved in criminal activities. They extort money and abduct people just for money.

myrepublica.com: But all the armed groups in Tarai are for the One Madhes One Pradesh demand. Don’t you think your party can have an alliance with those armed groups on this particular issue?

Yadav: That’s true. I am also thinking on that line. We can work together for a particular issue. I am planning to hold a broader discussion with all the armed groups of Tarai soon. Let’s see how it goes.

myrepublica.com: What about the recently-announced CPN (Maoist) led by former Maoist leader Mani Thapa?

Yadav: Maniji did everything in haste. He had invited me for a dialogue. But he hastily announced his party. I am surprised with this development. I am yet to talk to Maniji about it. But I will try to include all those revolutionaries in my party.

Democracy and Class Struggle is publishing this interview for information purposes and does not endorse the actions of Matrika Yadav in fact we called for his expulsion from the CPN Maoist some time ago on this site - his position on the Terai is playing directly in to the hands of the enemies of the Nepalese Revolution who have seen this as a key issue to undermine the UCPN(Maoist)

Whilst we agree with Kiran and Gujarel in some of their criticisms of UCPN Maoist policies under Prachanda and Bhattarai led government - we do not agree with position of Matrika Yadav on the Terai and his other political positions follow from this.

For further information look at following posts :http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.com/2008/07/tharus-enraged-over-madhesisation-of.html

also look at:
http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.com/2009/01/maoists-to-campaign-for-one-madhes-many.html

Spring Thunder for Students

Announcing a Blog for students and for the revival of Marxism Leninism Maoism in United Kingdom - SPRING THUNDER.

Visit: http://nickglais-springthunder.blogspot.com/

Prachanda path jindabad - Hope from the Himalayas Prachanda path

MK Nepal says Maoist-led govt will survive 'full term'

Senior leader of the CPN (UML) and chairman of the Constitutional Committee, Madhav Kumar Nepal, has ruled out the possibility of the Maoist-led government being toppled anytime soon.

Nepal said the present ruling coalition should continue till the constitution-drafting process is complete and that the UML will make no attempt to bring it down.

The UML leader was speaking at a programme in the eastern district of Dhankuta Monday.

Nepal's remark is seen as softening of his previous position towards the Maoist-led government in which the UML is an important ally.

In the 8th general convention of the UML recently held in Butwal, Nepal backed K.P Sharma Oli, a staunch critic of the Maoists, in his bid to UML chairmanship. Oli, who lost the election of party chairman to Jhala Nath Khanal, had declared that UML would seek an alternative ruling coalition if he became the chairman.

Maoist Rebel News from Canada is back - congratulations in overcoming You Tube suspension

Maoists unveil their proposed constitution for federal Nepal

Maoists unveil their proposed constitution for federal Nepal

Dr Baburam Bhattarai, who heads a committee formed by his party, Unified CPN (Maoist), for determining the party's vision on democracy has unveiled the party's draft proposal through his personal website.

The Maoists' draft maintains liberal stance on fundamental rights of the people such as freedom of expression, right to form political parties, right to assembly, among others. The draft divided into 21 parts and 145 articles authorises the state governments to form paramilitary force or militia but the national army would be formed after integration between the People's Liberation Army and Nepal Army.
The party has proposed an Audit Commission as the highest auditing body of the country in place of the Office of the Auditor General. The Women's Commission and Dalit Commission as the constitutional bodies of the country have been removed and three new commissions have been proposed - inclusion commission, development commission and inter-state relation commission.

The party has proposed a three-tier judiciary- Supreme Court, State Court and local courts. Besides, a separate constitutional court has been proposed to look into disputes on constitutional issues.

According to the draft, executive power of the government should rest with the President while daily administration should be run by the prime minister and council of ministers. Three assemblies have been proposed - 75 member national assembly and 245 member house of federal representatives. The 13 states proposed by the party will have 25 to 35-member state assemblies. All representatives will be elected through mixed election system.

The Maoist party in the proposed constitution has accepted most democratic values such as human rights, press freedom, periodic elections, rule of law, multi party system, supremacy of judiciary etc

The hospitality of the Libyan people, government and the Gaddafi Foundation provide best welcome yet

The convoy is in Misrata. The hospitality of the Libyan people, government and the Gaddafi Foundation has left the convoy members in tears.

After the the public rally in Tripoli today, they set off with an additional 60 Libyan vehicles loaded with humanitarean aid and medecine towards the coastal town of Misrata. They were met with jubilant ordinary Libyans who hold Palestine and Gaza close to their hearts.

The organisers and the Gaddafi Foundation are ensuring the smooth and safe passage of the convoy through Libya by providing everything the convoy needs - from free fuel to accomodation and repairs, etc.

This evening, our drivers and their passengers were being driven in coaches to the newly built and inaugurated GAZA VILLAGE on the outskirt of Misrata. It is a tribute to the memory of the fallen martyrs of Gaza and a message to the children of Palestine from a long standing staunch ally of their just cause.

According to Libyan TV News this evening, the convoy could reach 300 vehicles by the time it reaches the border. I have just seen the size of some of the HGV's going to Gaza lined up with ours. It is an awsome sight,a mammoth task only made possible by some legendary men and women.

In one of the speeches today in Tripoli, one of the convoy leaders said to the crowd that this convoy was not just a Viva Palestina British, Islamic, Christian, Arab and European but it was first and foremost humanitarian, where all humanity in all its diverse cultures, languages and religions contributed to it.

One of our convoy members said to the Arabic newspaper Libya Elyoum today "This is the best welcome we received. What is different this time is that the authorities did not try to stop the people mingling and getting close to us, nothing was orchestrated, it was natural and spontaneous.."

Tomorrow is a big day as Libya celebrates the creation of the Republic (Jamahiria).The convoy will head for SIRT where they will savour Libyan hospitality once again.

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Announcing a Blog for students and for the revival of Marxism Leninism Maoism in United Kingdom - SPRING THUNDER.

Visit: http://nickglais-springthunder.blogspot.com/

Viva Palestina in Libya - Egypt has agreed to let convoy through to Gaza

This morning,it was announced that Egypt has agreed to let the convoy through to Gaza to the cheers of all the people and to the relief of our convoy members. It will be one less matter to worry about and to only concentrate on the noble goal they set out to achieve when their vehicle rolled from the UK on the 14th February.

Up to 100 Libyan trucks are joining the convoy starting with the Tripoli contingent today including ambulances and a fire engine. The Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation (GICDF) is sending a considerable quantity of medical aid.

Army integration will complete without hassle: Peace Minister

Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma on Sunday said that "political discussion" has already started on the main issue of federalism, state restructuring and army integration.

The Maoist minister also said that there has already been an understanding at the "policy level" to integrate Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army and that now it only remains to be done in action.

Speaking at a press meet organised in Baglung district by Maoist aligned Revolutionary Journalists Association, he claimed that although army integration appears to be controversial it is actually not so and that the process will move ahead smoothly.

"Army integration is not controversial as it has been mentioned in the Interim Constitution and Comprehensive Peace Accord," he said, adding that the Army Integration Special Committee will decide on the ways to go about it.

Minister Sharma further said that apart from rebuilding the physical infrastructures that were destroyed during the conflict, the "conservative mindset" that exists in the country needs to be also changed.

He also informed that the government is holding dialogue with the Madhesi underground outfits by becoming very sensitive to the latter's concerns and demands.

Meanwhile, the hearing on the recruitment of 2,884 combatants and non-combatants by Nepal Army against the government's directive has begun in the Supreme Court Sunday.

Responding to a writ petition filed by INHURED International, the SC had on Feb 22 issued an interim order in the name of the government and NA asking the latter to stop the recruitment process.

Apart from government lawyers, NA has also hired private lawyers to defend its case in the Supreme Court.

On Saturday, the ruling coalition had discussed the issue of army integration at a meeting in Baluwatar.

At the meeting the coalition partners reached a conclusion that the NA made a mistake by going ahead with its recruitment plan.