Kishanji: only unconditional talks

Kishanji, leader of Maoists, has rejected the Trinamool Congress chief’s offer to facilitate peace talks with the Centre if they lay down arms, and said only unconditional talks are acceptable to them.

In an open letter to Mamata Benerjee, he listed a host of demands concerning development in tribal areas, special economic zones, violence perpetrated by political parties and corruption in disbursal of government funds.

At a rally in West Bengal’s Jhargram town on January 15, Ms. Banerjee urged the Maoists to shun violence to pave the way for dialogue within seven days.

Replying, Kishanji said: “The Communist Party of India (Maoist) will never consent to dialogue after laying down arms at the behest of the Centre or any State government or any political party. The Maoists do not trust the current parliamentary system and laying down arms is not on our agenda.”

Accusing the Trinamool of perpetrating violence like the CPI(M) throughout the State, he said the Maoists “do not commit even a minuscule proportion of that violence.”

Reacting to Ms. Banerjee’s announcement that she would hold processions in Maoist-affected areas if the ultras failed to meet the deadline, Mr. Kishanji said: “If she can come to Jangalmahal [forested southwestern parts of the State] without police cover, she is welcome.”

He criticised Ms. Banerjee for slamming the Maoists one day and trying to pacify them the next day. “The manner and language in which Mamata didi attacked us at a press conference make us doubt her call for peace.”

Source: The Hindu

Fifth Norwegian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan – the Socialist Left Party Has Blood on their Hands

Dear comrades around the world.

Press statement from Serve the People - Communist League of Norway

25. January 2010

Fifth Norwegian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan – the Socialist Left Party
Has Blood on their Hands

The fifht Norwegian soldier has been killed in the predatory war in
Afghanistan. Bring the troops home NOW!, Serve the People demands.

- The only way to guarantee that more Norwegian lives not will be lost in
Afghanistan is to stop the Norwegian participation in the predatory war in
Afghanistan, Henrik Ormåsen – spokesperson for Serve the People –
Communist Leauge – states.

Serve the People condemn the government which is behind the Norwegian
participation in the war and want the soldiers home immediately.

- The Norwegian government, where the «peace party» Socialist Left Party
participates, is responsible for the Norwegian war participation and thus
also has the responsibility every time a Norwegian soldier is injured or
killed, Ormåsen continues.

Taliban is no solution

- Taliban is no solution for the people in Afghanistan. Taliban stands for
an ultrareactionary and oppressing politics against women, they want to
bring Afghanistan back to the dark ages. We support the Afghan people's
right to throw out the occupiers. But it is obvious that the Afghan people
will gather around those who run the resistance against the occupiers. As
communists we cannot support the ultra-reactionary, women oppressing and
islamist politics of the Taliban, but we support the Afgani people's right
to throw the occupiers out.

The US-imperialist occupation of Afghanistan has up to now cost more than
500.000 people their lives. As long as the occupiers don't withdraw, there
is no reason to believe that ther will not be hundred thousands of victims
who will meet a too early death, Ormåsen ends.

Significance of the First Quarter Storm of 1970 Statement in Celebration of its 40th Anniversary

By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Founding Chairman, Kabataang Makabayan
Founding Chairman, Communist Party of the Philippines

We are happy to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the First Quarter Storm of 1970. This was the series of protest mass actions, which began on January 25, 1970 and continued up to March of 1970. It is chronicled by Jose F. Lacaba's Days of Disquiet and Nights of Rage and commented upon by Amado Guerrero's First Quarter Storm of 1970.

At the beginning, ten thousand students, urban poor youth, workers and peasants massed in front of Congress in order to express themselves against the anti-national and anti-democratic policies of the Marcos regime and against the excessive spending of public money to reelect Marcos as president.

Their peaceful demonstration was brutally attacked by the police with truncheon and gunfire upon the signal of Marcos himself after delivering his "state of the nation address". The demonstrators fought back for several hours with bare fists, wooden handles of placards and stones.

Undaunted by state brutality, the Kabataang Makabayan (Patriotic Youth) and other organizations of the youth and working people formed the Movement for a Democratic Philippines (MDP). They conducted build up rallies in communities, schools and factories and then launched people's marches from different points of Metro Manila in order to converge on the focal points of reactionary power.

Tens of thousands of people joined and converged on the presidential palace on January 30, 1970. Some of the demonstrators seized a firetruck and rammed it through the gates of the palace and others made bonfires with their torches. Marcos became even more angered and openly threatened the declaration of martial in order to discourage further mass protests. But the proletarian revolutionaries and revolutionary core of the MDP stood fast on continuing the protest actions.

From week to week, the level of propaganda and agitation, organizational work and mass mobilization rose. Fifty thousand to 100,000 joined each of the marches and rallies, while other people lined the streets to cheer the marchers and give them food and water. The columns of marchers converged on plazas near the presidential palace or the US embassy.

The First Quarter Storm of 1970 caught the attention of the people on a national and international scale. It inspired the youth and working people in the provincial capitals and cities to rise up and carry out protest actions against US imperialism and the local reactionaries and demand national liberation and democracy.

The First Quarter Storm of 1970 was the highest point of the legal democratic mass movement for national liberation and democracy before the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in 1971 and the declaration of martial law in 1972. It put forward the patriotic and progressive demands of the people against US imperialism and the local exploiting classes.

It resounded with the fighting slogans, "Makibaka, Huwag Matakot! Digmang bayan ang sagot sa martial law! (Fight, Don't Be Afraid! People's war is the answer to martial law!)". It raised the fighting spirit of the broad masses of the people against the US-directed Marcos regime and against the repeated threats of the regime to declare martial law. It pushed the organized forces of the national democratic movement to accelerate their political and organizational work among the people.

The First Quarter Storm of 1970 was an unprecedented peak in the advance of the cultural revolution of the new democratic type, which called for a national, scientific and mass culture with the framework of the people's democratic revolution led by the working class. It was the product of a decade-long ideological and political work among the students and other youth and among the working people by the young proletarian revolutionaries.

It further generated and reinvigorated a new wave of study and mass work among the youth along the line of new democratic revolution. Schools for national democracy were organized and conducted at all offices of Kabataang Makabayan, on campuses, in the vicinity of factories, in communities and in all types of public places. Cultural works were created and presented to the youth and people in order to raise higher the level of their revolutionary consciousness and militance.

The First Quarter Storm of 1970 resulted in the political education of great numbers of people and their recruitment into the Kabataang Makabayan and other types of mass organizations. On the basis of the rapidly growing mass movement, hundreds and then thousands of mass activists were educated and recruited to become members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Consequent to the First Quarter Storm of 1970, the Kabataang Makabayan became a stronger engine for developing mass activists among the students and intelligentsia and among the young workers and peasants on a nationwide scale, for building revolutionary trade unions and for sending the educated youth and workers to the countryside for service in the New People's Army and in the rural communities.

The First Quarter Storm of 1970 was the key to the accelerated growth of legal mass organizations and such revolutionary forces as the CPP, NPA and the main components of what would become the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). When the Marcos regime imposed martial law and fascist dictatorship on the country, the revolutionary forces and people were more determined than ever to wage protracted people's war along the national democratic line.

We should never forget the First Quarter Storm of 1970 as a major node in the development of the new democratic revolution in the Philippines. The achievements of the Philippine revolution since 1970 would not have been possible without this storm. We owe to it the emergence and development of so many cadres and mass activists and the growth of the revolutionary forces on a nationwide scale.

We must celebrate the great significance and continuing relevance of this historic event. We must renew our resolve to carry forward the Filipino people's democratic revolution against US imperialism and the local exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords.

We must undertake certain activities to raise the level of revolutionary consciousness and fighting capabilities in the next three months and further on.

We must step up the study movement and cultural work along the line of the new democratic revolution. We must enlighten and arouse the people by using all means of information, education and artistic expression. We must recruit more people into the patriotic and progressive mass organizations, especially those of the workers, peasants, women and youth. We must mobilize a far greater number of people to engage in various forms of struggle against the US-Arroyo regime and the entire semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system.

We face today the worst crisis of the world capitalist system since the 1930s because of the US-instigated policies of "neoliberal" globalization and imperialist aggression and terrorism. The broad masses of the people suffer conditions of exploitation and oppression far worse than four decades ago. These intolerable conditions drive the people and the revolutionary forces to fight more resolutely and militantly for their national and democratic rights and interests.

The Communist Party of India (Maoist) called for a 72-hour bandh in the Central region of India from January 25 to 27 against Operation Green Hunt

HYDERABAD: The Communist Party of India (Maoist) called for a 72-hour bandh in the Central region of India from January 25 to 27 protesting against the murderous operation Green Hunt unleashed on the Adivasis.

In a press release here today, CPI(Maoist) central regional bureau spokesperson Pratap and Central Committee spokesperson Azad, called upon the people of Chhattisgarh, North Telangana, Andhra-Orissa Border region and Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra to observe 72-hour bandh.

They appealed to the people to build a mighty militant mass movement to force the reactionary rulers to stop the bloodbath in the adivasi areas.

``We call upon the entire rank and file of the party, the brave PLGA fighters and the revolutionary masses to valiantly fight back the brutal offensive unleashed by the rulers,’’ Pratap and Azad said.

“It is clear that the agents of the imperialists and the business houses ruling our country are preparing to evacuate the adivasis from the entire forest belt and hand over the mineral-rich territory to their masters in exchange for fat commissions.

While they had never bothered to provided even drinking water to the adivasis during the past 62 years they are spending thousands of crores for setting up airbases and for developing infrastructure. The Government wants to drive out the adivasis permanently from their native villages and handover the entire forest to the corporate bosses and imperialist vulture,’’ the CPI (Maoist) said in the release.

Nepal's Prachanda for 'new level of understanding' with India

Kathmandu: Maoist leader Prachanda, who has recently been engaged in a bitter attack on India, has said he wants a "new level of understanding" to be developed with the "big neighbour" with which Nepal enjoys "distinct" ties, unlike China.

The chairman of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) emphasised that India and China cannot have an equal role in the affairs of Nepal as India's ties with Nepal have a "specific" character "dictated" by aspects like open border andhistorical, geographical and cultural linkages.

"We are never ignoring our distinct historical, geographical and cultural relationship with India. We cannot ignore it. Only we can develop a new level of understanding to strengthen our relations," the 56-year-old former prime minister told PTI in an interview here.

He said the new understanding with India needed to be developed on the basis of "changed scenario" in Nepal and after addressing all outstanding issues, like revision of the 1950 Friendship Treaty and resolving Kalapani and Susta border disputes.

Insisting that the impression about his being anti-India is wrong, Prachanda said, "The fact is that we want to develop a new basis and new level of understanding (with India) to strengthen the relationship and to have economic development in this country."

Prachanda, who led a decade-long armed struggle against the monarchy before joining the mainstream in 2005, regretted that his demands for revising the Friendship Treaty and solving other issues were being misconstrued as an attempt to create some difficulties.

"We are not against good relations with India," he said.

"But to have good relations, we should focus on some issues of history, we should have to address old treaties, the (1950 Friendship) Treaty of (former King) Rana regime, solve border issues Susta and Kalapani," he said, adding he wanted these issues, as also the trade imbalance, to be addressed once and for all.

Prachanda, whose original name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has recently been engaged in a vitriolic attack on India, alleging that it has been interfering in Nepal's affairs and "dictating" to its leadership. This prompted a sharp reaction from New Delhi.

"If we are able to convey our concerns to Indian leadership, it will be very easy to develop newer basis, to have a good relations with India," he contended.

Prachanda, who is seen as pro-China, observed that both India and China have fast growing economies and "We want to benefit from our big neighbours."

Asked whether India and China had the equal role in Nepal, Prachanda said, "There is no comparison... We cannot compare. There is no confusion in our mind."

Maintaining that he favoured "good neighbourly relations with these big neighbours", he said, "obviously there is a major role for India because of open border, history, culture, geography. All these things dictate the policy.""We have distinct relations with India, specific feature of relationship with India, dictated by history, geography, culture," Prachanda said.

To reinforce the special character of Indo-Nepal relations, he noted that his two daughters are married in India, making it a "roti, beti ka samband (a relationship of bread and daughter)."

When pointed out that he is seen to have pro-China tilt, the Maoist leader said, "This is baseless. People have some sort of prejudice and some sorts of illusion."

"We want to build good neighbourly relations with both the countries. But there is no comparison. India is India, China is China. We don't want to be pro-China or pro-India. We will be pro-Nepalese."

Asked what then explains his six visits to China over the last two years, he sought to underline that he had travelled to India and stayed there much more regularly, even dating back to his underground days in 1990s.

"I visited India hundreds and hundreds of time, even during war. Even after becoming PM, I visited India three times," he said.

He said he wanted Nepal to benefit from India's economic growth which would be good for India itself.

"If Nepal remains poor and unstable, it will have impact mainly on India. It will have impact also on China but because of historical, geographical and cultural and economic relations, there will be serious impact between Nepal and India," he said.

Maoist calls off general strike in Nepal

The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has called off the indefinite general strike scheduled for Sunday.

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as "Prachanda", issued a statement calling off the strike after Friday's meeting of the High-Level Political Mechanism (HLPM).

The HLPM, formed on January 8, is led by Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and includes Unified CPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN (UML) chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.

The HLPM, which holds its meeting at least once a week, aims to help take the peace process to a logical end, write a constitution on time, end the current political deadlock, remove the state of mistrust among parties by reviewing the status of implementation of all past agreements and end other political woes.

"Since the HLPM initiated discussion on our concerns and decided to give top priority to resolving the political deadlock, we decided to call off the strike for the time being, hoping for a positive outcome from the mechanism," Prachanda said in the statement.

However, Prachanda stated that the ongoing nationwide campaign for national independence and civil supremacy being conducted by his party would continue.

He also warned that the UCPN (Maoist) would be compelled to resume the stalled general strike from a new height if consensus is not forged to end the existing political deadlock.

Source: Xinhua

Centre plans to arrest 50 Maoist leaders across India

Attempts to outlaw communism in Italy

As in Pistoia the trial battle begins for anti-fascists attacked by repression, in Rome the Supreme Court sided with those who want to outlaw Communists!
Let’s fight against the establishment of new Specials Courts!

Let’s nip in the bud the tests of fascism!

Yesterday there were two important legal deadlines for the fight in defense of political rights conquered by the Partisan Resistance against outlawing Communists and against the establishment of special courts the reactionary right wants.

• Rome: Supreme Court about the Eighth Judicial Proceedings against the “caravan” of (n) PCI

• Pistoia: first day of the trial against the anti-fascists

Supreme Court about the Eighth Judicial Proceedings against the “caravan” of (n) PCI

The Supreme Court upheld the appeal brought by “new Torquemada” Paolo Giovagnoli, now chief prosecutor in Rimini, and Marcello Branca, Attorney General Lawyer of the Republic at Attorney of Bologna, against non suit sentence “as the crime does not exist”, issued on 1 July 2008 by the Judge for Preliminary Hearing Rita Zaccariello about the Eighth Judicial Procedure for “subversive association” (Paragraph 270a) carried out against 12 comrades of the (new) Italian Communist Party, of the CARC Party and of the ASP.

In other words, the Supreme Court tore up Rita Zaccariello’s sentence and ordered a new preliminary hearing to decide whether or not to make the trial against 12 accused comrades. Therefore, with this decision, the Supreme Court allows the resumption of the Eighth Judicial Proceedings against the “caravan” of (n) PCI, that the “big powers” planned and the zealous Giovagnoli assembled and led, with the support of secret services and center-right and center-left governments, with the aim to outlaw this political area by using the instrumental charge of “terrorism.”

With yesterday’s decision the Supreme Court takes sides clearly with the project by of reactionary and subversive right-wing:

- to proceed with more determination in wiping out what remains of the political rights conquered by the Partisan Resistance,

- to proceed in outlawing Communists and those who are fighting for socialist revolution, extending the repression against Communists and political opponents!

- to establish new special courts for the Communists and other opponents of Papal Republic.

The general prosecutor, Giovanni Salvi (brother of the exponent of Socialism 2000, member of the Federation of the Left, Cesare Salvi) harangued for the annulment of non suit sentence, easily violating the criteria that govern the functioning of the Supreme Court. Instead of following what the justice of our country dictates and then analyzing only the technical aspect of Zaccariello’s work and decision (that is whether or not there were errors or irregularities in conducting the preliminary hearing and in structuring the sentence), he went into content of the sentence.

Judge Giovanni Salvi has in fact traced the events at the center of an investigation conducted by the “new Torquemada” and concluded essentially that Zaccariello has misinterpreted the count of indictment of “subversive association” (paragraph 270 bis). According to him, the presence of an organized structure aimed to transform the existing social order establishing socialism is enough to set the crime of subversive association. His “large” interpretation of paragraph 270 bis, count of indictment inherited by the fascist Rocco Code, is in line with that of the special courts of the fascist regime that used it to incarcerate thousands of Communists, political opponents and anti-fascists, including Antonio Gramsci.

We must remember that in the past Giovanni Salvi already dealt with the “caravan” of (n) PCI. In fact he was one of the holders of the investigation for “subversive association” opened against the “caravan” by the prosecutor of Rome in 1999 and closed on 4.09.2001. He was as well among the holders of following investigation, opened immediately after the closure of the former one, always by Rome Attorney, always for “subversive association”, always against the “caravan” and always ended with closure in 2003, the year in which Giovagnoli in his turn opened this Eighth Judicial Proceeding!

Defending counsels asked Salvi why he before closed even two investigations and now supports the accusations of Giovagnoli, who opened an investigation immediately after the end of the two conducted by the Public Prosecutor of Rome. Salvi was cornered by this clear contradiction that showed persecutory and political purpose of the request for revocation of non suit. He tried to get free claiming that he asked closure in 2001 and not in 2003, as though contradicted by court records.

The State lawyer as well did not lack resourcefulness and creativity. He flung himself in fanciful inventions, without any correspondence with the documentation of the procedure.
While in court the rules governing Supreme Court’s functions and duties and the political rights conquered by the partisan resistance were violated, and the general prosecutor and the State lawyer did not hesitate to use even lies and misinformation, in St. Marco square, the CARC Party, the Proletarian Solidarity Association, the Struggling Workers Union for the Class Trade Union, some comrades of RASH (Red Anarchist Skin Heads), of University Resistance and of OCI (International Communist Organization) held a rally against the persecution of the Communists and in solidarity with Tuscan anti-fascists attacked by repression.

They also denounced the repressive attack carried out against comrades Virgilio and Morlacchi, arrested in recent days in Milan for a warrant by Rome prosecutor, who is carrying out the so-called investigation against the new Red Brigades. Also these timer arrests, accompanied by bombastic statements by Minister Maroni and by an intoxicating media campaign, testify the climate the reactionary right is trying to create in our country. The persecution of Communists and anti-fascists, the more and more clear violations of the Constitution and of the laws that to some extent protect masses’ interests, the accusations and police charges against workers, students, environmentalists, the “security package” of laws and the hunt for immigrants and Centers where they are shut in, the raids in Rom camps, the forced evictions of social centers, the militarization of entire cities and regions, the extent of control measures and enforcement, go hand in hand with the proliferation of tests of fascism. Casa Pound, Forza Nuova, Fiamma Tricolore, la Destra, the racist green shirts of Borghezio, and so on: the most reactionary part of the ruling class, properly represented by the band of criminals, fascist and clerical gathered around Berlusconi, is testing each one of these fascist and racist groups and movements to see which one could be able to lead the reactionary mobilization of the masses.

To repress opponents, to mobilize the most backward and brutish part of the masses against the other part, to drag all them in the aggression and looting of other countries is the way by which the ruling class tries to “get out of the crisis” keeping standing its system of social relations, its power and its privileges. The revolt of the immigrants in Rosarno uncovered which future this scum is preparing for us: savage exploitation, removal of most elementary rights, degrading living conditions, misery and brutishness. It showed which means it uses for doing it: the fascist squads in hand with organized crime and law enforcement.

Pistoia: first hearing of the trial against the anti-fascists

In Pistoia yesterday it began the trial against 6 Tuscan antifascists, Juri Bartolozzi, Alessandro Della Malva (CARC Party members), Vittorio Colombo, Selvaggio Casella, Alessandro Cipolli e Elisabetta Orfani , accused of “devastation, looting and injuries” “due to damaging Casa Pound seat on 11 October in Pistoia. These comrades are all under house detention, except Alessandro Della Malva, imprisoned in Parma, where he was moved to try to undermine its morale and its strength after a period of detention in prisons of Pistoia and Prato. In Parma, the comrade is subjected to censorship of incoming and outgoing mails, by order of the judge of preliminary investigations. This process is a clear legal frame based on false and opportunistic testimonies by members of Pistoia right wing.

Outside the courtroom there was a fighting rally for denouncing, for struggle and solidarity promoted by the Committee of Relatives and Friends of Alessandro della Malva, by the CARC Party, by ASP, by Pistoia Anti-Fascist and SLL. Throughout the morning there were launched slogan, made speeches, sung songs of the communist movement, spread anti-fascist leaflets, issued press statements to denounce the repressive nature of the trial aimed to contrast the development of Tuscan anti-fascist movement roots and leave free hand for fascists and racists taking roots in popular neighborhoods. The masses of Pistoia were called to solidarity with antifascists and to fight against fascists and racists. The comrades under inquiry could feel the warmth and support by the anti-fascist movement.

Inside the Court, in a room full of comrades, relatives and anti-fascists, a technical hearing was held to begin the trial, which was set for 27 and 29 January. The lawyers submitted a list of witnesses they deem appropriate to convene and illustrated the contradictions present in the court, starting from what the so-called “witnesses” referred. The lawyer Leone also highlighted the violation of political rights ongoing in this proceeding and requested the release for Alessandro Della Malva. Judge Luciano Costantini will decide in coming days.

Comrade Alessandro Della Malva, in his turn, asked the judge to make a statement. After some initial resistance, the judge leave him to speak, and he told he has nothing to do with the facts, he claimed his political activity within the CARC Party, denounced the political and repressive nature of ongoing proceeding, stated that it was necessary to nip in the bud the tests of fascism, to contrast the attempts by fascists and racists to take root in popular neighborhoods and to close their dens when the Authorities (violating the laws of the Italian State itself) do not directly intervene. Moreover, he denounced the regime of isolation and censorship to which he is subjected in prison in Parma. The intervention was applauded by comrades present in the courtroom.

After the hearing, Alessandro has been taken in prison again: a spontaneous march singing Bandiera Rossa followed the jail van going through the weekly market.

We launch a call to all anti-fascists, communists, sincere democrats to take a public stand against these attacks to the political rights and to promote initiatives for denounce and solidarity!

No to outlawing Communism and anti-fascism!

Freedom for the comrades attacked by the repression!

Let everybody come in Pistoia on 27 and 29 January!

Let everybody come in Massa on 26 January to the trial against the Anti-Racist Anti-Fascist People’s Patrols that this summer go to contrast the Nazi-fascist patrols!

http://www.carc.it/

Maoist Leader Kishenji escapes arrest

Kishenji, a leader of Communist Party of India-Maoist escaped arrest during a joint operation by the police and central paramilitary forces. They searched a jungle in West Midnapore district in eastern West Bengal state on Wednesday.

Acting on a tip off, the joint forces launched a search. However, before they could reach the Maoist camp, Kishenji and other close aids managed to flee.

Police seized some arms and ammunitions, as well as a laptop believed to be used by Kishenji.

Police did arrest three people including two women, whom they suspect are a part of the guerrilla force.

Three persons were arrested. One is Sitaram Hansda,Kanika Adak and Sefali Bera. They are interrogating them. We are still verifying the backgrounds of these persons.

Maoists wage People's War across eastern, central and southern parts of the country, an insurgency that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described as one of the gravest threats to the country's internal security.

'Regional dialectics ' by Hisila Yami' [Unified Communist Party Of Nepal (Maoist)

It is often observed that not only children but even adults are taught that this world is simple, straightforward and sunny. However, often it is complex, topsy-turvy and murky. The first tendency makes one project positivity and the second negativity on the world. The truth is that both exist side by side. It is by fighting against the negative tendencies that one moves ahead and gains positive results. In short, contradiction is behind all the movements, thus making it the salt of dialectics.

In Nepali politics, there seem to be wrangling between new and old systems, between visionary leaders and power hungry leaders. Those who are fighting for new system are struggling to gain power, maturity and credibility at both national and international level. And those who want to stick to old system are similarly trying hard to retain power, credibility, and reliability at both national and international level. Similarly, those leaders who have power do not seem to have vision. They are using power as an end. And those leaders who have the vision do not have power to translate their vision into action. This is seen in almost all the political parties in Nepal.

At the world level, this tendency persists in different ways. Generally the developed countries are seen to be so consumer-oriented that they seem to lose political vision. The leaders from developed countries tend to find technical solutions to political problems in the Third World countries by bombing here and there and by erecting military bases. In the process, they are alienating themselves more and more from the Third World countries.

And the Third World countries are much too laden with politics because they lack power and they lack stable system to translate their vision into practice. They sound more and more strident against the First World for not giving them the freedom to solve their own problems with the consequence that they are distancing themselves from the developed countries.

At the micro level, it is important to understand the psychology of poor people. They have to face adversities at every step, hence are rebellious, militant and ruthless by nature. Their natural tendency is to be ultra leftist. The rich people, because of their abundance of comforts which are inversely proportional to the work they perform, are reluctant to change. Their natural tendency is ultra-rightist. In the end, too many changes too soon is as bad as too much stability for too long. Between the dialectics of change and stability, it is the change which should lead the period of stability, preparing the base for higher level of changes.

It is also important to know the dialectics between whole and part, particularly when Nepal is going to transform into a federal state from a unitary state. The whole should lead the parts. It is important that those fighting for autonomous regions on the ground of nationality keep the unity of the whole country in perspective while carving out their autonomous regions. It is equally important that the central government respect the aspirations of people of all nationalities for autonomous states. However, what is even more important is that the centre, at least in the beginning, be strong enough to be able to keep together all the autonomous states democratically.

There is also contradiction between big and powerful countries and small and powerless countries. Small and powerless countries always feel dwarfed by the big and powerful countries. The big and the powerful countries tend to assume they have answers to all the problems of small and powerless countries. It is important to note that in the globalised world, all countries are becoming more and more interdependent, both in positive and negative aspects, irrespective of their sizes and international clout.

At this juncture, it might be worthwhile to understand the dynamics of Indian politics as it has overwhelming effect in Nepal.

India is full of contradictions; along with countless challenges it has many opportunities as well which enables it to lead the region. It has all the geographical features: hills, mountains, Himalayas, flat plain, seas, rivers, desert, which present myriad possibilities and as many challenges. Politically, it has all sorts of movements: The Dalit movement spearheaded by Mayawati, the regional movement in the North East, the separatist movement in Kashmir, the religious Hindu movement spearheaded by Bharatiya Janta Party, the revolutionary class movement led by the Communist Party of India (Maoist), the reformist communist movement under Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the comprador bourgeois movement of Indian Congress Party.

Alongside these big-scale political movements, there are innumerable smaller movements led by environmentalists, women activists, green peace activists, social activists, educationists, scientists, anarchists, etc often complimenting and contradicting the mainstream movements.

There is also contradiction between the centre and federal states and among federal states when it comes to power sharing. There are newly assertive nationalities fighting for statehood. In the economic field, India has remnants of tribal economy, feudal economy, capitalist economy to the monopoly capitalist economy within various states. There is a big gap between haves and haves-not. In the cultural realm, you have various forms of matriarchal and patriarchal systems. It has almost all the religions present in the world. Linguistically, the whole country is divided into Hindi speaking North and non-Hindi speaking South. Even the countries surrounding it have different political systems.

In the North, it has tightly guarded border with unitary communist state of China. It has open border with Nepali state which is a nascent republic and monarchical Bhutan. In the West, it has the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, almost in a state of war. In the East it has Bangladesh, another Islamic state and Burma, a military state. And in the South it has the president-ruled Sri Lanka which has recently emerged from a civil war.

India is competing with China for global economic supremacy, but at the same time it is also facing all-encompassing movement of CPI (Maoist) which is gradually spreading all over India.

You need a bit of everything in politics, but ultimately it is the scientific vision and ideology which should lead all these tendencies. India has bits of everything; the challenge is to lead it, both nationally and in the international arena, with scientific vision. Nepal-India ties must also be seen in the context of the regional dialectics. There are bound to be ebbs and flows in the relationship. The two countries, being part of this globalised world, must learn to co-exit with each other meaningfully.

in kathmandupost jan17,2010