November 5th March on Parliament by Occupy London

Occupy London’s reaction to Canary Wharf injunction

Occupy London was intrigued to learn this morning that Canary Wharf Group plc has obtained a high court injunction preventing “any persons unknown remaining on the Canary Wharf estate in connection to protest action.” We understand that this court order will remain in place indefinitely.

We would like to take this opportunity to reassure Canary Wharf Group plc.

Occupy London has visited Canary Wharf on two separate occasions over the course of the occupation to date, organising public debates as part of its Tent City University about the state of our economic system with speakers from across the political spectrum, including James Meadway of the New Economics Foundation and Jonathan Portes, a former advisor to Gordon Brown.

On our visits to Canary Wharf, we have found it to be an absurdly over-securitised place, lacking all social amenities, save those of work and consumerism. Like much of London, Canary Wharf is privately owned, but its character is the result of a deliberate attempt to create a “public space” in which the public is not welcome.

Over the course of this week, Occupy London has engaged in productive discussion with St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London Corporation, both of whom have recognised the vital role free speech and political participation play in a democratic society. We have conducted ourselves with order and dignity throughout, as has been recognised by all sides. Like their counterparts on Paternoster Square, the owners of Canary Wharf appear to be deeply afraid of legitimate debate: it is worth asking why this is so.

OccupyLSX weighs up offer from Corporation of London

Occupy London Stock Exchange (OccupyLSX) today (2nd November) met with the Corporation of London at their request. There were seven representatives from OccupyLSX including its legal representative, Paul Ridge of Bindmans, and two representatives from the Corporation.

The Corporation said that they had no objection to the camp continuing until New Year, with the only condition being a clear path for fire access along St Paul’s Churchyard, which would involve a slight reduction in the size of the camp. Representatives of OccupyLSX agreed to take this information back to its General Assembly for discussion and debate, before making a decision on what action to take.

City of London has asked that OccupyLSX representatives join them in a week’s time to discuss the camp’s decision.

Tina Rothery, one of the representatives of OccupyLSX that was present at the meeting commented: “We are delighted. This is a great U-turn from the Corporation of London. And following the backing of the Archbishop and St Paul’s, this is proving to be an exciting time for our movement. Only on Tuesday morning, the Corporation was about to attempt to evict us. Now they are offering a reprieve. However, we need to discuss this offer with our General Assembly and amongst ourselves.

“Our cause – and that of the Occupy movement worldwide – is to strive for social justice and fight for real democracy. We are pleased that legal action is currently off the table and we intend to use this opportunity and the growing momentum of our movement to tackle the iniquities of the financial crisis and those that have caused it.”

Nepal Maoist Central Committee Meeting deferred until November 13th

The Central Committee (CC) meeting of the ruling UCPN (Maoist) has been deferred till November 13 as the meeting of the first day on Thursday could not take up the agendas amidst dispute.

In the meeting which lasted for half-an-hour at the party headquarters in Peris Danda, party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda presented a brief proposal on the political situation and the internal dispute of the party while vice chairman Mohan Baidya aka Kiran presented 10- point document opposing the latest moves of the party leadership, especially the signing of the agreement on concluding the peace process on November 1.

After the presentation of the proposals, chairaman Prachanda  announced deferral of the meeting citing time constraint.

The much awaited meeting was expected to discuss ways to resolve the internal dispute on a number of issues including the recent peace deal, the 4-point agreement with United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF) that paved the way for Bhattarai-led government, the handover of the keys of the arms containers and investment deal with India.

Report from nepalnews.com

Another Report from Krishnasenonline here :

Kathmandu, Nov. 3: The central committee (CC) meeting of the UCPN (Maoist) held on Thursday at the party central office, Paris Danda, Koteswor has been postponed till November 13. In Thursday\'s meeting, party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal \' Prachanda\' delivered his views in brief on contemporary politics, reasons behind signing the seven point deal with other political parties and its positive impacts in peace and constitution writing process, informed party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma to journalists after the meeting.


Earlier, the meeting of party\'s office-bearers had decided to take the objections of senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baiddya \'Kiran\' regarding the seven-point agreement, BIPPA signed with India and other issues in the party\'s grass-root level for discussion and receive suggestions from the cadres, said Sharma. Sharma said the meeting was postponed as chairman Dahal is scheduled to leave for USA and party vice-chairman and Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai is visiting Maldives to attend the SAARC Summit.

Spokesperson Sharma further added party\'s top leaders have been given responsibility to finalize the appropriate procedures to resolve the intra-party rift. Today\'s meeting was very positive and all central leaders agreed to resolve the intra-party rift based on democratic centralism, added another central member Dhruba Parajuli

Last depature to Hell - Red Star on the historic betrayal in Nepal

Kathmandu, 2 November: The rulers of Nepal including Prachanda and Baburam factions of UCPN-Maoist have taken last departure to hell on the night of November 1.

Some few achievements that were protected only after a strong protest by the revolutionary faction have been totally destroyed by party chairman Prachanda with the alliance of the puppets of imperialists and the expansionists.

According to the decision made at that night of November 1 were as follows: People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been agreed to dissolve and recruit them in forest guards, guards of industries and the volunteer section for rescue. The weapons are handed over to the rulers, the government.

The confiscated land, which was decided to resolve by making a clear agreement through the implementation of scientific land reform that guarantees the right of the tillers, has been sabotaged and the land is agreed to return by mobilizing military forces.

However, the revolutionary faction of UCPN-Maoist has strongly put its ideas and difference even in the meeting of the black night. Com. Kiran and com. Badal have strongly put their opinion before the people.

Protest Against National Betrayal organised by Comrades Kiran and Badal

The revolutionary faction lead by Comrade Mohan Baidhya ‘Kiran’ and Badal organized a press conference today. They said that the agreement reached among the parties was a deception to the Peoples Liberation Army and was against the country. They denounced the 7-pt agreement and declared, yesterday 2nd November as the Black Day in the history of Nepalese revolution. They stated that: Prachanda has betrayed the revolution, he has turned himself into a real traitor of imperialism and expansionism. But they will never let down the flag of revolution.

A 9pt leaflet was distributed during the press conference. After the press conference a protest rally was organized and the paper of 7pt deal -a document of national betrayal was burnt

Source: Next Front



Our Comrade Tobin present at this meeting sent this short note:

We all went to the Vaidya press conference at which Thapa and Vaidya blasted this agreement referred to Dahal & Bhatterai as: "reactionary stooges" and the pact with the comprador parties for dissovling PLA and returning expropriated property as betrayal of commitments given to the people during PPW.
The hall was packed, and there was an echo of another historic meeting at the Smolny Institute in the Russia of 1917. after people streamed out in a march through Kmandu to Ratna Park.

Truly comrade, win, lose, or draw, we stand on edge of history and that communism is the only option for species survival.

Peter Tobin


Another Report on Meeting

A day after the major three political parties- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML signed an agreement to end long-standing political deadlock, vice -chairman of the Maoist party Mohan Baidya Wednesday strongly flayed the deal and accused party constitutional democrat faction of trying to split the party at the behest of the ‘imperialists and expansionists’.

Organising a press conference at the City Hall in Kathmandu, the revolutionary leader Baidya said that the agreement reached among the parties was a deception to the Peoples Liberation Army and was against the country.

He also said that they were compelled to oppose the unilateral decision of the party establishment as it was against the decision of the party.

The revolutionary leader also accused the party establishment leaders of having links with the ‘expansionists and imperialists’.

“We want to keep party unity intact. Those who have links with expansionists and imperialists are trying to split the party,” he added.

Stating that the issue of the party unity should not be advocated on the basis of absolutism, Baidya said that they will not compromise with the mistakes of the leadership in the name of the unity.

He also warned party establishment that they would seriously think of seeking alternative of the government led by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai if the mistakes are not corrected at the soonest.

Source: Maoist Road

National Betrayal in Nepal - Commentary from Next Front Nepal and the documents of national surrender

Democracy and Class Struggle is re-publishing this article from comrades in Nepal at Next Front to update comrades worldwide of the very serious crisis that Prachanda and Bhattarai have created in the UCPN (Maoist)

This is a testing time for Maoists in Nepal and Nepalese Revolution supporters worldwide - Imperialism is about to inflict a defeat on the revolution in Nepal or through rectification the Maoist Movement in Nepal will undergo renewal and resurgence.

Dare to struggle dare to win.


Join the Protest Rally against the National Betrayal

November 2nd, 2011

( First of all we would like to inform to our viewers and readers that our site ( Next Front) was blocked since last evening from Tuesday 9pm to Wednesday 8am morning. Intentionally, it was disrupted .We were unable to make close contact with our viewers. As Democracy and Class Struggle has mentioned that ”We also note that some of the sites we rely on for information from Nepal from the revolutionary perspective have been disrupted.”

Yes, it is true . It was done in a planned way.The Neo-Reactionary gang of Prachanda-Baburam and other reactionaries are frightened with us . This is the common character of the reactionaries of all over the world.

Now Prachand and Baburam have come out in their real colour . This ‘seven point deal’ is the document of National surrender –a document of betrayal of revolution–liquidation of PLA. Yesterday was the black day for the revolutionaries. We strongly condemn this ’7pt deal’ and urge to come out in the street to join the Protest rally organized by revolutionaries .

Baidhya faction is going to organize a press conference today at 1PM. Then after there will be a Protest Rally, where the senior revolutionary leaders will address.

Here is the document of National surrender.

1. Integration and Rehabilitation of People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

a) Details of cantoned PLA soldiers will be updated

b) The number of PLA soldiers to be integrated in the Nepal Army will be 6,500. The integration will be in the Directorate under the NA, comprising 65 percent from the security body and 35 percent from the PLA. The functions of the Directorate will be in the fields of development-construction, forest security, industrial security and disaster management.

c) The PLA soldiers opting for integration will meet standards of the security body concerned on individual basis. But, flexibility shall be adopted in age (by 3 years) and education (by 1 level) and the marital status of the entrants.

d) Ranks of the enlisted soldiers will be determined based on the standards of the security body
concerned. The ranking will take place on the basis of the existing system of the security body, and without affecting the career growth of those already serving under the security body concerned. The enrolment date of the PLA soldiers will be based on the date previously recorded by the verification of UNMIN.

e) The integrated soldiers will join the assigned service under the stipulated ranks only after completing the bridging course and trainings.

f) All weapons under the PLA will automatically come under the jurisdiction of the government after the beginning of the integration process.

2. Rehabilitation of PLA combatants

a) PLA soldiers up for rehabilitation will be provided with an alternative package deal for education, training and professional opportunities. The rehabilitation fund will range from Rs 600,000 to Rs 900,000.

b) PLA soldiers who voluntarily resign from their posts in lieu of monetary exchange will receive Rs 800,000, Rs 700,000, Rs 600,000 and Rs 500,000 respectively based on the ranks of the resigning soldiers. The distribution will be made in two installments in two fiscal years. Official decision in this regard will be taken by the Special Committee in two days.

3. Group Division

a) The special committee will decide on the procedural issues pertaining to the integration and rehabilitation processes in seven days thus starting the group division that shall conclude within November 23, 2011.

4. Formation of commissions as per consensus

a) Bills concerning Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission for Investigation of the Disappeared will be endorsed by parliament on the basis of consensus. The commissions will be formed within one month.

b) Conflict-era cases will be dealt with as per the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Interim Constitution.

5. Relief aid for conflict victims

a) Relief aid will be provided to families of those killed, injured, maimed, disappeared and displaced in the conflict.

6. Forging of a trustworthy environment for the implementation of past agreements

a) UCPN (Maoist) shall return all property seized or occupied by the party to rightful owners within November 23, 2011. With the return of the land, the owners will be given appropriate compensation.

b) Farmers’ rights will be ensured as per the spirit of the CPA, Interim Constitution and scientific land reform system.

c) The structure and functions of the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) will be demobilised, while all private and public buildings and land occupied by the YCL will be vacated within Nov 23, 2011.

d) Vehicles used by the UCPN (Maoist) as registered at the Department of Transport Management will be legalised within Nov 23, 2011. Illegal vehicles will be impounded.

e) Local administration will monitor and implement the agreement pertaining to the return of the seized property.

7.Drafting of constitution and formation of national consensus government

a) Dialogue among political parties will continue to assist the peace building and constitution drafting processes. A high level political mechanism will be formed in this regard.

b) Work related to constitution drafting will be accelerated. The Constituent Assembly will form a panel of experts to take suggestions on the issue of state restructuring. Work for the preparation of a draft constitution will begin in one month.

c) Process for formation of a national consensus government will begin once peace building and constitution drafting processes pick momentum.

Signatures by:

Pushpa kKmal Dahal’ Prachand, Shushil Koirala and Jhalanath Khanal

Nepalese Leaders sign Peace Deal - 6,500 Combatants to be Integrated.

Democracy and Class Struggle publishes these reports from Kantipur for information purposes.We will publish materials from comrades when they become available. We  aso note that some of the sites we rely on for information from Nepal from the revolutionary perspective have been disrupted.

Dahal aka Prachanda tried to get the backing for deal from Baidya aka Kiran , General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa and Secretary CP Gajurel who objected to the deal saying that it is against the party's official decision.

Speaking to reporters after the deal, Baidya aka Kiran  said they could not agree on it, but also said that it would not cause a split in the party. Earlier during the negotiations, leader CP Gajurel from this camp walked out the three-party meeting.

The Maoist Party General Secretary Thapa said the deal is against the will of the Nepali people and it would not be helpful in concluding the peace process in real sense“ "We have registered note of dissent and we will bring our view tomorrow organising a press conference”," said Thapa.

Mohan Baidya aka  Kiran  will prepare  strategy on Wednesday morning on how to move ahead.

KATHMANDU, NOV 01 - The major political parties finally made a much-awaited breakthrough in the peace process by signing a historic agreement on army integration, constitution drafting and power-sharing on Tuesday. The seven-point agreement built on top of 2005-06 peace framework , for the first time, provides a detailed blueprint for the completion of the peace process that had eluded the country for over three years since the elections for Constituent Assembly took place in April 2008.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar signed the time-bound agreement that commits these political forces for a national consensus on completing the peace and constitution making process resolving the contentious issues in the integration of Maoist combatants.

The deal if implemented will mark the critical step in the completion of the peace process.

Emerging from the conclusive negotiations, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal described the agreement as milestone and assured of its implementation.

The deal commits to integrate maximum 6,500 Maoists combatant in the Nepal Army, offers package worth between Rs. 600,000 to Rs. 900,000 for combatants opting rehabilitation and cash package between Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 800,000 for combatants choosing the voluntary retirement option. According to the deal, the regrouping of combatants along with the return of the properties seized during the conflict to rightful owners and dismantling of the paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League will be completed within November 23.

The agreement provides a way forward for addressing the fate of over 19,000 former Maoist combatants living in the seven main and 21 satellite cantonments since 2006. The international community including the United Nations had been putting pressure the Nepali actors to reach an agreement to address the future of former combatants.

According to Tuesday's agreement, a new directorate would be formed within the Nepal Army with the mandates for infrastructure development, rescue and relief operation, forest security and industrial security to integrate the combatants. The size of the directorate is likely to go up around 18,000 as it will comprise 65 percent personnel from existing security agencies and 35 percent personnel from the combatants.

Combatants will be integrated on the individual basis after fulfilling standard norms of the Nepal Army and will have to complete bridging course and trainings before starting their service in the national Army. Parties have agreed to relax the standards on age, martial status and educational attainment.

The issue of rank determination will be resolved on the basis of existing standards of the security forces by the prime minister-led Special Committee.

The date of combatants' enrolment in the Maoist Army recorded by UNMIN, the provision of allocation of rank in the security forces would be kept in mind so as not to adversely affect the career prospect of regular recruits of the existing security agencies.

The government will provide golden handshake package of Rs. 800,000 (division commander level), Rs. 700,000 (battalion commander level), Rs. 600,000 (company commander level) and Rs. 500,000 (ordinary combatants) in four installments within two years for those who will choose voluntary retirement. Education, training and entrepreneurship development package worth Rs. 600,000 to 900,000 for those who will opt for rehabilitation option.

The weapons belonging to the combatants will come in the custody of the government with the beginning of the integration process, reads the agreement. The Special Committee will meet on Wednesday to endorse reached by party leaders regarding the integration and rehabilitation of combatants.

In the agreement signed on Tuesday, leaders have committed to form a high level mechanism to conduct discussions for concluding the peace and constitution making process. They have agreed to immediately form an expert panel from the CA instead of a commission to seek recommendation on the restructuring of the state.

They have pledged to proceed ahead in preparation of the first draft of the constitution within a month. The efforts to form national unity government once the peace and constitution making process gains momentum in accordance to agreement signed on Tuesday.

Leaders involved in negotiations have said there is no possibility of change in government leadership before the November 30 deadline of the CA. There is a tacit understanding between the Nepali Congress that a Maoist led government will continue until the promulgation of new constitution and NC will lead the next government that will ovesee the general elections as per the new constitution, according to Maoist and NC leaders involved in cross-party talks.

Parties have pledged to form Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission to probe enforced disappearances within a month and have agreed to withdraw conflict-time cases as per the spirit of Interim Constitution and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. They have agreed to provide compensation to the rightful owners whose properties were confiscated by the Maoists and reiterated commitment to uphold rights of peasants through land reform.

The Maoist party will officially instruct its cadres to ensure the return the captured properties and register the vehicles used by party with temporary number plates within November 23, states the deal.

Corporation of London threat to Occupy London Stock Exchange St Paul's Churchyard site

Occupy London : Zombie Bank Run

Zombie Bank Run vs Government of the Dead from Jon Cheetham on Vimeo.

On Monday, over 100 zombie bankers from OccupyLSX and OccupyLFS took to the streets of Central London for the Zombie Bank Run. The zombies halted a busy traffic intersection dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. They then moved on to shut down a RBS bank branch before heading to the RBS headquarters and forcing the 83% taxpayer owned bank to close its doors.

A zombie bank is a bank which survives on taxpayers’ subsidies but doesn’t use this money for any useful lending to help the economy recover. The government is making huge public sector cuts while the banks pay themslves huge bonuses and have little value for society, so we’re taking to the streets to show our anger at how they’re acting.

On Monday, 100 leading economists called on the government to end the cuts and public sector job losses change direction on its economic policy to avoid a double dip recession.