We would meet the fate of Peru’s Shining Path if we had not come to peace process: Prachanda

KATHMANDU, Feb 13: The Maoist movement would meet the fate of Peru’s communist revolution if the Maoists had not come to the peace process, said Nepal Communist Party Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
The Maoist insurgency led by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) launched the rebellion on Feb 13, 1996, with the purpose to overthrow the monarchy and ended with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord on Nov 21, 2006.
“I used to talk with Girija Prasad Koirala almost daily. He used to request me to carry out bigger attacks…which (such conversations) happens rarely. This unique circumstance eventually abolished the 250-year old monarchy in the country,” said Dahal while addressing a condolence meet organized at party central office in Dhumrabarahi in memory of martyrs of people’s movements and people’s war on Wednesday.
“Nepal’s peace process is unique. We were at war for a decade and it was a tough job to come to the peace process.”
“In Peru, the armed revolution led by communist leader Abimael Guzmán failed to come to the peace process. But after his arrest in 1992, his party Shining Path is inactive now.”
“But we not only transformed our armed struggle to the peace accord but also established the federal republic in the country.”
“We reached the conclusion that if we continued the insurgency, we would meet the fate of the Shining Path. Therefore, we joined the peace process,” he added.

Dahal, referring to the ongoing politicking of Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’, said that the revolution through imitation of people’s war was not possible.
“People’s war and revolution happen at a historic and special situation on the basis of people’s need and leadership’s timely ideas.”
“Revolution should be looked in a frame of historical needs and ground reality. Thus, the imitation of people’s war is not likely,” he said.