Mohan Baidya and his party, CPN Maoist, led 33 political parties alliance has been on the streets to foil the government’s and the major political parties’ effort to hold Constituent Assembly member elections. The alliance has presently launched 10-day nationwide transportation strike and other agitation programs to disrupt the CA elections slated for Nov 19. Nepali Reporter’s Rishi Dhamala recently spoke to this man, who among others is credited for launching the decade long Maoist insurgency, on issues surrounding CA elections and his alliance’s future plans. Excerpts:

How do you apprise the success of your agitations? Is the nation moving towards confrontation?

The ‘set-up’ CA that the government intends to form without including us, a major part of the peace process, cannot deliver the constitution. This will intensify conflict rather than fostering peace.

We have been looking forward in a peaceful manner but the government has presented itself aggressively. Even though I made a call for talks to resolve political differences, the government and major political parties neglected it and resorted to suppression. There is still time to save the nation from going into confrontation. I request the civil society, journalist, political parties and the government to take initiatives for consensus. Current situation can be resolved only through political means and I would like to request all concerned to take measures from their end to resolve this situation.

Do you think there are chances for consensus at the threshold of CA elections?

Consensus is national necessity. It is the only means to conclude the peace process. Therefore I request for taking the road dialogues and consensus.

What will your alliance do if the CA elections are heeding to your demands?

Our concern is avert from holding CA elections without garnering consensus. Because such a CA cannot deliver constitution. However, if the government and political parties push it through, our future strategy will depend on how the government presents itself. It is certain that our strategy will be different, if our demands are trampled.

Your power show on transportation seems feeble?

The state, all political parties are all confronting us. The 33 party alliance is confronting the rest of them and this might be effect that gives the impression of feeble transportation strike call.

So are you going to pull out the strike?

I have reiterated it many times that strikes and agitation is a forced choice for us. We understand the troubles that the general public has face due to it, but we request to understand our compulsion. Our agitation will continue and become even intense unless the state responds to our demands. The ongoing transportation will continue.

Will a feeble protest like this fulfill your alliance’s demands?

We are looking plan to review the existing scenario and launch even stern agitation programs. We wont pull out unless our demands are addressed by the state.

But the government is hell bent on holding CA elections, even by detaining dissidents?

If the government is planning to arrest us, as rumored, than we welcome it open heartedly. We are ready for being arrested. But that is not the way to address the issue.

UCPN Maoist and other parties are looking forward to bring your alliance in CA by offering 26 seats. How do you take the plan?

We are agitating against the present process of holding CA elections. Expressions of giving 26 seats to us through the cabinet is an insult of our stance and revolution. It is definite that we wont be joining this process at any cost. If we are participate than it will be only after the change of the process.

Why do you think your demands and concerns were not addressed?

We have been kept out of the CA election process because all the three major political parties of loosing elections. UCPN Maoist thought that we would win it and Nepali Congress and CPN UML feared our re-union and consequent victory in the CA elections.

Amid your protest programs, Bomb blast incidents have increased?

We don’t have any information about these bomb blasts. We are in peaceful protests.

Then who is after these blasts?

Its obvious for agitated citizens and cadres to resort to vandalism and rebellion. The government and major parties invited all these and they should take the sole responsibility.

Prachanda thanked your protests programs?
Prachanda deceived the nation and its people. He has superseded the erstwhile reactionaries in deception. He now belongs to the reactionary brotherhood.

Foreigners interest in election and protest has soared up. How do you access it?

Foreigners don’t have the right to comment or criticize on Nepal’s internal affairs. We don’t need anyone’s advice or suggestions, we are capable to resolve our own problems.———————————————————

Interview Translated and Edited by Chitra Raj Bhandari. Read the Nepali Version of Mohan Baidya’s Interview here.

Mohan Baidya and his party, CPN Maoist, led 33 political parties alliance has been on the streets to foil the government’s and the major political parties’ effort to hold Constituent Assembly member elections. The alliance has presently launched 10-day nationwide transportation strike and other agitation programs to disrupt the CA elections slated for Nov 19. Nepali Reporter’s Rishi Dhamala recently spoke to this man, who among others is credited for launching the decade long Maoist insurgency, on issues surrounding CA elections and his alliance’s future plans. Excerpts:

How do you apprise the success of your agitations? Is the nation moving towards confrontation?

The ‘set-up’ CA that the government intends to form without including us, a major part of the peace process, cannot deliver the constitution. This will intensify conflict rather than fostering peace.

We have been looking forward in a peaceful manner but the government has presented itself aggressively. Even though I made a call for talks to resolve political differences, the government and major political parties neglected it and resorted to suppression. There is still time to save the nation from going into confrontation. I request the civil society, journalist, political parties and the government to take initiatives for consensus. Current situation can be resolved only through political means and I would like to request all concerned to take measures from their end to resolve this situation.

Do you think there are chances for consensus at the threshold of CA elections?

Consensus is national necessity. It is the only means to conclude the peace process. Therefore I request for taking the road dialogues and consensus.

What will your alliance do if the CA elections are heeding to your demands?

Our concern is avert from holding CA elections without garnering consensus. Because such a CA cannot deliver constitution. However, if the government and political parties push it through, our future strategy will depend on how the government presents itself. It is certain that our strategy will be different, if our demands are trampled.

Your power show on transportation seems feeble?

The state, all political parties are all confronting us. The 33 party alliance is confronting the rest of them and this might be effect that gives the impression of feeble transportation strike call.

So are you going to pull out the strike?

I have reiterated it many times that strikes and agitation is a forced choice for us. We understand the troubles that the general public has face due to it, but we request to understand our compulsion. Our agitation will continue and become even intense unless the state responds to our demands. The ongoing transportation will continue.

Will a feeble protest like this fulfill your alliance’s demands?

We are looking plan to review the existing scenario and launch even stern agitation programs. We wont pull out unless our demands are addressed by the state.

But the government is hell bent on holding CA elections, even by detaining dissidents?

If the government is planning to arrest us, as rumored, than we welcome it open heartedly. We are ready for being arrested. But that is not the way to address the issue.

UCPN Maoist and other parties are looking forward to bring your alliance in CA by offering 26 seats. What is your opinion?

We are agitating against the present process of holding CA elections. Expressions of giving 26 seats to us through the cabinet is an insult of our stance and revolution. It is definite that we wont be joining this process at any cost. If we are participate than it will be only after the change of the process.

Why do you think your demands and concerns were not addressed?

We have been kept out of the CA election process because all the three major political parties of loosing elections. UCPN Maoist thought that we would win it and Nepali Congress and CPN UML feared our re-union and consequent victory in the CA elections.

Amid your protest programs, Bomb blast incidents have increased?

We don’t have any information about these bomb blasts. We are in peaceful protests.

Then who is after these blasts?

Its obvious for agitated citizens and cadres to resort to vandalism and rebellion. The government and major parties invited all these and they should take the sole responsibility.

Prachanda thanked your protests programs?
Prachanda deceived the nation and its people. He has superseded the erstwhile reactionaries in deception. He now belongs to the reactionary brotherhood.

Foreigners interest in election and protest has soared up. How do you access it?

Foreigners dont have the right to comment or criticize on Nepal’s internal affairs. We don’t need anyone’s advice or suggestions, we are capable to resolve our own problems.

———————————————————

Interview Translated and Edited by Chitra Raj Bhandari. Read the Nepali Version of Mohan Baidya’s Interview here.

KATHMANDU: The 33 party dissident political party alliance led by the CPN Maoist has intensified discussions to prepare and implement a strategy to foil the upcoming November 19 Constituent Assembly election. The alliance concluded to stage a 10-day (Novemeber 11 to 20) general strike claiming that the nation would go into conflict if the CA elections were forcefully held by the major parties as dictated by foreign power agencies,

The party has decided to paralyze national transportation grid by obstructing highways instead of resorting to candidate abduction, murders and clashes after concluding that acts of violence will tarnish party’s image in international arena. Talking to Nepali Reporter’s, Bhusal said that their objective of affecting the CA elections would be foiled effectively if the transportation grid is affected.

She expressed confidence that their 10-day band will be an absolute success and will ultimately result in postponing CA elections at any cost.

In their first stage of road transportation, the alliance has decide to obstruct road networks by wooden logs, by transporting stones, by digging dungeons on the highway and even by brining local masses on the roads to obstruct the transportation.

It has plans to launch stern protest and retalation if Nepal Army is used against their band, Bhusal said. Next strategy of the alliance is shut down all major industries across the nation.

The alliance has already dispatched letters to all industries, business, factories to cooperate with their initiative by keeping their respective businesses closed.

The alliance has called on these enterprenuers and industrialist to cooperate in their initiative by provide financial assistance also.

After road transportation, the Maoist has plans to shut down schools and markets in the second stage of the shutdown. Presently leaders of the alliance are in intense discussion over the issue.

On a side note, analysts have opined that the CPN Maoist and its alliance’s will put their best in foiling this CA elections as their political future depends on the success of this general shutdown.

The district election office confirmed the report claiming that the materials included stationary and handouts for holding training in the VDC.

However, the office said that it will continue with its plan to hold training programs in the VDC today.

A team of 60 observers and volunteers were sent to the VDC for holding the training.

KATHMANDU: CPN Maoist secretary Netra Bikram Chanda aka Biplav has claimed that unification between his party and UCPN Maoist was still possible.

Speaking in an interview with Rishi Dhamala to be broadcasted on Himalayan Television on Saturday, Biplav said that proposed unification between both parties is possible provided their party leaders are provided the party leadership.

Responding to question about his party’s participation in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections, he said that his party is planning to mobilize its cadres and to raise arms if the peaceful means do not help in bringing revolution.

Commenting on the issue of Round Table Conference, he said that consensus was not possible through RTC if political parties did not resolve all the contentious issues within the constitution drafting.

Stating that the proposed CA elections cannot be successful by keeping his and other 33 party alliance out of the process, Biplav said that they have worked many strategies to foil the CA elections.

KATHMANDU: The CPN Maoist led 33-party alliance has called off Nepal-band strike considering the final match of SAFF Championship 2013 due on that day at the Dasharath Stadium.

Though they have decided to deffer the protest program, new date for it has not been released yet.

A meeting of the 33 parties held at the CPN-Maoist’s central office in Kathmandu on Wednesday decided to reschedule their protest programme.

In a statement issued on behalf of the parties, CPN-Maoist Secretary Dev Gurung said that the decision was made at the request of Nepal Football Association.

National teams of the eight South Asian countries are taking part in the eight edition of SAFF Championship, which kicked off in Kathmandu on August 31.

KATHMANDU: Even though Nepal’s major political parties have succeeded in forming a electoral government in the chairmanship of Chief Justice Khilaraj Regmi, the hardliner Maoists have stood adamant on toppling it.

The CPN Maoist has said that it would never support the Regmi led electoral government stating that such a government will ultimately push nation towards party less political system.

Secretary of the party, Dev Prasad Gurung, claimed that the decision to form government in the leadership of Chief Justice was a great price to hold Constitutional Assembly election.

Expressing suspicion that the Regmi led electoral government will fulfill its objective to hold CA elections, Gurung said that the action has brought the neutrality of the judiciary also into controversy.
Gurung claimed that the step has jeopardized both multiparty democracy and independent judiciary. Stating that only the CPN Maoist is capable of toppling the Regmi-government, Gurung said that his party will launch nation wide protest to preserve the gains of great Janandolan and People’s war.

A state committee of the party on Saturday organised a press meet to announce its protest programs demanding the immediate release of its accused cadres and prosecuting the case by forming the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission (TRC).

The Bheri Karnali Zonal committee of the party on Saturday announced plans that it would launch a series of protest programs which include full zone shutdown, holding agitation, protest rallies, among others.

The party has claimed that prosecuting five of its cadres on charges of murdering journalist Dekendra during the the insurgency through existing laws and courts was against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the Interim Constitution (IC).

Speakers at the announcement claimed that the detention of its five cadres was against the CPA and IC and accued that the Home affairs administration was acting under the influence of national and international power blocks to derail the peace process.

The party’s demand for the release of its cadres comes at a time when Nepal’s journalist, rights and social activists bodies are still on the road demanding the prosecution of Dekendra’s murderers.

See the Video of Late Journalist Dekendra Thapa that documenterain had recorded in 2003, a year before, Dekendra was buried alive by the CPN Maoist militia and cadres.