Crisis of the Nepali Communist Party: Quo Vadis Nepal?
By Shashi P.B.B. Malla
Before the Covid-19 Pandemic
The electoral stunt of the United Marxists-Leninists Communists (UML-CPN) and the Maoists of forming an electoral alliance was a master stroke and enabled them to achieve a two-thirds majority in parliament. But it also hoodwinked the Nepalese people, because it was only a ploy to achieve and retain political power, not to serve the people. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, one of the architects of this tactical move [which also floored the then main party, Nepali Congress] vainly boasted that the Communists would now retain power for the next 50 years!
Their government did not achieve much even before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.
The CPN became a power machine to loot the country to the roots. The situation has even become more dire than during the rank rapacity of Rana rule. The misrule of CPN “Oli-garchy” will be second to none.
Under authoritarian, Communist “Oli-garchy”, there are no longer ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Communists, at least in Nepal – only corrupt Communists. Thus, today “Loktantra” [= peoples’ rule] has acquired a very bitter taste. Even Lincoln’s good, old dictum has been unconditionally debased. It is now government ‘of the Commies’, ‘by the Commies’, ‘for the Commies’!
Don’t look for succor from the President of the Republic. Bidya Devi Bhandari has become completely expendable and is nothing more and nothing less than Oli’s/government’s handmaiden. The presidency is no longer a neutral or independent institution.
Response to the Pandemic
But now their response has been catastrophic. Like US President Donald Trump, Oli has been allowed free reign to make unscientific statements, and government policies have been below par. At the same time, Oli has made a fool of himself and the country.
The main opposition party the Nepali Congress is also complicit. Deuba and Poudel should step down and allow the next generation to step up.
Instead of good governance and policy implementation, precious time has been taken up with party squabbles.
The cozy virtual meeting of the CPN with their Chinese comrades has not helped matters. The personal, personnel and ideological differences remain unresolved. The unity process between the two parties/factions has not even been completed, but the so-called ‘united’ party is now heading for a veritable split.
The CPN also faces ideological bankruptcy — the CPN may be Leninist-Stalinist-Maoist, but definitely not Marxist.
Oli tried to play to nationalist sentiment and the so-called ‘China card’ in the Kalapani border dispute, but this exploded in their faces.
The Way Forward
In this dismal situation, the long-suffering Nepali people have no other alternative than to revolt again and throw out the oppressors. There is the pandemic to overcome and to plan for a better, brighter and sustainable tomorrow. There are also many unsolved questions.
Basically, we have to be united on what is necessary and what can be realistically achieved. We have to be pro-active and not re-active to what our current Commie rulers and would-be ‘maharajas’ undertake
Until now a knight in shining armour has not yet emerged. But people also expect a more robust reaction from leaders of civil society, especially the elder statesmen – they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking ‘the peoples’ side’ – above all eternal gratitude, since ‘we have nothing to lose, but our chains’!
Everyone can contribute to the new awakening – ‘the Rato – Nilo – Seto’ revolution [our national colours of the national flag!] … the youth demonstrating on the streets … the elderly supporting by banging pots and pans from the rooftops … the security forces remaining neutral until the peoples’ success, elder statesmen encouraging at every step to convert the ‘summer of discontent’ into the ‘summer of freedom from the Communist yoke’!
We have to mobilize everyone who can make a meaningful contribution, including social media experts. The main point is that the mass, non-violent protests remain peaceful at every stage and at every level! Jokes and satire can be very subtle weapons [former Soviet Union].Skits from Madan Krishna Shrestha & Hari Bangsa Acharya could be a major contribution.
The hour has come to stop the looting and bring back the Maoists’ ill-gotten gains stashed in Swiss banks!
The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@hotmail.com
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