The People’s War in Nepal – A Closer Look

By: Harsharn Gill

“It is within the resultant disenchantment of people with parliamentary brokering, in particular with the tactics of the parliamentary communist parties, that one can locate People’s War” – Gautam Navlakha

Table of Contents1. Introduction2. Historical Background3. Introduction of the Multi-Party System and 1991 Elections4. Power Brokering5. Disenchantment & Failure of Political Parties6. Prelude: People’s War7. People’s War8. Evolution of Maoists & Maoist Doctrine9. Demands of the Maoists10. Attempted Mediation11. Demands for an Elected CA12. Escalation of Violence13. Peace Attained14. People’s War – Looking Back15. End

Introduction

Overview

- The Nepalese Civil War was a clash between the Nepalese government and Maoist rebels from 1996 to 2006.

- In Maoist understanding, People’s War (PW) is 80 per cent politics and 20 per cent warfare. The decisive factor in a war of this genre is not guns, but the mobilization of people for seizing power through protracted war.

- The war was started by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on 13 February 1996, with the aim of overthrowing the Nepalese monarchy and establishing the "People's Republic of Nepal."

Historical Background to the ConflictOverview

- In the late 1940s, emerging pro-democracy movements in Nepal were critical of the Rana autocracy and the hereditary rule by a small elite at the top of Nepal’s complex ethnic and caste-based social hierarchy.

- On April 29, 1949, the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) was founded in Calcutta, India.

- CPN played an important role in 1951 uprising that overthrew the Rana regime and India sponsored Tribhuvan as Nepal's new king. A new government was appointed, mostly comprising the Nepali Congress Party.

- After years of power struggle between the king and the government, the democratic experiment was dissolved in 1959, and a "partyless" Panchayat system was made to govern Nepal.

Historical Background to the Conflict ContinuedOverview

- The 1950 Indian intervention, which restored the king’s power, was soon followed by several anti-feudal struggles in 1952-53, primarily in western Nepal.

- In 1959, the Nepali Congress, then led by B P Koirala, signed the Gandak agreement with India which triggered off violent protests against it. The Nepali Congress which was thrown out by the king on December 16, 1960, then initiated in 1962 and again in 1971 an armed uprising.

- Many communist formations were becoming increasingly active during this time, the most powerful among them being the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) (CPN (ML)).

Introduction of the Multi-Party System and 1991 Elections Overview

- With the introduction of the multiparty system in 1991, the CPN(ML) which had so far been functioning underground started working as an open political party.

- They tried to unite other left formations and were successful to a considerable extent. The party in association with Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist), led by Manmohan Adhikari, formed the Unified Marxist-Leninist Party, which was christened CPN(UML).

- The CPN(UML) participated in the first democratic elections held on May 12, 1991 after the establishment of the multiparty system.

- Although the party was a newcomer in the electoral arena, it scored major victories in various places as compared to the Nepali Congress.

Power Brokering - CPN (UML) & Nepali Congress

Overview

- In order to remain in power, the CPN (UML) took recourse to the same means adopted by the Nepali Congress. Thus if the Nepali Congress took the support of the pro-monarchy Rashtriya Prajatantrik Party (RPP), then the same means were adopted by the CPN (UML).

- In September 1995, the Nepali Congress government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba had secured the support of RPP. In March 1997, CPN (UML) helped install RPP’s Lokendra Bahadur Chand as the PM in spite of the fact that the CPN (UML) had 90 members of Parliament (MPs), whereas RPP could boast of only 10.

- This was done to prevent Nepali Congress from forming the government. Again in October 1997, the Nepali Congress helped in installing the RPP’s Surya Bahadur Thapa as PM. At that time, the RPP had only 17 MPs, whereas Nepali Congress could boast of a strength of 85 MPs.

Power Brokering - CPN (UML) & Nepali Congress Continued

Overview

- The Nepali Congress resorted to this ploy to prevent the communists from forming the government. In March 1998, there was a split in the CPN (UML) and 40 MPs walked out of the party to form CPN(ML).

- The same story was repeated when the new party also indulged in playing the same power brokering games as its predecessor. In August 1998, the new party, in collaboration with the Nepali Congress formed the government.

- In this descent towards degeneration, CPN (UML) could not be expected to be an exception. In December 1998, the coalition government of the Nepali Congress and the splinter group CPN (ML) collapsed.

- Immediately afterwards, as on cue, the CPN (UML) formed the government in alliance with the Nepali Congress.

Disenchantment and the Failure of Political Parties

Overview

- To remain in power at any cost; the political parties betrayed the trust of the people.

- It is against this background and resultant disenchantment of people with parliamentary brokering, in particular with the tactics of the parliamentary communist parties, that one can locate PW.

- Also, while the international situation was unfavourable for the launch of social transformatory projects, conditions nationally were just the opposite.

-By 1994-95, Nepal’s economy was facing a serious crisis.

Prelude: People’s War

Overview

- In initiating the PW, the Maoists weren’t simply engaging in combat; the very act of fighting was political.

- Their secret parleys with Birendra (King of Nepal from 1972 until 2001), playing on his patriotism achieved its aim, even as they were able to maintain a line of communication with the political parties. Through this, the Maoists delayed the deployment of the army against them until they were prepared.

- They won this time by exploiting the contradictions between the control exercised by the king over the army, and between the various political parties . Indeed, when the PW began on February 13, 1996, it was dismissed as being of no major consequence.

People’s War – February 13th, 1996

Overview

- By the year 2000, India and the US began pressurizing the Nepal government to bring in the army.

- Eventually, King Birendra would give into international and national pressure by the end of April 2001 and agree to an Integrated Security and Development Programme which was meant to bring in the army to the frontline in the fight against the Maoists.

- Nevertheless, King Birendra and his family would be assassinated on June 1, 2001, and the situation would change dramatically.

Evolution of Maoists & Maoist Doctrine

Overview

- In 1991, the Communist Party of Nepal (Ekta Kendra) which was reconstituted in 1986, changed its name to Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and after long deliberations and discussions, and some parting of ways, evolved the present line.

- On February 4, 1996 the CPN (Maoist) submitted, a 40-point charter of demands to the then government headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba, giving that government a two-week ultimatum.

- But, a few days before the ultimatum was to expire, on February 13, they declared protracted People’s War against the state.

Demands of the Maoists 1996-98

Overview

-The first demand under “Concerning Nationality” was for abrogating “(a)ll discriminatory treaties, including the 1950 Nepal-India Treaty”.

- Under “Concerning People’s Democracy” the first demand was for drafting a new “constitution…by representatives elected for the establishment of a people’s democracy”.

- And finally, the first item under “Concerning Livelihood” demanded that “(l)and should belong to ‘tenants’. Land under the control of the feudal system should be confiscated and distributed to the landless and the homeless.”

- Besides, the 40-point demand focused on women and dalits as the two most discriminated groups, even amongst the exploited classes/ strata.

- Regardless, the charter of demands was dismissed in the first instance by the political parties and this further aggravated the Maoists.

Attempted Mediation - 2001

Overview

- Within three months of King Birendra’s assassination, negotiations took place in August 2001 between the government and the Maoists. Arguably, both sides needed a breathing space and used the period to consolidate themselves.

- The Maoists stuck to their stance in terms of their demand for a round-table conference, an interim government and formation of an elected constituent assembly (CA), whereas the government appeared to have no clear idea other than wanting the Maoists to capitulate.

- Regardless once the September 11, 2001 attack took place in the US and the “war on terror” began, the prospects of talks dimmed perceptibly. When the talks broke down in November 2001, a few days later, the Maoists overran a big army garrison in western Nepal.

Demands for an Elected CA - 2003

Overview

- The demand for an elected constituent assembly (CA), was gaining supporters, with elements within the political parties discovering that the CA was a means to undercut the monarchy.

- Consequently, the PW entered a new phase, in which debate over an elected CA was gaining adherents. This was carried on until January 29, 2003 when a ceasefire was reached once again, and negotiations were attempted for the second time.

- However, while the Nepali government appeared keen, it failed to live up to its commitments in releasing imprisoned Maoist leaders.

- The last straw was the deliberate massacre of 19 unarmed Maoist cadres in Doramba by the RNA in August 2003. This compelled the Maoists to withdraw from the talks.

Escalation of Violence – 2003 - 2006

Overview

- In 2004, mass strikes, riots, kidnappings, blockades, terrorist bombings and major clashes between Maoist rebels and government security forces contributed to the conflict, resulting in thousands of deaths.

- On February 1, 2005, King Gyanendra of Nepal unilaterally declared a state of emergency, took over all executive powers of the government to establish an absolute monarchy, being in firm control of the military.

- He enforced martial law and argued that civil politicians were unfit to handle the Maoist insurgency.

Peace Attained - 2006

Overview

- While the talks derailed, by early 2005 it had become clear the king’s army couldn’t deal a fatal blow to PW.

- Later the same evening, King Gyanendra announced that he was giving up absolute power and that "Power was being returned to the People". He appointed former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala of the Nepali Congress Party prime minister once more.

- Koirala formed a coalition called the People’s Government and annulled all appointments made by King Gyanendra since October 2002, with the intention to hold elections as soon as possible.

Peace Attained – 2006 (Continued)

Overview

- Finally after 19 days of tumultuous protests, on April 24 midnight, the King reinstates the old Nepal House of Representatives and calls it to reassemble on April 28.

- On November 21, 2006, peace talks end with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) between Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist leader Prachanda.

- This formally ended the Nepalese Civil War, which claimed more than 13,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people to avoid violence and abuse.

Peoples War – Looking Back

Overview

- Victory for Maoists.

- Authors are hopeful that the revolutionary left in south Asia in general, and the Maoists in Nepal in particular, are capable of fusing armed and mass struggles as well as conceptualizing a democratic egalitarian state and society.

- Authors of the article seem to sympathize with the Maoists, lauding them for their struggle towards making Nepal into a democratic federal republic. “Within the anti-feudal and anti-imperialist

constitutional framework, only through multiparty competition…can counterrevolution be prevented” – Prachanda (Former leader of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)).

THE ENDTHANK YOU!!!!