Oli smells a rat in People's Republic

BY GHANASHYAM OJHA

KATHMANDU, Oct 4 - CPN-Maoist Chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that a federal democratic republic is his party’s transitional objective and its long-term goal is to go for a people’s republic, according to a member of the party’s central committee.In a political ...

...presented at the party’s central committee today, Dahal said a people’s republic is suitable for Nepal’s geo-politics, adding, his party would not accept parliamentary democracy as practised in Nepal.

Dahal’s proposal holds significance because there has been heated discussions in the party over whether it should opt for a people’s republic or stick to a federal democratic republic. The proposal also holds significance for another reason: leaders from various political parties, especially Nepali Congress, have expressed doubts about the Maoist’s commitment to multi-party democracy following Dahal’s recent remarks that his party would not accept a parliamentary system.

“Chairman Prachanda (Pushpa Kamal Dahal) said we will go for a new model of democracy which secures the rights of farmers, workers and marginalised people,” said Maoist central committee leader Barsa Man Pun.

Arguing that parliamentary democracy is not suitable for Nepal, Pun said such democracy failed to ensure the rights of farmers, workers and the marginalised.

He said multi-party democracy doesn’t always mean a parliament. “We will go for multi-party democracy but not for a parliamentary system,” Pun said.

In his political paper divided into three sections--party’s future strategy, achievements of the prime minister’s foreign visits and the party’s role in government-- Dahal stated that his party fought for a decade for a people’s republic.

Dahal, during the central committee meeting Friday, said he has already informed the leaders of India, China and the United States about his party’s stance in favour of a people’s republic during his recent visits to those countries.

Quoting the chairman, Pun said his party would not copy any other model of democracy but would establish a unique system suitable to Nepal.

“Our objective is to establish communism through socialism,” Pun said. “But we will initiate discussions among all other political parties in parliament during the drafting of the new constitution.

Chairman Dahal’s political paper has proposed changes in the party’s organisational structure. According to the proposal, the party will form a separate bureau headed by party senior leader Mohan Baidya to run the party organisation. Baidhya is known to lead a hardline movement in the Maoist party. Similarly, another senior leader, Post Bahadur Bogati, will head the party in parliament and Nanda Kishore Pun will formally take charge of party’s military wing-- People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Prior to his election as prime minister, Dahal was heading both the party organisation and military wings.

While stating that the party has achieved great success since its entry into the peace process, the political paper has urged party leaders and cadres across the country to concentrate on drafting a progressive constitution.

Dahal has also proposed that the party’s national convention be held in February 2009 preceded by a nation-wide meeting of cadres in November this year.

Pun said the party leadership will seek suggestions from cadres through the national convention before taking any decision on the party’s future strategy.

Party central leaders will hold deliberations on Dahal’s paper starting tomorrow.

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