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For defying banda!

Cadres of Sadbhawana Party torch a loaded truck during Terai banda here in Nawalpur, Sarlahi. (Santosh Singh)

NEWS ANALYSIS

Dahal steering party toward mass base

KIRAN PUN
KATHMANDU, May 26: Recently, CPN-UML politburo members Ram Chandra Jha and Urmila Aryal and actress Rekha Thapa joined the UCPN (Maoist). Earlier also, many UML leaders, cadres and people from other parties joined the UCPN (Maoist). Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is welcoming newcomers mostly from the UML.

At the same time, the cream of the cadres and leaders who sacrificed their very limbs and family members and happiness in life in the 10-year Maoist war, have been gradually sidelined and bereft of party responsibilities, leaving the party organization in a mess.

Maoist watchers are asking: is this the process of formation of Dahal"s new-style communist party? This was one of the slogans at the party"s Hetauda general convention in February. At Hetauda the party formally converted into a parliamentary party.

Process of transformation from cadre-based to mass-based
Some of the major factors in the party"s split were differences over whether it should be cadre-based or mass-based, and over the political line.

Mohan Baidya wanted a militant party as during the insurgency. But the Dahal and Baburam Bhattarai factions argued that the political revolution was over and the party should now pursue the path of economic development. So finally, the party split.

“The entry of Ramchandra Jha and Urmila Aryal and the exit of Mohan Baidya are clear indications of the move towards a mass-based party from a cadre or militant-based one,” said Suk Bahadur Roka Magar, central committee member of UCPN (Maoist).

Indications of conversion to a mass-based party were already clear when party cadres threw chairs at Chairman Dahal and Vice-chairman Bhattarai at the Bhrikuti Mandap plenum last July.

To convert to a mass based party, cadres and leaders who can fit into open politics --who have money and sound education --are needed.

Welcoming the parliamentary party leaders and cadres, Dahal clearly indicated that the Maoists are now going for a fully mass-based parliamentary party.

Sidelining of war-based cadres, welcoming of newcomers
In the process of forming the new mass-based party, the leaders and cadres from the Maoist people"s war are gradually being sidelined and are not being given any responsibility. Most of the top cadres and leaders of the conflict era are now sans responsibilities.

The main reasoning is that they would not fit into open parliamentary politics. Their gradual sidelining was apparent from the time the Maoists joined the peace process.
While the cadres and leaders who lost their all in the war are not being given any responsibilities, those of them who did get such responsibilities could not survive in the hurly-burly of open politics.

Meaning of new-style communist party
Can Dahal form a new-style communist party? Is it really possible? Will he success in implementing the slogan of the Hetauda general convention?

Even now Maoist cadres and leaders are uncertain what Dahal"s new style communist party means. They were assured that the new-style party would complete the revolution, that it would fulfill the hopes and dreams of the insurgency.

It is not easy to understand what Dahal is saying. Maoist leaders say there is no coherence in what he says and that he is not being honest.

A Maoist central committee member recited the story of a village of rich people who planned to form a pond of milk, each one of them adding a mana of milk to the pond every morning. But some of them mixed water in their daily contribution because they were in fact stingy people, and finally they ended up with a pond of water.

“Dahal himself has been mixing water in the milk,” said Roka Magar. He argued that Dahal"s actions do not reflect honesty though his intention cannot be bad.

According to Roka Magar, it is hard to form a new party such as Dahal wants because the ground reality is very different from what he talks about.

“The leaders have left off studying history and reading books. There is no method to what Dahal has been saying. He just says whatever comes to mind,” said Roka Magar.

“Dahal"s slogan of a new party is just eyewash to attract dissident leaders and cadres from rightist and other leftist parties.

Another thing is that a new class of brokers has emerged in Nepali society. Dahal wants to welcome them in to win elections. ´He wants to form a platform of compradors and brokers,” said Mani Thapa, a former Maoist leader, arguing that this is a technique he has fallen back on after losing the political agenda.

According to him, this technique involves taking sides with the "so-called left" in between a "rightist" party like the Nepali Congress and the socialist UML.

	10 QS Maoists treat men and women equally: Rekha
	BY THE WEEK BUREAU
	Rekha Thapa, one of the most popular Nepali cine stars, needs no introduction as an actor. She had created a ripple when a picture of her dancing with UCPN (M) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was splashed all over the media some time back with people speculating her connection with the party. But earlier this week Rekha made headlines for a different reason. She officially pronounced herself as the Maoist member by joining the party. Here’s what Rekha has to say.

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Proposed poll provisions widen division between parties
REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, May 25: The proposal to introduce new provisions in the election-related laws has widened the division between political parties and has delayed preparatory works for the conduct of fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) election.

Any agreement on the contentious issues appears unlikely as the rival sides have refused to budge from their respective stances during recent negotiations. This, subsequently, has also delayed announcement of the poll date. [More]

Majority Madhesi leaders snub Thakur's gathering
GANI ANSARI

Three Nepalis injured in attack on IOM office in Kabul
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BUSINESS & ECONOMY

NEA chief involved in irregularities worth millions
BHOJ RAJ POUDEL

KATHMANDU, May 25: It has been found that senior officials of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), including Managing Director Rameshwar Yadav, were involved in unauthorized supply of electricity to more than a dozen industries, causing losses worth millions of rupees to the government, a latest report says.

The report submitted by the high-level probe committee formed by the government has named officials involved in irregularities at the five different load distribution centers of NEA along the Itahari-Biratnagar industrial corridor. The officials were involved in such unlawful activities since August 2006, the report says. [More]

NARA holds rafting festival
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BIZ BRIEFS:High Ground's monsoon offer
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SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Baglung municipality without chief for last two months
DILIP POUDEL

BAGLUNG, May 25: Baglung Municipality (BM) is without its chief for the last two months as officials of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) are yet to forge consensus on the candidate for the post.

The post of the municipal chief has remained vacant after then executive officer of the municipality Yadunath Poudel was promoted and transferred to the Ministry of Land Reform and Management in March this year. Development projects worth millions of rupees have been affected due to absence of chief in Baglung municipality. [More]

Dalit Civil Society launches anti-touchability campaign
REPUBLICA

Women with disability troubled by own families: Study
REPUBLICA

LIFESTYLE

Creating opportunity for the youth
PRAVAT JUNG GURUNG

Empowerment through employment
DHARAN, May 25: A shop keeper from the nearby shop walks in to order noodles. Divya gets up instantly and takes the order while Dipika starts preparing the utensils necessary to cook. The aroma of spices fills the room and the order is ready to be served. “The customers leave happy and with full stomach at a very reasonable price and we have a job too,” echoed both of them while doing their work.

Divya Pachakoti and Dipika Karki, both 20-year-olds and member of Activista Dharan, have been running the Tea Talk Center in Putali line, Dharan for the past one and half months. Initially funded by Activista, a youth platform of ActionAid, Nepal, the girls are moving forward with the hope to expand the shop and cater to a larger crowd and also create employment opportunities for other young people in the laid back town. “Youth here are not engaged anywhere because there is no employment opportunity and hence they divert to substance abuse,” said Divya. [More]

Youth in agriculture? Why they are saying NO
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Buying a digital camera? Things to know before getting one
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SPORTS

Last-gasp Robben gives Bayern fifth Euro crown
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

LONDON, May 26: Arjen Robben scored a heart-stopping 89th-minute winner to earn Bayern Munich a dramatic 2-1 win over German rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday after a thrilling Champions League final at London´s Wembley Stadium.

With extra time beckoning, Robben collected a back-heel from Franck Ribery, eluded the challenge of Mats Hummels and rolled a delicate shot past Roman Weidenfeller to give Bayern their fifth European crown. [More]

Sahukhala scores treble as Three Star hammers Deshbhakta
REPUBLICA

Army Club wins national taekwondo
SANTOSH POKHAREL

INTERNATIONAL

Death toll in Indian Maoist attack rises to 23: police
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

RAIPUR, India, May 26: The death toll from an ambush by Maoist rebels in central India rose to at least 23 with senior politicians among the victims, a top police officer said Sunday, in the deadliest attack by the insurgents in over a year.

Saturday´s attack was the latest in a long-simmering conflict that pits the militants against authorities in the forests and rural areas of mainly central and eastern India. [More]

16 children die in Pakistan school bus fire: police
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

Japanese climber, 80, becomes oldest atop Everest
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

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