Ending the Oppression of Peoples: Maoists Declare Autonomous Zone
Posted by onehundredflowers on December 18, 2009
The following report appeared in economictimes.indiatimes.com. For an understanding of the importance of federalism in the strategy of the UCPN[M], see the three posts on Understanding Federalism Part I, Part II and Part III.
Red alert: Maoists seize Kathmandu
KATHMANDU: Maoists on Wednesday announced the seizure of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu declaring it an autonomous region, after storming into heavily guarded Durbar Square, in a development that could trigger a new political confrontation.Waving red flags, 5000 militant cadres forced their way into the Durbar Square city centre where their chief Prachanda declared Kathmandu valley as the Newa Autonomous State. The Maoists, who have already announced formation of parallel governments in nine districts and paid little heed to warnings by the Nepali Congress, to desist from such tactics as it may lead to “biggest political and social confrontation”.
Though the Maoist takeover was more of a symbolic nature, their choice of the capital city sent shock-waves in the ruling CPN-UML-led 22-party alliance. Prachanda lit a traditional lamp to declare Kathmandu as Newa Autonomous State by flying a banner that read “Newa Autonomous State” as hundreds of balloons were let off.
A gun salute was also given and the city declared an autonomous state amidst performance of traditional music.
“Our move is not intended to disrupt the peace process or block the constitution making task,” Prachanda proclaimed adding it was to “make people aware about federalism and strengthen the republican system”. The Maoist supremo claimed that “regressive forces were hatching a conspiracy against the republican system and trying to reverse the change”.
Other Maoist leader who spoke on the occasion defended their move to declare various areas as autonomous regions rejected the claim that it would derail the peace process and lead to disintegration of the nation. The party is planning to declare altogether 13 autonomous states in the country by December 18.
land said
Yeah. Very good.
Gary said
Just found this.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/outrage-maoists-declare-kathmandu-free/555205/
Casting a shadow on the Nepal peace process, Maoists today announced that capital Kathmandu would henceforth be called the autonomous ‘Newa republic province’ where the dominant Newar community would have more rights than others.
Prachanda, chief of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M), lit a candle outside the original royal palace to make the declaration of the ‘Newa republic province’, a move other political parties condemned as the “most retrograde step”.
It was seen to be symbolically challenging the political unification of Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shah who conquered the Kathmandu Valley in 1768 by defeating its Newar rulers.
Maoists have so far declared half-a-dozen “autonomous republic provinces”, ignoring warnings that such moves could lead to fragmentation of the country.
Prachanda said the Newar community would enjoy “special powers” and “in due course of time, all communities will enjoy equal rights”. He raised the ‘Newa Rajya Zindabad’ slogan three times.
Ka Frank said
Since the Maoists do not control the government, I wonder what the actual effect is of declaring 14 new states.
Alastair Reith said
Prachanda has stated that if their demands are not met, the autonomous states can and will assume the level of autonomous governments. The system of autonomous states mirrors those the Maoists ran during the peoples war.
I just don’t understand Frank how you could ask such a stupid question, I really don’t. The declaration of the states will resonate with the people, give them an idea of what could be if they fight hard enough for it, and shows to the people that the Maoists care about them and their right to self-determination. This should be obvious.
onehundredflowers said
Moderator’s note: please be respectful of other posters. We want to foster an atmosphere of open, critical debate and strongly discourage personal slights.
Ka Frank said
Your most esteemed expert on Nepal, I will try not to ask any more stupid questions.
Writing in The Red Star (Dec. 4), Sonam, the Politburo member in charge of the YCL, states that the declaration of new states is related to pushing the NC-UML government on the issue of federalism and writing a new constitution:
“Strategically, our issues about federalism are on the table of discussion in the house of CA. However, we are going to declare it from the street to create pressure. For this, it is necessary to take initiative. It would better if the state power itself had publicized the debate on federal state with some important directives. The notable thing is that the people have clear notion about the structure that the state will be a federal state, they want to ensure it in the would-be constitution. Therefore, the declaration of the federal state will help to write the federal constitution.”
I have not heard that the areas that the Maoists liberated during the PW between 1996 and 2006
were organized along the lines of these autonomous states. Do you have the source on this?
Mike E said
I have written my own thoughts on these issues and posted it as a separate post.
Green Red said
Being optimist or pesimist, being a critical thinker or a wishful thinker exposes variety in a movement, party.
While not always pleasant to have such variety within the movement/group but still, its existence is what prevents losing original goals.
Hence, while personally i declare such news as greatest inevitable course of history for Nepal but, like looking within Nepal Maoists, their having open discussions withint the party while still keeping faith to leadership and party integrity caused it to be able to come where it is here, now.
And for future revolutionary party (of the US, Kasama related outcome included) that is what i personaly stand for so, letting different views still discussed openly, not let party’s oneness be practice as censorthip of other comrades within. Anyhow Ka Frank or other Ka talking negative does discourage me for a moment each time but then, if we do not have cautious comrades, who will tell the movement not to go into the right wing side instead of acting more revolutionary (as some Maoist groups in Latin American history have gone through. Thus, let us get ready for complete victory of Nepal Maoists as a thorn into the eyes of many phony leftists who had been condeming the party since 2006 and, take the lessons for our own future struggles.
Alastair Reith said
I’d like to request that the disrespectful parts of my post be edited out by a moderator, and I apologise to Ka Frank for the tone of the post. I made it after getting home from town on a Saturday night, I obviously wasn’t at my best or my most tactful…
That said, I stand by the brief political points I made. This is a highly significant series of declarations designed to push forward the confrontation between the revolutionary forces and the reactionaries in Nepal. In a country of enormous ethnic diversity whiuch has never had a governmental structure that reflects that, these proclamations can help shore up a lot of support for the Maoists. Check out this link for an interesting take on this from a bourgeois Nepali perspective: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=13057
I don’t make any claims to be an expert on Nepal Frank. I’m still in my teens and I live in New Zealand, frankly I’m not much of an expert on anything! Perhaps I know a bit more about Nepal than most, and I follow events there closely, but I’m no expert, and I don’t mean to come across as arrogant. I think your question displayed a very simplistic and mechanical way of looking at the situation there, but that’s no reason for me to be a dickhead. So yeah, sorry and all that…
As for sources, I’ve yet to see much detailed info on the exact system the Maoists ran during the PW, but this video of Maoists collecting taxes from tourists clearing shows that the officials there are representing the ‘Tamuwan Autonomous Republic’, a state which has been declared again in the past few days.
Maz said
I always found it curious that some tourists I spoke to got so flustered at the Maoist taxes, which they somehow saw as illegitimate extortion, but they gladly paid the entry visa to get into Nepal levied by his royal highness (sic!). and this coming from people who almost invariably described themseves as leftists, even radicals.
But, much much more importantly, if they are collecting taxes than this is more than just a symbolic declaration – this is an attempt to materially implement dual power.
Tell No Lies said
The article from Republica that Alastair posted:
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=13057
should be read by everyone here. It is an extraordinary and very perceptive statement from an opponent of the Maobadi.
Alastair Reith said
Sorry should make clear that the video is from back during the PW, not recently. I just posted it as evidence that the system of autonomous republic was utilised during the war.
zerohour said
Just read that article suggested by Alistair Reith and Tell No Lies. I found this paragraph which I believe addresses Ka Frank’s question:
“The Maoist strategy of declaring autonomous states is probably the shrewdest means adopted until now to undercut the legitimacy of Maoist-version of a bourgeoisie State and assert people’s power under its own leadership. And this strategy would be highly appealing for the grassroots, who have had no great admiration for all-powerful Kathmandu-based governments doing the dictates of generations of family dynasties and self-serving corrupt politicians. With the promises of self-rule allowed to ethnic majorities under the autonomous state system, ordinary people can see the benefits of localization of government authority, with a chance of liberating themselves from the tyrannies of centrist authoritarian rule.”
Clare Solomon said
Alastair Reith: well done for ur retraction. I admire ur humility and honesty. We need a latenightrestricter on blogs, no!
I know hardly anything about Nepal but now, since this great discussion, I do.
Thx. In solidarity
TOR said
That myrepublica article is extremely far right but definitely very insightful. It seems like the right wing media covering the underdeveloped world has a real love for brutal military dictators.