Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/595/8194
From The Socialist newspaper, 30 September 2009
Nepal - mass rallies back Prachandra
NEPAL HAS been rocked by almost constant protests since May against the ousting of the Maoist former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (known as Prachanda, meaning 'fierce one'), the biggest being a huge rally in Kathmandu on 11 September.
Paul Callanan
Nepal became the world's youngest republic on 28 May 2008, after an eleven-year civil war between monarchist forces and the Nepalese People's Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). The civil war ended with a ceasefire and negotiations in November 2006, after a 'mass movement for democracy' forced the government to make concessions.
Nepal is bordered to the north by China and to the east, west and south by India. It is an economically underdeveloped country where per capita income is less than US $470. There is a severe lack of skilled labour while 50% of the adult population are unemployed. Agriculture accounts for 40% of the nation's GDP and employs 76% of the country's working population. Industry only makes up 22% of GDP and employs just 6% of the working population.
Prachanda and the CPN(M) follow the Stalinist 'two-stage theory' of revolution followed by the likes of Chairman Mao (see centre page feature on the 1949 Chinese revolution). The CPN(M) committed themselves to retaining Nepal's private sector and having a coalition government with the bosses' parties. This left them vulnerable to counter-attack from the forces of imperialism and the old feudal landowning class.
On 4 May 2009 Prachanda was forced to resign as prime minister. He fell out with the country's president Ram Baran Yadav after Prachanda tried to remove the country's military chief Rookmangud Katawal, following his refusal to allow the 19,000-strong PLA to be integrated with the army. This led to the formation of a new governing coalition without the Maoists.
What is missing in Nepal is a mass revolutionary party which represents the interests of the working class and poor peasants and rejects the discredited class collaborationist and other wrong or mistaken methods of the Maoists. Only a party based on the genuine ideas of Marxism as put forward by Lenin and Trotsky can finally begin the process of freeing Nepal from the grip of imperialism and economic backwardness and building a better future for ordinary Nepalese people.
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 30 September 2009:
Socialism 2009
Socialism 2009: ideas to change the world
International socialist news and analysis
New right wing government, but success for the Left Party in Germany
Kazakhstan: Socialist activist attacked by thugs
Socialist Party news and analysis
Socialist Party workplace feature
London postal workers: Big majority to stop funding Labour
Unison witch-hunt - Defend the Four!
Socialist Students
Marxist analysis: history
International socialist news and analysis
Honduras: Coup leaders step up repression
Nepal - mass rallies back Prachandra
Socialist Party workplace news
Leeds council workers' strike solid
Mass rally in support of South Yorkshire firefighters
Civil service compensation scheme: Thousands say no to cuts
Home | The Socialist 30 September 2009 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
