Maoism and Maoists of Nepal

Dear Jyotiji,

I do not posses knowledge on Communism and People’s Revolutionary War because ‘the only person who really understands communism is the communist who understands it too late’. Since I have not studied Mao-Tse-tung and Vo Nguyen Giap, my answers to your questions cannot be therefore conclusive. The communism received its impetus only in twenties in Southeast Asia from China. Mao’s Communist revolution is world famous, which was greatly influenced by Sun Tzu’s Art of War written sometime in 500 BC. But why does it still appeal to Maoists of Nepal?

The best source to find the answer would be to look into the Communist Party of Nepal’s (Maoist) manifesto. The Nepalese Communist Party was established in 1949 only. That party was established at a ‘time when the great Chinese revolution had been won and socialism was developing in the USSR.’ The adoption of Chinese style revolution, although today the Chinese diplomat denies of any relationship with Maoist except with the name of Mao, is based upon the principle of Mao’s successful revolution in China. Maoists consider ‘the victory of Chinese revolution as a big factor in the establishment of Communist Party in Nepal.’ Prachanda further justifies the need of ‘this war to break the shackles of thousands of years of slavery and to establish a New Democratic state’ which in understanding is ‘the path of people’s liberation and a great and bright future.’ The Maoist documents further reveal the goals of people’s war ‘to overthrow the bureaucrat-capitalist class and state system, which are dependent on and serve imperialism; uproot semi-feudalism; and drive out imperialism.’

The doctrines of insurgency are important factors in the sense that these are determinant in the successful sustainability of the insurgency. There are generally two doctrines--offensive and defensive. Maoists of Nepal are adopting the doctrine of offensive action or the emphasis on armed action rather than on the doctrine of mobilization of masses. Castro, Che Guevara, and Sendero Luminoso in Cuba and Peru also chose this course. In Nepal, the most notable development in the last one decade is--the populations at large condemn Maoists’ terrorism. The situation is slipping out of their hands. This is going to be fatal for Maoists, ultimately culminating into total stop of terrorism in the country.

The state designs and operates Counterinsurgency Operation to neutralize the insurgency. Many abortive insurgencies are defeated by military and police actions alone. But, if an insurgency has tapped into serious grievances and has mobilized a significant portion of the population, the task becomes more difficult. It becomes more cumbersome when there is political instability. The best and surest way of controlling the insurgency is to win the people’s heart and mind. Winning heart and mind would require taking serious actions to reform. Reforms are inevitable in order to avoid grievances, to isolate Maoists from mass population. Use of security forces are only one such alternatives. The State response must be multifaceted and coordinated. This the security forces cannot do alone. All political forces need to consolidate and stand fast against terrorism. The insurgency problem would not prolong if there is consensus among Nepali people and political forces.

Dr. Govind Prasad Thapa, 18 June 2005