First, Dahal’s failed democratization of the UCPN (Maoist). Because Nepalis want the UCPN (Maoist) to transform itself to a democratic party, its present leader Dahal, who in this 21st century aims for state-capture through the bullet not ballot, should quit. The UCPN (Maoist) has talent that neither subscribes to Dahal’s violence nor goes along with his ambition for the PM’s chair.
While the Dahal-instigated nationwide strike commenced from May 2, many columnists advocated that PM Nepal should abdicate. They argued that Madhavji lost elections in two places. Nepali memory span has shortened. These writers conveniently forgot that PM Dahal himself recommended Madhav Nepal as the head of the Constitutional Committee, and gave the latter political legitimacy. Many don’t back the present PM who hasn’t the courage to punish his offending ministers. However, they also resented Dahal’s weeklong banda when he could’ve aired his grievances in the parliament. Our nation lost Rs 15 billion in those six days—no joke.
Second, Dahal’s failed facilitation at constitution-writing. Madhav Kumar’s government won’t get the constitution out on time. However, its inability has to do mainly with Maoist obstruction. After Dahal resigned as the PM, the Maoists hindered the parliament from functioning for six months. They proposed their 14-state federalism from the streets, insisted that the constitution should have the judiciary subjected to the parliament, and asked Rs 2 million each or 5-10 bighas of land for any People’s Liberation Army soldier wanting to return to civilian life. Neither the Constituent Assembly (CA) nor the government could fulfill such demands. Ignoring the 12-point agreement, the Maoists have neither disbanded the Young Communist League (YCL) nor returned confiscated property. The biggest party in the parliament functions like a pampered sissy.
Nepalis want a constitution but not a “Peoples’ Republic” document. What statute will the Maoists declare on May 29 from the streets? Will it do away with the basic rights most democratic countries adhere to? Why doesn’t the UCPN (Maoist) use the CA? Through the nationwide strike, Dahal wanted to head the government, manipulate the constitution to his taste, fight the next election from his position of strength (using the YCL violence as in 2008), and thus ensure his one-party rule forever. Some writers saw through Dahal’s plan; and warned us—e.g. Damakant Jayshi, Don’t Give In To Blackmail (República, May 6); and Kanak Mani Dixit, All for One Man (Nepali Times, 7-13 May).
Third, Dahal’s failed philosophy of Maoism, discarded even in China. As long as Dahal proudly proclaims the mass-murderer Mao Tse-tung as his guru, Nepal has no hope from the UCPN (Maoist). Born a Buddhist, Mao discarded religion in his teens, and then adopted a strange morality. “I do not agree with the view that to be moral, the motive of one’s action has to be benefiting others...People like me want to...satisfy our hearts to the full, and in doing so we automatically have the most valuable moral codes...people and objects in the world...are all there for me” (Jung Chang & Jon Halliday, Mao, the Unknown Story, p. 15). Thus, utter selfishness guided Mao. He allowed no constitution, which he claimed would limit his desires.
Selfishness succeeds by getting rid of opponents. Mao glorified violence like no one else. While Hitler killed 6 million Jews and Stalin did away with 60 million Russians, Mao butchered 70 million Chinese, both civilians and “suspect” soldiers. About 38 million died in Mao-created famines. Instead of feeding his own people first, Mao insisted on exporting food as payment to the Soviet Union which helped make China’s first atomic bomb.
In our context, both the Nepali Congress and United Marxist-Leninist party adopted peaceful politics. Dahal, with 16,000 deaths under his belt, hasn’t yet discarded Mao’s violent philosophy. On May 13, a day after Dahal’s “apology”, Maoist thugs almost killed the principal of Okhaldhunga’s Kuntadevi Primary School, Min Bahadur Khadka, for not coughing up Rs 10,000 as “donation”.
Fourth, Dahal’s failed government. With Dahal as the country’s PM, the UCPN (Maoist) had a golden opportunity to prove itself. Dahal often complained that he led the government but had no power. For that, he wanted the Nepal Army (NA) infiltrated with Maoist soldiers first, as Mao’s moles had dug deep into Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist troops. (The UCPN (Maoist) may have moles in other parties, the government, and the NA.) Dahal would’ve taken over the NA with General Kul Bahadur Khadka’s help hadn’t the president intervened. Unable to do anything concrete for the country after nine months, Dahal resigned.
Fifth, Dahal’s failed commitments. How many times did Dahal say he would disband the semi-military YCL? How often did he offer to return confiscated property? He made the same promises again on May 12. Will he fulfill them? Dahal put his signature to the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 pledge, “... not to allow bandas, hartals and other activities to take place that will affect tourists and tourism services.” The countrywide strike Dahal initiated brought down the daily arrival of tourists at Tribhuvan International Airport from 1,500 daily to 300. His signatures have no value.
Sixth, Dahal’s failed megalomania. In his desire to become great, Dahal imitates Mao who took after Stalin. As Stalin led the European communist states, Mao hoped to do the same in Asia. For that, China had to become a superpower like Russia. Claiming that he could sacrifice millions of Chinese soldiers to tire out the Americans, Mao incited the 1950 Korean War. Mao hoped that invading the USA-held South Korea would coax the Russians to help China build the atomic bomb. The war took one million Chinese lives.
Mao’s megalomania exported his revolution, Chinese troops, and generous “aid” to Vietnam, Cambodia, and other countries. Mao gave away 6.92 percent per year from the national budget, the highest in the world, 70 times more than USA’s aid, while millions of Chinese starved. Dahal can’t lead a superpower Nepal. However, he likes appearing as the Nepali savior, taking full credit for abolishing monarchy, also acting as the sole guardian of republicanism, secularism, and federalism.
Finally, Dahal’s failed tactics. The weeklong nationwide strike crippled our economy further, but couldn’t secure Dahal the PM’s chair. Rather, it gave birth to anti-Dahal slogans like “Hang Prachanda”. Thanks to his cadres’ past disruptions, many multinational companies left the country; and took away jobs with them. Schools close often because Maoist-affiliated goons shut them down on flimsy charges. Thus, the USA still regards the UCPN (Maoist) as a terrorist group. Now, Dahal lures 10 small parties to back him topple the government, only to use them and dump them.
Dahal’s resignation would allow more moderate comrades to take over the UCPN (Maoist). As Deng Xiaoping overturned Mao’s legacy, Dahal’s successors could discard “Prachanda-path” that has gifted our country with much misery. The UCPN (Maoist) could then change to a democratic party; and contribute positively. Dahal, the failed, deceptive UCPN (Maoist) leader, the nuisance of Nepali politics, should resign.
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