A central committee meeting of the Maoist party on Monday decided to put off the general convention, which has not been held for the last 18 years, till next year, saying the party is not in a condition to hold a general convention and intensify the struggle for “civilian supremacy” simultaneously. The party´s central committee meeting in August this year had decided to hold the general convention on January 29, 2010.
According to Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha, the party had to postpone the general convention for two reasons: to launch a massive protest for the restoration of "civilian supremacy", and to focus on the peace process and constitution writing.
“As we have opted for consensus in a package with other parties, we need to intensify our struggle,” said Shrestha justifying the party´s decision.
However, Maoist leaders say the party leadership´s decision to postpone the general convention is part of the “Nepali political culture” of clinging to power for an indefinite period of time. “If communist parties in the former Soviet Union and China could hold general conventions even during political turmoil and upheaval, why can´t we?” asks one Maoist leader. “The party still goes for ad hocism, like any other party in Nepal. We are yet to develop a system and turn the party into an institution,” he adds.
According to another leader, the central committee had to take the decision as the leadership said there was a time constraint against the general convention, with the leadership is yet to prepare the political documents and fix other agenda including strategy and orientation for party cadres. “The general convention itself is part of the revolution. But the party leadership seems to have forgotten this,” says another leader.
The UCPN (Maoist) has not held its general convention for the last 18 years, since the party held its general convention of unity in 2048 BS. The party has however been holding national conclaves and plenums. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been at the party helm since 1987.
When the Maoists were still underground, they decided to launch debates on how to establish a “people´s democracy” in the 21th century, and to go for a general convention to resolve contradiction when that reached its peak. But no general convention has taken place so far.
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