Interview with comrade Gaurav

‘India doesn’t want Maoists to come to power in Nepal’

A senior Politburo member of the Maoists in Nepal and in-charge of international relations, CP Gajurel was until recently jailed in India. In Delhi for the first time as an overground leader, he speaks on what lies ahead he reveals further strategies of CPN(M).interview is taken by tehelka.

What is your understanding of what is happening in Nepal today?

Something remarkable has happened in Nepal. We have a situation in which probably for the first time a despotic monarchy is going to be overthrown by the ballot. Monarchies have always been overthrown through violent revolution, but in Nepal, because of the 10-year people’s war and the 19-day street rebellion last year, we have a situation where the monarchy is going to be dismantled by peaceful means. That is what we are trying to accelerate. And the struggle the Maoists waged has meant even the so-called mainstream political parties are now pushing for the removal of the monarchy. And it appears to me that India is supportive of that, although India seems to want the Maoists not to get the majority. India would rather have the other parties in a majority.

Why do you say that?

Because once the Maoists get the majority, India thinks that a genuine people’s republic will be created and India would not like that.

But are you saying this on the basis of something concrete?

I do not have any concrete proof of the Indian thinking but the political line of its establishment is very clear. This is true of the main parties both in government and the opposition. Initially, India supported the monarchy because it thought only the monarchy could suppress the Maoists, but the people of Nepal have changed all that and India has to recognise the new reality. But even then, India will want a convenient sort of republic.

What do you mean by that?………

Onwards to the First Conference of Anti-Displacement Front

Onwards to the First Conference
Anti-Displacement Front

March 22nd, 23rd 2007, Ranchi, Jharkhand

“Heaven is a forest of miles and miles of Mohua trees
And hell is a forest of miles and miles of Mohua trees with a forest guard in it.”

–A popular saying of the Muria Adivasi of Bastar, Chhattisgarh

Whatever contributes to assimilating people to Nature is a dangerous threat…At least that has been the lesson, of any discernible reading of the history of humankind. Here too, in the South Asian sub-continent, the experiences of the vast sections of the people have not been an exception. Specifically, after the advent of British colonialism…

Post-1947, there has hardly been any difference in the experiences of the people of the sub-continent. “If you are to suffer, you should suffer in the interest of our country”, this was what Jawaharlal Nehru asked thevillagers, while laying the foundation stone of the Hirakud dam in Sambalpur, Orissa. Hirakud, or the dam at Bhakra, Nehru termed these’temples of modern India’. Ever since then, through the years of the so-called ‘green revolution’, canal irrigation cultivation, introduction of cash crops and hybrid variety of seeds we have daily proof that we create our world against Nature for want of profit. That people are forced to be the mute recipients of this expropriation of wealth in the name of development; of creating a new world out of Nature that is useful for a few rich and powerful. Even the most conservative estimate of the Government of India in 1994, after lot of jugglery with statistics, had to admit that more than 10 million (1 crore) people are still to be rehabilitated displaced by dams, mines, deforestation and other ‘development projects’. ………

WILL THE COURT PUNISH THE RAPIST S.P?

A fact finding team of CAVOW and PUCL recently visited the Sarguja district of Chattisgarh and found gross voilations of democratic rights.To suppress the democratic movements of the tribals police is terrorising them. here is the press statement —

POLICE TERROR AND BRUTALITY IN SARGUJA DISTRICT

During investigations the team came across the shocking case of a tribal woman who was raped by the Superintend of Police in North Chhatisgadh. This happened after she tried to get her husband to surrender before the police. Her husbnad, who had come to surrender, was shot in front of her eyes and then she went through this prolonged ordeal of gangrape. Two pertinent questions come to mind? How genuine is the surrender policy for Naxalites? We say that one of the achievements of the women’s movement is to have the law amended regarding custodial rape? But where is the law for the women of the toiling classes? Description by Shoma Sen (Convener,CAVOW) —

WILL THE COURT PUNISH THE RAPIST S.P?

Anil (Student, MGAHV Wardha)

ILPS: martyrdom of Hrant Dink

Hrant Dink, martyred in the course of peoples’ struggle
for freedom of expression and thought!

On Friday January 19, 2007, Hrant Dink, a progressive journalist in Turkey was murdered by an assassin in front of his office in Istanbul. Hrant Dink,a militant defender of democratic rights and freedom was the general editorof the weekly Agos, and was of Armenian descent. He was a vocal and active defender of human rights and persistently opposed violations of the people’s rights by the authorities in Turkey. For his endeavours he was persecuted by the fascist regime and was hounded and vilified by the racist and the chauvinist media. On numerous occasions his life was threatened by fascist and reactionary thugs attached to the state. His brutal murder by the hands of an assassin adds to the list the crimes and atrocities of the fascist and chauvinist regime in Turkey that perpetuates racial hatred, bigotry and has a total disregard for all democratic rights and freedoms of its citizens.

The reactionary regime, whose history of crimes and atrocities includes ethnic cleansing and genocide of national minorities including Armenians and Kurdish people, by targeting democratic intellectuals and journalists such as Hrant Dink, hopes to incite racial hatred and reactionary violence. At the same time hide the fact that in Turkey, abuse and total disregard for human rights and the denial of freedom of expression and association extends to all progressive and democratically minded sections of society including those of Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish origin or any other national minority.It was only in September 2006 that over 170 progressive journalists, trade unionists and activists were rounded up across the country on trumped up charges by the authorities. Many of those continue to remain in custody and are not allowed to receive legal advice. ……………………..

No Displacement; No Rehabilitation; Only People’s Development

(The following is a press Note released in a Press Conference on 21^st Jan 2007 soon by the Anti- Displacement Conclave in Ranchi, Jharkhand attended by scores of organisations from several states)

Today the vast sections of the people have been subjected to the worst kind of socio-economic crisis in the name of development. Today more and more tribals, dalits, minorities and the poorest of the poor are brutally removed from their forests, fields, lands, homes and cultures. They are being evicted in thousands from their lives and livelihoods. The powerful imperialist forces and their lackeys in the sub-continent are on their bid to capture the natural resources and perpetrate ruthless exploitation of labour. The people are rendered defenceless in the process of the dreaded Ds–Displacement, Disorganisation, Destitution and Decimation.

It is at a time that the need to unite and bring together all the fighting forces at the ground level against all forms of displacement under a single platform was mooted. And hence this preparatory meeting being held in Ranchi on the 20, 2tst of January, 2007. In this meeting, representatives of organizations and individuals from various states such as Jharkhand, Bengal, Haryana, Orissa, Delhi, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh deliberated on the strategies to carry forward the movement against displacement at the sub-continent level. ‘No to Displacement in any form’, was the firm resolve of the Meet.

The loot of the Indian people started after the advent of British rule with the super-imposition of the principle of Eminent Domain that virtually extinguished the natural right of the communities over their habitat and livelihood. This imperialist paradigm continued even post-1947 and despite the adoption of a new constitution. The special provisions for recognition and honouring the tribal people’s right under the constitution has been blatantly ignored that has sharpened the resentment of the people against the exploitative state. ………………

CPI(Maoist) on Nepal Agreement

Communist Party of India (Maoist)
Central Committee

Press Release:

A New Nepal can emerge only by smashing the
reactionary state!
Depositing arms of the PLA under UN supervision would lead to
the disarming of the masses!!

On 5th November the CPN(Maoist) had entered into an agreement with the government of Nepal which stipulated that the PLA would deposit its arms in seven designated cantonments while the government’s armed forces too would deposit an equal number of arms. These would be placed under the supervision of a UN monitoring team while the
keys of the lockers of PLA arms would be with the Maoist party. It was also agreed by both sides to dissolve the present Parliament and form a new interim Parliament with a share of the seats for the Maoists, to form an interim government with some portfolios for the Maoists, and to elect a Constituent Assembly by next summer which is supposed to decide the fate of the monarchy and the future of Nepal.The agreement received the final official stamp when prime minister Koirala and chairman of CPN(M) comrade Prachanda signed the agreement and declared it publicly. The CC, CPI(Maoist) has been perturbed by
this agreement concluded by the fraternal Maoist party in Nepal with the government of the seven party alliance led by the Indian protégé Koirala.The agreement to deposit the arms of the people’s army in designated cantonments is fraught with dangerous implications. This act could lead to the disarming of the oppressed masses of Nepal and
to a reversal of the gains made by the people of Nepal in the decade-long people’s war at the cost of immense sacrifices. The clause in the agreement to deposit an equal number of arms by both sides will obviously work in favour of the Koirala-led government as the latter will have the option to use the huge stock of arms still at the disposal of the army anytime and to further strengthen the reactionary army of the government. The decision taken by CPN(Maoist) ………….

We Condemn arrresting of Abhishek

Release student leader Abhishek Mukerjee and stop repression on the people struggling against the acquisition of land in Singur !

We strongly condemn the arrest of Abhishek Mukerjee, General Secretary of Revolutionary Students Front (RSF), a constituent of All India Revolutionary Students Federation (AIRSF), on December 8th. Abhishek was returning after attending a public meeting at Jadavpur University.The public meeting was organized by RSF to protest against the repression being let loose by the West Bengal state and its police on the people and organizations struggling against the forced acquisition of the farmers land at Singur in District Hoogly. The West Bengal ‘Left’ Front Govt. lead by CPM is bent upon leaving all the doors open for the foreign capital. For the last many years ithad been ambiguously opposing the imperialist penetration into West
Bengal but actually trying to woo it by saying that it is preparing ground for industrial peace so that the foreign capital may find a conducive ground for huge investments. Now they have started nakedly inviting FDI. As it has been impossible for it to create this “
peaceful” social and industrial environment, it is resorting to massive repression against the people who are opposing such projects and the acquisition of land. Now CM, Budhadeb
Bhatacharjee, has openly asked the people to stop their resistance.RSF has been actively involved in opposing this acquisition. As it is well known, this land which is about one thousand acres is being handed over to the Tatas for their small car project.

This meeting was attended and addressed by Medha Patkar convener of National Alliance of Peoples Movement (NAPM), Sujato Bhadra, General Secretary of Association for Protection of Democratic Rights, W.B.,Shebendu Das Gupta, Professor Kolkota University and Nabarun Bhatacharji, a well known poet and many others.

Abhishek was picked up along with five other members of RSF and they were taken to Beniapukur police station. While others were let off,Abhishek was arrested and has been charged under sections 120-B, 147,148, 149, 452 and 427 Cr.P.C.

It is learnt that he has since been taken to Police Headquarters at Lal Bazar and it is feared that he will be tortured in police custody.We express our full solidarity to RSFcomrades.We unequivocally demands the unconditional and immediate release of Abhishek and upholds the democratic right of people to protest against the anti-people policies of the State.

Ganpathi reply to Independent Citizen Initiative on Dantewada

To

The members,
Independent Citizens’ Initiative

Dear Friends,

I received the letter sent by six prominent personalities of the Independent Citizens Initiative who had visited Dantewara district of Chattisgarh on a fact finding mission in last May. I could not ascertain when the letter was actually sent as it did not bear any date and I could get hold of it only recently. On behalf of our Party I thank you all for your letter and the responsible attitude and genuine desire shown by you to put an end to the armed conflict in Dantewara between the oppressed adivasis on the one hand and the state-sponsored salwa judum, state police and central para-military forces on the other. I convey my apologies to you for the long delay in sending a reply, whatever are the reasons on our side.

Our Party appreciates the serious efforts made by you in your genuine quest for finding a resolution to the tragic conflict that had suddenly flared up in Dantewara since June 2005 and has taken over 400 lives until now. It is indeed heartening to all of us waging a just war for the liberation of the most oppressed sections of the Indian society to see democratic intellectuals like you seeking to explore the truth and place it before the world. There are some good articles written by some of you such as the one in The Hindu by Sri EAS Sharma, which made attempts to present the truth in a more objective manner.

He had correctly analysed the origin and nature of salwa judum in sharp contrast to the barrage of false propaganda that it is a spontaneous movement and an uprising against the Maoists: “It is certainly not a “peoples’ movement” as it has been made out to be. It is a State-sponsored campaign in which unsuspecting Adivasis are used as ammunition in a war that will serve the private interests of a few.” He had also traced the exploitation of the adivasis by the non-tribal trader-contractor nexus: “For decades, unethical land-grabbers, wily traders, and exploitative contractors, all non-tribals, have dominated the lives of the Adivasis in this area, undeterred.” …………………….

Full Text of SPA-Maoists Agreement

Full text of the agreement reached between the seven parties’ alliance and Maoists.

Respecting the mandate expressed in favour of democracy, peace and forward movement through the historical struggles and revolutions staged frequently by Nepali people since pre-1950 era till the present, Reconfirming full commitment to the 12-point understanding between the seven political parties and the CPN (Maoist), the 8-point agreement and the 25-point ceasefire codes of conduct as well as all the understandings, agreements and codes of conducts between the Nepal Government and the CPN (Maoist), including the letter of consensus sent to the United Nations, Pledging to do a forward looking restructuring of the state by resolving class, ethnic, regional and gender related problems existing in the country, Reiterating full commitments to competitive multiparty democratic system, civil liberty, individual rights, human rights, full press freedom and the concept of rule of law as well as democratic norms and values, Guaranteeing the fundamental rights of the people to participate in the elections to the constituent assembly in an atmosphere free of fear and intimidation, Keeping democracy, peace, prosperity, forward looking socio-economic transformation as well as independence, integrity, sovereignty and dignity of the country at centre, the meeting of the top leaders of the seven political parties and the CPN (Maoist) held on 8th of November 2006 took the following decisions in order to implement the commitments of both the sides to holding the elections to the constituent assembly by mid-June 2007 in a free and fair manner.

I. On implementation of past agreements

1. To fully, honestly and strictly implement all the past understandings, agreements and codes of conducts.

2. To constitute a high level committee to probe and make public the whereabouts all the citizens reported to be disappeared by both the state and the Maoist.

3. To speed up the process of returning seized property. To ensure an atmosphere for the displaced to return home. To formulate district level committees involving both sides for this. To complete all these tasks within a month.

4. To publicly declare withdrawal of all charges and accusations against political leaders and workers by the state and the CPN (Maoist) and to immediately release political prisoners of both sides.

II. On armies and weapons
To work as per the sentiments of the 12-point understanding, 8-point agreement, 25-point codes of conduct and the five-point letter sent to the United Nations in order to hold the elections to the constituent assembly in a peaceful, fair and fearless atmosphere as well as to restructure and democratise the army.

On Maoist army
1. As per the commitment expressed in the letters sent to the United Naitons by Nepal Government and the CPN (Maoist) on 9 August 2006, the Maoist combatants shall be confined in cantonments in the following areas. The United Nations will verify and monitor them.

The main cantonments shall be in the following areas: ……………..

PM Statement on december 13

(we are posting an excerpt from statement of the PM on December 13 attack.the statement reveals that Advani and Vajpai had prior information of the attack.this adds new doubts on official story of the case. - Editor)

Mr. Chairman, this is not an occasion to apportion blame or find fault with our system, whether it is of intelligence or of security arrangements. Yet, it is a fact that an attack on Parliament was quite anticipated. As early as on the 5^th of this month, the hon. Home Minister, speaking at a meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, had alluded to this threat to our Parliament.

In fact, one day before this attack took place, i.e. on 12^th December, while speaking at Mumbai, the hon. Prime Minister himself had referred to the existence of this threat, such a threat to our Parliament. Subsequently, we have also learnt that the Maharashtra police, while interrogating a suspect Al-Qaeda member, Afroz in Mumbai informed the Central Government of the plans of this outfit to attack the Parliament. I have been told that the Maharashtra Government had informed the Central Government about what Afroz had told them. I have also been told that a member of the IB was also associated with the interrogation of Afroz.

Sir, that despite their advance warnings this daring and dastardly attack took place should make all of us sit back and reflect on the adequacy of our security and intelligence arrangements. The hon. Home Minister, some days ago, had publicly stated that there was no security breach. Yet, it is a fact that a car with terrorists armed to the teeth was allowed to roam about in the high security zone and pass through the outer gate and enter the compound of our Parliament.