Biplab: "Even if we cannot go together, nothing will stop the coming revolution"

Written by Eric Ribellarsi

The following interview with Biplab, a leading member of the Maoist party, was conducted the week before Baburam Bhattarai's election. During that period, there was a tactical alliance between the Bhattarai and Kiran factions of the party aimed at reducing the power of Prachanda in the party (while the reasons for wanting to do that varied greatly). That tactical alliance has not existed since Bhattarai's moves to disarm and dissolve the People's Liberation Army. While some things have changed since the time of writing, this interview gives an important view of the struggle over the future of Nepal's revolution within the Maoist party.

Torch rally against surrender, photo credit: Eric Ribellarsi

WHIE: Very sharp differences have emerged in your party over army integration. Could you explain those to us?
 We have a two-line struggle going on in our party over the integration of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This struggle has mainly been targeted at Baburam Bhattarai, but at the moment it has become focused on Prachanda. Prachanda is claiming that we can go forward by accepting the integration proposals of the reactionary forces in Nepal.
They are ready to dissolve, not integrate, the People’s Liberation Army which fought for 12 years, into the Nepal Army.
It is amazing that the Nepal Army has put forward proposal about integration. Their proposal gives them leadership and disintegrates the People’s Liberation Army under it. The PLA is treated not as soldiers of Nepal. It suggests that the PLA step aside into local bureaus, and become unarmed forest guards. Prachanda is accepting their proposal.
Right now, the PLA’s arms are confined to containers. The Nepali Congress and UML parties [corrupt pro-Indian and status quo parties] are demanding that these arms be destroyed, and Prachanda is sympathizing with them.
They want to divide the PLA into two factions where most people are sent home, and a small number are integrated. We will not accept this plan.
We think the line that Prachanda has taken is right-revisionism. It will liquidate our forces and army. It will end the revolution. We do not accept it.
To integrate the PLA, two things must be solidified:

1. The majority of the PLA has to be integrated.
2. The PLA must lead its units, and the PLA must take leadership positions in the army.

We want free units and collective integration. They are denying these things, and the struggle is over these points.

A Sea of Torches that Refuse Surrender (Photos and Video)

Written by Eric Ribellarsi

By Eric Ribellarsi (photos and video by Eric Ribellarsi and Peter Tobin)
Last night, Kathmandu and cities throughout the entire country were rocked by militant torch demonstrations. We watched as literally thousands and thousands of demonstrators challenged the decision of Nepal’s Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to disarm the People’s Liberation Army and the complicity of the Maoist party’s chairman, Prachanda, in this act.

The crowd was mostly young, and the feel was one of both anger and excitement. One young Maoist said to me “finally, we are standing up.” People were not at all demoralized. They were (and are) ready to fight to save their revolution.
Following these demonstrations, Biplab, a leader of the Maoist party who has opposed the disarming and argued for revolution, has launched a mass campaign throughout the country to build opposition for to the moves of Prachanda and Bhattarai within the Maoist party. We have learned that this campaign will include mass rallies and educational forums, the mass production of polemical pamphlets, and a new graffiti campaign.