Revolutionary Worker #1190, March 9, 2003, posted at http://rwor.org
24 February 2003. Distributed by A World to Win News Service . On February 13, 1996 the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) took the bold and courageous step of initiating a People's War whose goal was to rid Nepal of the centuries-old domination of its feudal leaders, imperialism, and the bureaucrat capitalist class linked to the former. In only seven short years the whole face of Nepal has changed as millions of workers, peasants and revolutionary intellectuals have taken up the banner of the People's War. Although thousands have given their lives for the cause and countless others have suffered at the hands of the class enemy, the revolution has leapt forward as each new wave of struggle has brought forward even more millions into the revolutionary camp.
The guns of the People's Liberation Army have wrested vast areas of the countryside from the reactionary ruling class, which is more and more confined to the capital and administrative centers. Al- though life is still difficult for the poor people of Nepal, with political power in their hands millions are enthusiastically building the foundations of a new society. In seven short years the masses have been able to stand up despite hundreds of years of the weight of cruel oppression, and they have demonstrated beyond any doubt their capacity to carry through the fight against the reactionary regime and its foreign backers to final victory.
Hammered by the powerful blows of the People's Liberation Army, opposed by the great majority of the people of the country, and riddled with conflicts in its own ranks, the ruling class in Nepal is in an increasingly desperate situation. Faced with the possibility of their extinction, all reactionary classes fight frantically, and they always use "counterrevolutionary dual tactics" against the revolution. In addition to using violence to suppress the people, they also use deceit and conspiracy in hopes of confusing and dividing the ranks of the people. All these are reasons that led the reactionary regime to call a ceasefire and propose negotiations this February.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), taking into account the desire of the people for an end to the bloodshed, has agreed to a ceasefire and negotiations and put forward reasonable proposals for ending the conflict on a basis that reflects the interests of the people and their achievements in waging People's War. But there is every reason to suspect that the reactionary ruling class and their foreign backers will not bow to the will of the people and will search for one pretext or another to renew their violent suppression of the revolutionary forces. In these circumstances, the CPN (Maoist) has correctly called on the people and the revolutionary armed forces to remain vigilant.
The People's War in Nepal has been rapidly advancing at a time when US imperialism is unleashing unprecedented new crimes under the signboard of the so-called war on terrorism. The advances in Nepal are a most welcome example in the world today, showing that it is possible for the masses, with the leadership of a genuine vanguard Marxist-Leninist-Maoist party, to carve out their own future. Nepal is evidence of the emerging new wave of world revolution that must and can overcome the reactionary onslaught of the imperialists.
These great achievements are due to the farsighted leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). The CPN (Maoist), led by Chairman Prachanda, has integrated the universal principles of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism with the concrete reality of Nepal. From the beginning, Comrade Prachanda and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) have made clear that the struggle they are leading is aimed not only at building a new-democratic Nepal, but is also part and parcel of the whole worldwide struggle against imperialism and reaction and for the establishment of communism. The struggle has rightfully won the support of the progressive forces in South Asia and around the world.
In this period of complex class struggle in Nepal, amidst an increasingly turbulent international situation, we are confident that under the leadership of Comrade Prachanda the Party will be able to navigate the turbulent waters, safeguard the fundamental interests of the people in Nepal, complete the new-democratic revolution and transform Nepal into a bright red base area of world proletarian revolution. The Committee of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement reaffirms its full support for this process.
How much has been accomplished in only seven short years shows that the future is truly bright for those who dare to seize it.
This article is posted in English and Spanish on Revolutionary Worker Online
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