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Thomas Bell

King's property must be nationalised, insists guerilla leader

Peace talks between the country's powerful Maoist rebels and the government resumed yesterday, with the rebel commander explaining his hopes to trade lasting peace for an end to the country's 238-year-old monarchy.

The leader of the world's most successful communist insurgency of recent years goes by the nom de guerre Prachanda, meaning 'the fierce one', but in person he seems more like a favourite uncle than  a ruthless guerilla leader.

While his heavy moustache and round figure bear  a resemblance to  Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin,   his inspiration for 10 years of 'people's war' is Mao Zedong .

The campaign has cost more than 13,000 lives and transformed Nepal from a sleepy backwater into what many  fear could become a failed state.

In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post before the negotiations, Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal,  said: 'If [the prime minister] can go for a republican state then we can easily lock up 100 per cent of our arms right now.

'But  if you want to compromise with the feudal monarchy, then it will not be beneficial for the democratic expression of the people to lock up all our arms right now.'

The peace process began in April when the Maoists and democratic opposition parties jointly organised protests against an autocratic government led by King Gyanendra.  Hundreds of thousands of people joined the movement which forced the king from power.

Afterwards, the democrats formed a coalition government committed to making peace with the Maoists. They pledged to hold elections for an assembly that would rewrite the constitution, a long-standing rebel demand.

Since then,  Prime Minister  Girija Prasad Koirala  has consistently supported a ceremonial role for the king, but Prachanda spoke optimistically of a 'breakthrough' within the next week.

He believes that a compromise is possible, with the rebels submitting to phased 'arms management' under UN supervision. In return, he insists, all the king's property must be nationalised.

Under the proposed deal, the fate of the monarchy would then be decided by the constitutional assembly to be elected next year.

The rebels control most rural areas and since the peace process began they have rapidly expanded  in the cities.

Although the ban on the party has been lifted they retain many of their old underground methods.

Prachanda, a 52-year-old former school teacher and one-time employee of the US development agency USAID, believes he is just a step away from joining mainstream politics and was at pains to present a moderate image.

'We have taken so many lessons from the revolutions and counter revolutions of the 20th century,' Prachanda said. 'Even under the dictatorship of the proletariat, multi-party competition is necessary to have a vibrant, dynamic society.'

He blamed the monarchy for Nepal's status as one of Asia's poorest countries, with a per capita income of around HK$1,870.

'We are not fighting for socialism,' he said, claiming that his party had drifted to the centre ground.

'We are just fighting against feudalism. We are fighting for a capitalistic mode of production ... We are trying to give more profit to the capitalists and industrialists.'

Yet despite the modernising rhetoric he was unrepentant about the deaths his unfinished revolution had caused. He described meeting the relatives of young policemen and soldiers his party had killed.

'We are sorry, but this is a political process,' he  said he told them. 'We are not happy that so many people have died, but historical necessity is a very strong thing.'

Critics claim that human rights abuses by the Maoists continue, especially in connection with their 'People's Courts' justice system, but he dismissed the allegations as 'minor mistakes' and 'propaganda'.

Two weeks ago, industrialists called a general strike  to protest  against Maoist 'extortion'. Prachanda describes the payments as 'voluntary donations'.

But despite the high stakes and continuing acrimony Prachanda was relaxed. He confidently defended his decision to call himself a Maoist long after most other political leaders have dropped the term.

'Maoism ... is a whole philosophical outlook, how to change the world in a constructive and a dynamic way,' he said. '[It is] a comprehensive way of thinking, a scientific way of thinking.'



Maoist rebels resume peace talks