Nepal’s rebel leader talks face to face with two prominent journalists of the country.
By Dinesh Wagle
THATS HIM: The real face of the most elusive leader of Nepal called Prachanda, the Chairman Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) that has been declared terrorist by the state. An exclusive photo by Narayan Wagle.
People are pleasantly surprised reading today’s issues of Kantipur and the Kathmandu Post. Ultimate reporters of Nepali journalism jointly scooped one of the biggest stories of contemporary Nepali society. As the young editors of the two best knows newspapers of Nepal, Narayan Wagle of Kantipur and Prateek Pradhan of the Post jointly interviewed Prachanda, the Maoists supremo, live in an undisclosed location. A few days ago, they disappeared together from Kathmandu and everyone thought they were on leave!
They started their career some 13 years ago as rookie reporters of the Kathmandu Post, and we have heard many stories of how they used to go together in reporting assignments in those days, direct from the veterans.And today morning they together gave a pleasant surprise to Nepali journalism. They are probably the first Nepali journalists to have a face-to-face interview with the comrade. Wagle also captures comrade Prachanda with the latter’s fellow comrade Dr. Baburam Bhattarai in his camera. The pictures published in today’s papers are the most clear photos of the elusive leader of Nepali communist movement. Pictures are the most exclusive ones.
The interview is candid and views expressed by Prachanda make people think that the rebels are serious for bringing back peace in the country.The timing of the publication of the interview is superb: just before a day of the municipal election.It seemed like after they interviewed Prachanda, both Narayan Wagle and Prateek Pradhan were interviewed by their eager reporters at office. It was easily understandable that reporters were curious to know how their friendly bosses managed to scoop the interview without giving them a slight hint of the process.
The black and white Prachanda. Photo by Narayan Wagle
“Narayan Dai, how did you feel seeing Prachanda for the first time?” a rookie reporter could not hold his curiosity. “Narayan Dai, whom do you like better, Prachanda or Gyanendra?” Narayan Dai, did they talk about your Palpasa Cafe? The day when Narayan Dai, one of the best reporters Nepal has ever produced, assumed the post of editorship of the country’s most influential and prestigious and most read newspaper, a brilliant reporter had died. Narayan Dai was plunged into the editorial responsibly and he best reporting he cold do was do some column writing etc. Now, suddenly, Narayan Dai was a reporter with scoops on his coffer.
Narayan Dai tried to satisfy almost all queries of his bhai reporters except the one that he has not mentioned in the intro note of the interview published today: the venue of the interview. After all, Narayan Dai is also a reporter who knows very well how to protect the identity of his source. He gave us a few juicy insights of the informal talks that he and Prateek Pradhan held with the rebel leaders. He also told us how Prachanda responded when Pradhan jokingly asked the question: “People think King Gyanendra is Prachanda.” [Prachanda just laughed, said Wagle dai, with with a long and big ha.. ha..ha”]
A few reporters also asked the editor what kind of comments they received from the pwer centers after the interview was published in newspapers. It was obvious that Prachanda’s exclusive interview published in papers like Kantipur and the Kathmandu Post would generate immense comments and reactions from almost every nook and cranny of Nepali society. Rumors like army confiscating copies of Kantipur in the morning ruled throughout the day. Even Ministers like Kamal Thapa (Home) and Shirish Shumsher Rana (information) reacted to the interview not-negatively.Wagle also compared his experience of talking with the rebel leader and the king. (He talked freely with the communist leader where as there were issues of protocols with the monarch.)
One reporter also asked whom Wagle found the most autocratic in nature. Everyone laughed as the question fell on the floor and I did not hear what Wagle’s answer was. Of course, that was the first meeting with Prachanda for Wagle and Pradhan so they must have felt somewhat uneasy before actually starting the conversation. Wagle agreed on this guess.
Two comrades: Prachanda and Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai immediately after a two-hour-long interview the editors of Kantipur and the Kathmandu Post in an undisclosed location “inside Nepal”. Photo by Narayan Wagle
Wagle found a reader of his novel Palpasa Café in Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai. The studious rebel leader congratulated Wagle for the book but he apparently was not too appreciative about Wagel’s perspective of the Conflict and Peoples’ War in the novel. “You presented your perspective,” was what the rebel leader had to say on the novel. Prachanda said that he had seen the cover of the book but “I haven’t read as yet. I will read.”
United We Blog 
Comments
15 responses to “Editors’ Face To Face With Prachanda”
Sarki ko choro
Comment:
It is so sad that a person who is responsible of killing 13000 Nepalis is being viewed with respect.
What have become of we Nepali??
Realist
Comment:
Very impressive. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Prachada’s reply were straight forward. MKN could learn a lot from him:)
unknown101
Comment:
wagle has a different opinion, its not respect its intellectuality
Loktantra
Comment:
What is utterly disgusting is people like SARKI Ko Chhoro, who bow their soul to a born dictator. Sarki, out of 13,000, the state killed 10,000 if you believe in your government’s statistics. I do not believe in these stupid number game but if Baburam, Prachada are to be presented at the war crime tribunals, KG, Sachit Shamsher, Pyarjung and even Girija, Sher Deuba, should join him. All of them are responsible for killing people in one way or the other
Sarki ko choro
Comment:
He is also responsible for the rape of thousands of Nepali women who have been raped and killed by Indian (and Nepali) decoits due to lack of security in Terai villages caused by reduced police presence due to Maoists violence.
He is also responsible for blowing up limbs of hundreds of Nepali children by the bombs that his partymen leave carelessly in their backyards, maize fields.
He is also responsible for causing misery to lakhs of Nepali leaving their home to becoming beggers in India due to Maoists violence.
1whocandie4u
Comment:
Read This also: Today’s one Leading Indian Newspaper”THE HINDU” also has news about prachanda’s interview…….
http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020809390100.htm
Prachanda unveils road map for change in Nepal
Siddharth Varadarajan
At an undisclosed location: Asserting that the democratic movement against King Gyanendra was now unstoppable, Nepal’s top Maoist leader, Prachanda, called on the Indian Government to abandon its “two-pillar theory” and choose the one pillar of multi-party democracy over the “so-called monarchy” that had usurped all power in the country.
In an exclusive face-to-face interview to The Hindu conducted over an hour-and-a-half, the Maoist leader spelt out his party’s “minimum political slogan” — the realisation of a “democratic republic” through the election of a Constitutional Assembly under international supervision. The Maoists, he said, were fully committed to multi-party democracy — the phrase he prefers to use is political competition — so long as it was under a “new constitutional framework.”
“If the King says that I was wrong to have done what I did last year, now come on, let us sit across the table, and then he talks of a free and fair election to a constitutional assembly, then we will be ready to take part,” Mr. Prachanda said. “Our minimum, bottom line is the election of a Constitutional Assembly, that too under international supervision… and whatever the peoples’ verdict, we are ready to accept that. This is our bottom line.”
He stressed that the Maoists’ commitment to multi-party democracy — as practically enunciated in a major party meeting last August — is not tactical but the result of a lengthy ideological debate within the party over three years. “Our decision on multi-party democracy is a strategically, theoretically developed position,” he said. “And we are telling the parliamentary parties that we are ready to have peaceful competition with you all.” He agreed that it was natural for parliamentary parties to have doubts about the Maoists’ intentions because the party has an army. “They ask us whether after the constitutional assembly is elected we will abandon our arms. We have said we are ready to reorganise our army together with the democratic elements of the Royal Nepal Army and make a new Nepal army.” The Maoists’ army was not the problem, he added. It was the RNA, which had been serving the country’s “feudal lords” for 250 years.
The Maoist leader stressed that when elections for the Constitutional Assembly are held, the party would accept whatever verdict emerged democratically. “We are convinced people will choose a democratic republic. But if people choose a ceremonial or constitutional monarchy, we are ready to accept that too.”
Mr. Prachanda said the Maoists had also suggested that the parliamentary parties reconvene parliament and declare themselves the legitimate government. “Two-thirds of the MPs are with the Nepali Congress, the UML and smaller parties. They should call a meeting and declare themselves the legitimate parliament and set up a multi-party government.” The Maoists would not be part of that government but would support it. “And then you invite us for negotiations and we will come forward. After that, there will be a move to set up an interim government, and the main aim of that government will be to have elections for a Constitutional Assembly.”
The King, he said, would be given an ultimatum to back down, failing which the monarchy would be abolished because it would be “illegal.”
Although this route would quickly bring about insurrectionary conditions, he acknowledged that the parliamentary parties were not ready for this. “That is why we are also talking of a Constitutional Assembly elected under international supervision.”
(Excerpts from the interview will be published in The Hindu .)
1whocandie4u
Comment:
Two comrades: Prachanda and Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai immediately after a two-hour-long interview the editors of Kantipur and the Kathmandu Post in an undisclosed location “INSIDE NEPAL”. Photo by Narayan Wagle
R u sure wagle? But, I think they are somewhere in India on the basis of earlier News taht I posted here though does not matter wherever they are……King has to respond positively at this moment if King is serious about Democracy and nation.
Wagle
Comment:
Both editors are mom over the venue of the interview but Jana Astha news weekly reports that they interviewed rebels somewhere inside Nepal. And I don’t think they will reveal that becasue of the journalistic ethics.
But as for as I have known untill this morning, Narayan Wagle has refuted the report about meeting the reble leaders in West Nepal. My guess, if I can write that here, is that they meet outside Nepal!
1whocandie4u
Comment:
That can not be disclosed also because you know, the present situation and current regime’s motive. I was just doubting whether they are inside Nepal. It’s ok and Thank U for prompt Reply………..Please Update with more photos about what is happening in nepal and in its “entusiastically participated” elections………I am curiously surfing Internet.
waterman
Comment:
Very nice background to the interviews. The photographs are really exclusive. I am tired of seeing the same photograph of Prachanda that was around until now. This is good. It is a very nice photograph of both the leaders of a very misunderstood party of Nepal, should I say of the world.
1whocandie4u
Comment:
Waterman wrote………”the leaders of a very misunderstood party of Nepal”…….
Waterman Ji, tyati dherai pani bhani nahalau hola……..violence must be condemned when it was not necessary. Maoists have killed a lot of civillians and that is illegal even assuming that the attacks on the security forces is generally permitted/accepted in the civil/people’s war.
blogger
Comment:
There should be no confusion that this is Indian Embassy managed interview perhaps South Block(Indian Foreign Minisrty) where Wagle and Pradhan met these leaders along with journalits from the HINDU. Pictures look similar in both the websites.
I donot see anything important in this interview. This is another Maoist tactic to fool people in Nepal. Blaming the King’s govt softly for everything. Vrey clever pundits!
India again plays the Maoist card very well in Nepal.
A Nepali
Comment:
Mr blogger
so what? You continue serving your master.
dhartiputra
Comment:
what is going on on our head? they(maoist) are the criminal and we are watching their interveiw they killed teacher,student,poornepalies son who suppose to care his old father mother,low rank armyand police who is suppose to look after there family, they destroy the all structure of national harmony and pried now girija, MKN, and other so called leader going with them….. PRACHANDA bloody baster i will not leave you and your party’s cader…. because you make me very ………… i can not say… baster terrorist can you imagine i am innocent and i never care about your socalled war but what i got from you… you fucker any way do not think that you will remain in peace and you will be a national hero you will killed in a same way in a way how you killed nepalies son. you and your killer cader will pay …..at last all will go with you but remmember i will not leave you…. whenever you will be open i will you give that much tourcher which you can not think… remember i am not the only one.. if you you got success to increase your terror group from 70 to many i am sure i also can increase my salvetion nationalist group by 10,000 to many.
wait for you that day dont die
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santosh
Comment:
I doubt the undisclosed location is in Nepal. What flight no. did the editors take to Delhi? Was it facilitated by the Indians?
Patriot
Comment:
This has indeed become the biggest scoop for Wagle & Pradhan, Congrats !!
It has also been quite a PR coup for the Maoists, the timing has been great too. The election has definitely embarrased the govt and KG must now come to the negotiating table as the loops have been really closing in on him. KG now risks wrath of the people if he misses out on the dialogue offer made by Maoists.
Sushma
Comment:
Mr. Prachand and dr. ji We (Nepali) Never forget that you and your paries are killed 13000 People in Nepal, we never forget that you rise the terror in freedom of nepal ……don’t be a happy ……we don’t forget in my life ” YOU ARE A KILLER OF NEPALI”
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NepaliKeta
Comment:
I can understand the sentiments behind the war. It’s indeed a painful wounds to us. But the fact is it’s not only maoist who is responsible for killing of the 13,000 Nepalese. The political parties, King is equally responsible for that. But it’s time to think deeply. Will all those life be back if we kill Prachanda or Baburam or Girja or KG? Certainly NOT.
Why can’t we understand the value of peace and look at the bigger picture. I am really saddened by few comments who only look at the one side of the coin. It’s true that this conflict has taken 13,000 lives so far and don’t forget that it can even be 130,000 if it goes for few more years.
Isn’t it time to stop this bloodshade? How long we can go on throwing stones at eachother blaming King or Maoist or political parties alone for today’s condition? Go and ask a widow of army/police or a father in grief who lost his life being maoist, they also want peace in the country rather than the revenge for lost of their beloved.
Let’s pray for peace and prosperity to the country. And, hope this voilence halts soon.
So, friends rather than throwing garbage to eachother blaming only KG, parties or maoists for current crisis (as we know all have played their cards); let’s provoke our voice for peaceful way out of the current crisis.
Eye for eye and life for life won’t is not a solution of the current crisis.
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Manan
Comment:
Please everyone, don’t keep repeating the untrue fact that Prachanda killed 13,000 Nepalis.
He’s responsible for for thousands of deaths yes, but so are many other people, including party leaders and the monarchy.
Having said that, one still has to treat Maoists with utmost caution.
D.MICHAEL_VANDEVEER-mike4radio@yahoo.com
Comment:
If there is to be “blame” for the 13,000, please remember that the RNA has been reported by Human Rights organizations and the UN, to be the #1 Killer, the #1 Kidnapper, the #1 in Rape and #1 in Disapperence.
The RNA has been trained and armed by the US so the UNITED STATES is also not without bloody hands .
We must not forget G.P. Koirala in 1998 unleashed terror when he ordered Operation Kilo Sierra 2.
More than 2000 poor Nepalis lost their lives, villages were burned to the ground, maney were hacked to death,and many “disappeared”, all in the name of Fighting Maoism.
The Maoist in many instances have turned “The Peoples War”, into a War-Against-the-People, so there are many who have contributed to the death of the 13,000+.
The QUESTION, is HOW CAN THE KILLING BE STOPPED AND THERE BE PEACE ?
The Peace will never be won on the battlefield, only at the Peace Table !
anita
Comment:
After seeing the first picture, I can say that this interview was not taken in rural area (like a village of Rolpa). In the first picture I can see electric switch in the wall. Looks like this type of house is somewhere in Terai of Nepal! Just my guess!
I don’t think only Maoist are responsible for killing people. The government, particularly the Monarchy is responsible for this. He must be punished one day. This is too much!
The other day I was listening a report in BBC/Nepali service. The reporter was reporting about how KG is cheating people. In his last visit of Nepalgung, one widow was crying and telling how she is living in an abject life when her husband (who was a policeman) killed in Naumule, Dailekh raid by Maoist. She has not received a penny as a compensation to date. KG was telling her that you will get compensation soon. Even after one year…she has received nothing! KG is giving false promise to the people. Most of national budget is diverted to security but many people are not compensated who lost their lives. Most of the money goes to the pocket of hakim and king’s personal account. He claims there is improvement in peace and order in the country…but Maoist are coming close to Kathmandu.
Just my thought!
abiral
Comment:
The Maoists, the monarchy, the corrupt leadres, everyone is equally responsible for killing 13,000 Nepali people. But, now is not the time to blame the Maoists or the Monarchy for the killing, but to work together to assure that 13000 more won’t be added to this list. We all condemn the Maoists for the wrong path that they chose, but now that they are willing to rectify it and come to the mainstream, they should be given a chance. If the king’s empire fails to negotiate with Maoists now, they will be responsible for any future killings.
I just want to add, I have no sympathy for Prachanda or Baburam Bhattarai for what they’ve done, but I believe that the Maoist party should be given a chance to come to the mainstream if they follow a proper set of Democratic principles.
Once again, an eye for an eye will never resolve the Maoist problem.
abiral
Comment:
And, people that disagree to this and say the maoists were given a chance to come to talks but they used it to strengthen their army, quit that and come up with a better idea, if you have any!
abiral
Comment:
And, people that disagree to this and say the maoists were given a chance to come to talks but they used it to strengthen their army, quit that and come up with a better proposition to resolve the problem, if you have any!
Manan
Comment:
I’m not saying we have to trust the Maoists, but we have to give them the chance to participate in the mainstream if that’s the only way the crisis can be resolved.
Royalists want it both ways. If the Maoists attack, then its a sign of their violent nature. If they don’t attack, they are either preparing to attack, or have been defeated.
D.MICHAEL_VANDEVEER-mike4radio@yahoo.com
Comment:
abiral ji,
I agree !
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Gthug
Comment:
The maoist leaders do seem to have a vision and a strategic mission in sight unlike the lost and lonely king and the past governemnt/plolictical leaders we’ve had. This I believe was key in heading the insurgency that started with a handful of cadres in a successful path. The presence of government (forces/ administration) is shrinking by the day, all over the nation and the rebel power continues to grow. The king and his followers have no strategic plans/ moves for finding a solution for the current situation and probably won’t till the rebels come for them outside their door, by then it’d have been too late. Let us just hope for a system that is pro people in its entirety (heart soul and mind) to replace this feudalistic approach to governance.
yodam
Comment:
maoists alone killed 13000 nepalese? thats rubbish.
didnt Prithvi Narayan Shah kill scores of nepalese to win over the rest of the states? If prithvi narayan Shah had lost the battle, he would be known today as a mass murderer, a culprit. but he won and became our bada Maharaja Dhiraj. and if the maoists win tomorrow, they will also be called something similar to bada Maharaja dhiraj, not killers of 13000.
history talks only of winners.
blogger
Comment:
These two are the cowards of all time. Failed from attaining people’s support to acheive power they took the weapons and killed their own peopl. who will forgive them?
add to this that these two Bahuns are so clever and crooked as well. look at thier face. One looks like a land-lord himself and the other one perhaps diabetic, oherwise a perfect indian agent.
Either they will be brutally killed by their own cadre or by anyone in Nepal who they have tortured.
They could have changed the country positively and peacefully. they opted the brutal way. They are not fighting against the autocrats but fighting against the poor in Nepal.
They are the sheer loosers.
And both of them are Indian agents.
Sarki ko choro
Comment:
He is the one who started this war. That way he IS responsible for killing of 13000 Nepali. Not only that ..
1. he is also responsible for the rape of thousands of Nepali women who have been raped and killed by Indian (and Nepali) decoits due to lack of security in Terai villages caused by reduced police presence due to Maoists violence.
2. he is also responsible for blowing up limbs of hundreds of Nepali children by the bombs that his criminal cadres leave carelessly in their backyards, maize fields.
3. he is also responsible for causing misery to laks of Nepali leaving their home to becoming beggers in India due to Maoists violence.
I could not see any differnce between Maoists and the Khamer Rouge murderders who murdered 1 million peasants in the name of revolution. And yet in Cambodia people sell thier daughters to prostitution to earn their living… what use revolution??????
abiral
Comment:
Okay, so they are cowards, they chose a wrong path. What are you going to do? Keep fighting against them, so that the war goes on for another 10 years and the death toll reaches 1 million?
I am not taking their sides and I believe that they should be punished. But, can’t we punish them by establishing a proper judicial system, unlike now or hand them over to international court of justice once we resolve the current stalemate? Whatever be the way we punish them, we can’t do it by going after them and trying to kill them!
blogger
Comment:
I QUESTION YOU Mr Abiral
WHAT WOULD HAVE MAOISTS ACHEIVED IF THEY DID NOT TOOK WEAPONS?
they are not popular but it seems they are the strongest because of weapons.
After carrying weapons they never wanted to hold talks with the government positively, be the government formed by Girija, Deuba or the King. they knew that if the talks becomes successful they would not acheive anything. They have come to the table only when they needed it. That’s whay they are clever.
Now they think that the environment has changed. They think that by making the monarch a villian, in reality who also not a sacroscant they can easily blame him of what is happenning since last 15 years. which is happennign in reality. the monarch has also been trapped because he also perormed accordingly.
Now they(maoist) feel that they have the support. that’s why so many statements, interviews are being made. now they are closer to the power they were looking for since 15 years. time to grab it. they know that Talking democracy, freedom they can acheive it easily.
For me i do not want to kill them because i have not suffered living my whole life in Kathmandu but those who have suffered will kill them both. time will tell when, but someone will kill them.
Manan
Comment:
Prachanda may have started the war, but he did offer a ceasefire. Did Mr. Shah reciprocate? No.
So who’s the real warmonger?
Manan
Comment:
And this saarki ko choro is a real idiot anyway. Just because someone starts a war, he kills 13,000 people even if he doesn’t kill them?
That way, its Prithvi Narayan Shah and his family that’s responsible for everything bad that has happened in Nepal because he originally started killing Nepalis. So every Nepali that has been killed for the last 250 years can be traced back to P.N Shah and his insane clan.
abiral
Hey Mr. blogger,
I think I have addressed cynics like you already in my previous comment.
response1
Comment:
To Narayan Wagle ji and his Brother Dinesh Wagle:
Look, I may sound too sarcastic but the fact is that you guys are trying to glorify the maoist leaders. Most pathetically, you are trying to glorify yourself (narayan ji) because you could meet (!!!!!!) “Prachanda”. Its just pathetic. You succumb to the terror they are spreading. Now you guys are sufferring from what is called Stockholm Syndrome. (A syndrome where the victim want to identify with the victimizer). Wah wah, how much weight you give to the guys who started this blood-shed without any vision. Look at how lightly they take a human life – go through the interview you have done with them. And here is little Wagle who thinks his big brother (Are you really related or what?) has been a big shot coz he met the “GREAT” Prachanda and Baburam. It’s really a losing mentality.
I agree that a lot of social reform is needed as Maoists say – but their method is all too wrong. All they have done is spread terror. And the only means that they want to achieve their goal is through the barrel of gun. If you start counting their victims – all are from working class and the high class have not been touched. They kill those who can’t give money to them, and rich people can give money and obviously protected. I don’t think the maoist leaders (may be not all, but most) even bother about bringing social change – because this conflict is financially beneficial to them (a bit like to the government mafia since they can deal weapons for this conflict).
You guys are crying against this election like anything. I know you are trying to be nice to the maoists otherwise you will be killed like Lekhnath Adhikari. Wagle bros, tell with your conscience if you really are doing all this coz you are afraid for your own life. Despite the threats of maoists which was augmented by you guys’ ‘terrified’ journalism – people turned out for voting. I really praise the voters, candidates and officials. Not necessarily because I support this particular election, but because they defied the terrorism. Not like you guys who surrendered. You fight givernment because you know they are much kinder than maoists. They will arrest you and keep you in comfort and release you.
They won’t cut throat like maoists do. Next, just for the sake of proving your impartiality and strength and integrity, please publish an editorial analysing the murders that the maoists have done so far. And try to sleep (if you are alive) the next night. Little Wagle ji, can you recollect Lekhnath’s murder, or the Taxi driver’s recent murder, and publish it with all the criticism you can do in your blog? Heheeh. You guys are simply pathetic.
And oh! Naran dai is so great beccause he got a “Darshan” of supreme beings: Prachanda and baburam??? Please get a life.
I would rather be an idiot and tell the truth than be smart and lie, cheat and betray the country. I standby my comments .. they are, as always, valid and true.
In case you guys have not read .. here is one more chance:
____________
He is the one who started this war. That way he IS responsible for killing of 13000 Nepali. Not only that ..
1. he is also responsible for the rape of thousands of Nepali women who have been raped and killed by Indian (and Nepali) decoits due to lack of security in Terai villages caused by reduced police presence due to Maoists violence.
2. he is also responsible for blowing up limbs of hundreds of Nepali children by the bombs that his criminal cadres leave carelessly in their backyards, maize fields.
3. he is also responsible for causing misery to laks of Nepali leaving their home to becoming beggers in India due to Maoists violence.
I could not see any differnce between Maoists and the Khamer Rouge murderders who murdered 1 million peasants in the name of revolution. And yet in Cambodia people sell thier daughters to prostitution to earn their living… what use revolution??????
We are living in 21st century and our neighbours are heading toward economic booms. We in between of economic boomers fighting each other for nothing. I am not seeing any concrete solution to povery of Nepal and economic boom except of killings, blamings and not reaching the point toward negotiation. Flexibility works in the world not the opposite in the case of difficulty and negotiation, all should be flexible toward reaching the point of peace. It is sad to even remember we are fighting each other and killings each other in this modern era for nothing. Whoever are killed are brother and sister and should be strongly opposed it. Otherwise our generation will not be considered as civil society. What answers we will give to our generation whoever wins the race?
i agree with sarki ko choro, prachanda is the cause of all the chaos in our country, what will he answer thousands of widows, hundreds of disabled, and millions of sufferers due to his policy. If he comes in power, i will surely be the one to carry GUN against this prachanda.
Giving his interview a huge importance in a best news paper like kantipur has defamed and degraded the status of kantipur and narayan wagle. I have full stopped my plans to buy and read wagle’s palpasa cafe. coz. he is the one who writes about the poor and the victims to earn money but helps the killer indirectly(by making him important)
next time when i see the picture of prachanda and baburam, i wish to see them lying in the pool of blood with all their body scattered with bullets and head blasted into two parts. It’s ok if i see them hanging with the rope tight on their necks, and there eyes pumping eyes with pain.
even this will not satisfy the anger of thousand teary mothers.
If babu and prachu come in the power, then at that time i will go and ask for the hand of baburam’s daughter and marry with her and will go to honeymoon to rolpa & play that natural game with her till see bleeds from her private parts and i will lick all that blood to fulfil my thirst.
I totally agree with sarki ko choro and response 1. The two journalists, Wagle and Prateek, may have accomplished a mission impossible but hey, how can Mr Dinesh Wagle be so ga ga over them who asked coyly, probably with their tails under their legs, about who is more autocratic (king or killers) and then giggles. It’s a shame and embarassment how Mr Dinesh has glorified terrorists, and yes, salute to the voters and candidates, they chose to fight terrorism above all else.
Keep faith in democracy….
rsy
Could you see how lightly Baburam takes the killing of Nepali – his intellect is limited to those given by worn cliches such as “you can’t make omlette without breaking the egg”, ” labor pain”
Childrens limbs are blown up, their eyes blinded, their intestine bursting open and yet he says “sticks breaks when you kill the snake”. That’s well and good for him as long as they are not his children.
He is a cunning psychopath and will kill thousands more to satisfy his ego.
Check complete transcript of HIndu interview on
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/nic/maoist.htm
same here,
i would really really LOVE to see the corspes of this two leeches with their body covered in blood and their heads blasted by the bullets and on the top Girija the famous Giddha picking up their flesh in rotten.com if it would be too grpahic for the newspapers to print. and yeah the dog rising its leg and pissing in thier body would be even better…..
rakchyas haru…..
Go ahead, saarki ko choro, believe what the royalists say, swallow it hook line and sinker. What can be done with people like you? Nothing. You guys are beyond insults.
Go ahd kiss your king’s feet. Have a good day.
And remember that your king took one of the country’s two jets for a romantic trip while 28 million Nepalis were suffering. He went to Africa, for a safari trip while the ‘two leeches’ were working out a plan to bring some normalcy to the country.
Remember that your king and his family have looted more money than all other Nepalis put together. Remember that your king still lives in palaces surrounded by thousands of soldiers while inexperienced recruits are sent to fight and get butchered by the Maoists.
Yes, we should blame the Maobadi for their violent methods. But don’t forget that we now have a chance to end the violence, and your king isn’t taking it.
That’s my final say. Long live your king.
Both king Gynendra and Prachnada r Shatru of nepal.neplese media shod boycott to publish KG nd PR’S interview.whatever change,what so ever people u put in Shinghadurbar,those people who were killed never come back.can Republicism get them back?do u feel the pain and suffer when your nearer die? have u ever asked the family of those killing?see,how easily destroyed the peaceful and quite nepal within a decade.
There was good harmony among people and trust among them.now can u find those kind hearted man?it’s sure that,after establishing the republicism or active monarchy,nepal’ll be be the same in condition.see the mechanism? see the functioning mechanism,army,police,civil servent,journalism,advocate.if u go and ask a lay about what does u say about our civil servent.his simple answer will be Chor,curropoted.he’ll level the same tag to journalist, police, bussinessman, army, advocate. Every walk of our society is immoral,corroputed,cunny and selifish.simply we don’t love our nation.we r lacking the feeling of patrotism.we r not honest to each other.i may worng in this regard but it’s the true.
Now the interviw with Prachanda in both of the publication of Kantipur,it’s natural that maoist r willing to come in the mainstream.maoist call them some where and gave the interview.the same dress was wearing by Prachanda while giving interview to The Hindu.it’s maoist another tactis.simply we kno that they r willing to come in politics.Now they r seeking the path.they most fear for them is their undemocrat and uncivilised cader.maoist r fearing with them coz one day their cader’ll kill them,no trust.
Only think that- Can NewYork Times publish the interview of Oshma bin Laden? It’s our ethics that, first we’ve give top priority to the legitamite power.but we don’t give so much prority to these terorist force.now both Gy and Pr both r trorist in my eyes.neplese media should avoid both.they r the real foe of neplese destiny.we should write on suffer and pain of nepales people.why whould we project the Gy and Pr’s suffer and their gain?in the past they used themselves.now the math gone wrong,Gy isolated Pr and Pr stop to hearing Gy.
This ts the problem.they had nexus in the past days now what happen,they r isolating each other? I think Narayan Wagle and Prateek Pradhan know much in this regard.both r taken as one of the most credealble journalist inside nepal.both have spent more than 13 years in neplese journalism.i know the answer from wagle and pradhan.why shouldn’t we promote these two?why Gy and Pr?
I don’t need to believe that the Royalists say. I could use my own thinking.
Long the live the King because, he is the best among what we have got (Parties, Killer Maoists and the King)
Here is the Prachanda Interview:
We want to stop bloodshed: Prachanda
The Kathmandu Post: What is your bottom line for restoring peace in the country?
Prachanda: The understanding we have reached with the seven political parties is the bottom line at the moment. The 12-point understanding is the minimum base that democratic powers all over the world can accept and the country’s crises can have an exit. After reaching the understanding, we extended the cease-fire by a month. Taking the people’s verdict is the best democratic process. Once all are committed to move forward with the outcomes of the people’s verdict, a political solution won’t be distant. The events and history are testimony to the fact that the king and the palace don’t want this.
Post: What about your goals?
Prachanda: Since we belong to a communist party, our maximum goals are socialism and communism. Those are the maximum goals of all those accepting Marxism, Leninism and Maoism as philosophical and ideological assumptions. Given the international power balance and the overall economic, political and social realities of the country, we can’t attain those goals at the moment. We must accept this ground reality. We have mentioned democratic republic and constituent assembly, with the understanding that we should be flexible given the balance in the class struggle and international situation. This is a policy, not tactics. This is a necessary process for the bourgeoisie and the national capitalists alike, let alone the middle-class.
Post: Constituent assembly?
Prachanda: Yes. Constituent assembly is not a demand of the communists. It’s a democratic process established by the capitalists a long time back.
We are not saying this as a tactic. We have adopted this policy due to today’s balance in class powers and today’s world situation so that the Nepali people won’t have to endure any more troubles. On the one hand, those elites in the feudal palace, despite knowing it, call our policy just a tactic.
On the other, the Maoist movement has become the main fear of foreign powers – especially American imperialism. [They] have termed us a “momentary challenge”. They have been looking at us strategically, saying that a “Maoist movement is flaring up in a land between giant countries
China and India, it can strike the whole world tomorrow.” They are cautiously trying to give out a wrong message in this regard.
Post: What is the process?
Prachanda: We are even ready to accept restoration of the dissolved House of Representatives if the seven parties say so. The only condition is: don’t try to restore the authoritarian power. There are also shadows in the Supreme Court, so don’t turn to that either. Restore the House by coming to the people, and we are ready to change the People’s Army in a jiffy.
Post: Changing the army?
Prachanda: We have told the seven parties, let’s form a common army by including your people. One of the bases of confusion about us is that we have an army, we have guns. There are confusions about to what extent we are committed to democracy. Let’s sit together with all including the seven parties; let’s decide together who should be commanders, commissars, chief of the army; let’s make a common army. Let’s make a national army. We have made this proposal to both Girija and Madhav, saying that this will make clear our understanding on democracy and constituent assembly. Maybe, on the one hand, we haven’t been able to clarify the depth and meaning of the issue; and on the other hand, the imperialists and palace elements have spread propaganda against us, thereby creating confusions.
Post: Isn’t this proposal of making a common army a ploy to push the parties into the “People’s War”?
Prachanda: [laughing…]. The parties always continued to be hopeful of the palace right since 2007 B.S. [1951], they kept on making compromises with the palace. They should have more trust in the people, more trust in the people’s power, should have led a people’s decisive movement against feudal elements. We say, let’s make a common army for constituent assembly and a democratic republic. Let’s form a parallel government of the parties and the Maoists. You restore the House, we will support you; invite us for dialogue, we will come; let’s make the army common by including all; that will make for an official and legitimate government. That will represent the majority people – the government of the [seven] parties and a party that rebelled. After forming such a government, we can approach the United Nations and the international community, saying ‘this is the legitimate government of Nepal’. Since we have this kind of a proposal, how can it be about bringing the parties into the “People’s War”? Rather, it’s about us going for the parties’ politics. It’s about us going for a constituent assembly and a democratic republic. [It’s about] us going for bourgeois democracy.
Post: How will you manage your arms?
Prachanda: If all are ready to go for a constituent assembly, an interim government will be formed; the country will head towards elections for the constituent assembly; a ceasefire is undoubtedly attached to this; and it will create a climate for political debate. With the process of holding election by the interim government under way, there will be interaction with the parties and all the political forces in the country including the monarchists. As the election looms, let’s maintain reliable international vigil on the Royal Army and the People’s Liberation Army. The country will get a direction after the results of the election are out. Once it is clear, let’s change the army and the weapons into a national army and national weapons respectively. The weapons of both sides should be put together and both the armies should be transformed into one under the supervision of the United Nations or another reliable agency. That will result in the national army.
Post: Is it your proposal to keep both the armies under international supervision until the election to the constituent assembly and formation later of a common army?
Prachanda: The army will be formed according to the results of the election. This is what you should be clear about. We will accept it if the constituent assembly says we want monarchy. We are flexible even that far. We will accept it even if the people say we want an active monarch. If the people say ‘republic’, all should accept that. If the people go for, as has been said, a constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy, we are ready for that. We value people’s votes, nobody else’s. The army will be reformed as per the people’s decision.
Post: So, you want to keep the conflict on to force the king to compromise?
Prachanda: Flexible words are not enough to pressure the king. If it is thought that the king would agree to revive the House, it is a thought of seeking the king’s mercy. What we want to tell the parties is let’s directly go for republic. A section of middle-class intellectuals still wants the king to remain in a ceremonial capacity. Even if you want the king to remain in such a capacity, only the call for a republic will create enough pressure for that. The king must come to that point.
Post: Have you received any conditional proposal for a constituent assembly from the government?
Prachanda: Since February 1 last, we have had no contact whatsoever with the palace or the palace people, hence we haven’t received any proposal. We have gotten an indication, through the UN people or other international agencies, that they [government] are trying to propose in a roundabout way a conditional constituent assembly. We reject it outright because “conditional” means “compromise”, which is not a constituent assembly. A constituent assembly is without any conditions. Before February 1, we had said we would talk to the king, not the parties. We had said we wanted to talk [with him] for progress. After he started to go towards regression with all the powers, there was no room for holding talks with him.
Post: Isn’t it self-contradictory to say ‘we will talk only with the real power, not with the parties and their government’, and later to say ‘we won’t talk with the king after he announced taking over power’?
Prachanda: The power of the old regime rested in the king because the main organ of the regime, the army, was under him. He termed us “deviated” and “terrorists” when he staged the February 1 coup. It was proven that he didn’t want to solve the problems even after taking absolute powers, by telling the parties off. The doors for talks were closed.
Bhattarai: He should have said ‘okay I have come, let’s solve the problems together’! He started saying ‘I won’t give you the rights you enjoyed till yesterday’.
Prachanda: That’s the logic. The situation would have altered had he said ‘Nobody did really work out, now the Maoists also come for dialogue, I want to give a try for a way out’.
Post: But, don’t you think you have been aiding the king’s “war against terror” in the name of “entering the city”?
Prachanda: America has been saying this. The biggest terrorist of the world today is America, and its ruling class. They gave birth to Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Iraq is in the making of another Vietnam, Afghanistan is on the way. They call us terrorist? They have been giving impetus to the purely traditional force of calling the people subjects. You must have met [US Ambassador] Moriarty several times. He exaggerates while talking about us. As if the Maoists will take over, as if they will surround Kathmandu when we are not in that position. What they have been saying in a roundabout way is that the army is nice, but the king didn’t understand. Has America tried to make the people sovereign anywhere? Why is America afraid of us? Because it is in an ideological crisis.
Post: Isn’t there an ideological crisis within your party?
Prachanda: We are investigating what mistakes our classes have made in the 20th century. We reviewed three years ago that the mechanism of running the state was not that democratic, was more mechanical, the people started to become monotonous in the 20th century communist movement, especially after the demise of Lenin. We passed a decision that we will go for a new people’s democracy consistent with the 21st century. We aren’t just saying democratic republic. The think tanks of American imperialism have well understood, though Nepal is a small country they have been forced to say, that this is the most successful revolution of the 21st century. If it’s successful in Nepal, it has and will have direct impact on the one billion people of India, and it will also spill over into China. When it affects two or two and a half billion people, it means it will have impact all over the world. American intellectuals have understood this. That’s why, they are of the opinion that the Maoists shouldn’t prevail, rather it’s alright to have an autocratic regime. Don’t we know who made Marcos? Who brought Pinochet forward in Chile?
Post: Do you mean to say America is the real support behind the king?
Prachanda: We think so. Facts substantiate that. Even the parties are in confusion about whether we will prevail. Sometimes, we feel sad. We have told the parties, you take the leadership role, we don’t need it. The only thing is that the country should find a way out. We have said that the party leaders can lead the democracy. We are not in a hurry to lead the nation.
Post: You want international mediation. Don’t you think Nepal can solve the problems itself?
Prachanda: On the one hand, the political forces within the country are not able to convince one another. Secondly, it is the geopolitics between two giant countries – China and India. International mediation is essential due to these reasons. We think that the UN is the best option, but we don’t stick to that alone. The UN or any other reliable organization will work. It should be agreeable to China, India and the United States. We want no bloodshed. We want the bloodshed to stop and go for a solution, but if we don’t take action, he won’t give us the rights. Obviously the three-month cease-fire was for finding an exit. The king has said that the “momentary cease-fire” was a ploy to intensify violence. We didn’t have that intention. The cease-fire was a pressure for a peaceful way out, not a tactic. Later, we added one more month so as to further pressurize the king for a peaceful way out. He thought – their backbone has been broken, they have announced cease-fire for power accumulation!
Post: Will you go for talks if the government declares a unilateral cease-fire now?
Prachanda: We can’t go for talks only with a ceasefire. We should look into the intention behind the truce. If the ceasefire comes as a card with the intention of defusing the movement, we won’t accept it.
Post: Then, what should happen?
Prachanda: We are open to holding unconditional discussions on all issues including constituent assembly. We will reciprocate positively if the ceasefire seems to be leading to meaningful dialogue. But, we don’t see that possibility.
Post: When will this series of violence end?
Prachanda: I can’t answer this question like an astrologer. If things go as we have said, it should end in two to three months. We want to see things crystal clear by April 6. We have been trying to see the civil war has an outlet.
Post: Your armed insurgency is close to reaching 10 years. Have you spotted your mistakes in this period?
Prachanda: The base of feudalism has been uprooted in the villages. The people are in the forefront of the world population when it comes to political consciousness. When we started the movement, there were not more than 70 full-time members in the party. Our movement grew in multiples wherever there was suppression. Within five years, it became a big power at the national level. So many people came to join us that it became like a people’s movement.
Post: Lack of discipline was also a big issue?
Prachanda: Yes, that’s absolutely true. People of all kinds came to join us. A little bit of freedom, anarchy and conservativeness started to become visible. Militarily, after we successfully carried out big operations in Dang, Gam, Achham, Arghakhanchi, Jumla, Satbariya, we had thought the army would lose faster than the police, maybe within a year or two. There was increase in multiples in the military prowess in preparation for capturing Kathmandu. Before that, the rulers of America and India got too serious. Weapons came from America, training from America, American fortification came and American money came. All the things came from America and India. They got strong fortifications. On the one hand, the war got prolonged. There was too much propaganda against us, which we couldn’t stop. On the other, we couldn’t provide ideological and political training to the new recruits. They came as they were. When we were getting over all these shortcomings, you saw internal rift within us.
Post: Internal rift within your party surfaced around the time February One happened?
Prachanda: Yes, along with February One, which was the irony.
Post: Have you seen any policy shift by India towards the Maoists?
Prachanda: We have thought there are certain changes post-February 1. But, India and America don’t want to finish the monarchy off. They want the monarchy to come to a compromise. Maybe they are bargaining.
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