Nepal Maoists take over Republic, Prachanda elected Prime Minister

from The Red Star

After waging a 10 year long armed struggle, and after a stunning victory in the Constituent Assembly election, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist hoisted the red flag on top of the world. Puspa Kamal Dahal, aka ‘Prachanda’, the Chairman of CPN-Maoist, has been elected as the first Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, and he is set to lead the government. With 464 votes out of 577, Prachanda leaves his rival Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba far behind with 113 votes.

Born in a poor farmer’s family 54 years ago in Kaski, Prachanda was the leader of the 10 year long People’s War and the Supreme Commander of People’s Liberation Army. Prachanda was the common Prime Ministerial candidate of the CPN-Maoist, the CPN-UML and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF); 21 out of the 25 parties in the CA supported him. Although the Maoist attempt to form a government on national consensus failed because of the Nepali Congress; more than 80 percent of the vote went for a government led by Prachanda; it is significant for a government of national consensus.

The victory of the Maoist leader for the post of Prime Minister and the new government under the leadership of the CPN-M has brought great happiness and hope to the majority of the people in Nepal. Nepal suffers from anarchy, food shortage, inflation, and a fuel crisis. There is much hope among the people in the victory of a revolutionary leader who has been involved in politics for 37 years.

The new government has been formed exactly four months after the completion of the Constituent Assembly election. During this period, the CPN-M fought an intense table war with other parties, especially with the Nepal Congress. The Maoist attempt to form a government of national consensus under its leadership failed, and the parties agreed to choose a PM through getting a majority in the CA. The NC tried to form a government under its leadership, by trying to convince the UML and MJF. However, at the last stage, the Maoist got their support, and not the NC. Sixteen small parties who are represented in the CA due to the proportional system supported the Maoist unanimously.

Chairman Prachanda, after taking an oath of office from President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, will form the cabinet immediately and declare the Common Minimum Programme immediately. the CPN-M is taking nine ministries, whereas the UML will get six and the MJF four. Four other smaller parties will get one each.

The United Nations, the European Union, India, and various other countries have sent messages of congratulations to Prachanda on being elected the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Nepal. They have expressed their happiness and wishes that the new government will be able to deliver to the people; to meet their expectations and take the peace process forward. Likewise, the various revolutionary and communist parties and organisations have sent their best wishes and congratulations on the victory of the CPN-M. Here in Nepal, various political parties, organisations and people have congratulated Prachanda and the CPN-M.

Before being elected Prime Minister, Chairman Prachanda declared he is to step down as chief of People’s Liberation Army. He was the supreme commander since the establishment of the PLA in 2001. Along with him, other CA members who also hold positions in the PLA will step down from their PLA posts. Furthermore, he has said that the party will implement the agreements made with other political parties in the past.

The CPN-M has achieved a great victory with the trust and hope of the majority of the people of Nepal. Furthermore, the people who desire justice are happy with this result. However, the CPN-M has many challenges in the road ahead. A big danger ahead is that the party may lose the way after the high expectations of the people in the CPN-Maoist. The people are suffering a great deal in Nepal. However, the Maoists reached this situation after overcoming many challenges, and they should work hard for the improvement of the people and nation. The People have chosen the Maoist with the hope that they can solve the problems. The future of Nepal depends upon the Maoist.

The Central Committee meeting of the CPN-M, before the CA election, has proposed its CM as the first President of the Republic of Nepal. A slogan on the walls in Kathmandu and all over Nepal reads ‘We salute Com. Prachanda, the first President of the Republic of Nepal’. Although Prachanda did not become the first President, he did become the first Prime Minister. The Maoist election slogan was a ‘New leadership for a New Nepal.’ The nation now has the new leadership it so desperately needs, and the people eagerly want a New Nepal, a better and progressive Nepal that can be an example to the whole world.

ILPS Congratulates Prachanda

16 August 2008

Comrade Prachanda
His Excellency Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Prime Minister
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal

Dear Comrade Prachanda,

We the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) convey to you
our warmest greetings of revolutionary solidarity and congratulations
for your election as the first Prime Minister of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Nepal (FDRN) by overwhelming majority vote. We
share the elation over your outstanding achievement with you as
leader, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), the People’s Liberation
Army, the mass organizations and the entire people of Nepal.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the people of Nepal have
advanced from one major political victory to another. The cumulative
victories have been due to the correct general line of new democratic
revolution through people’s war against imperialism, feudalism and
bureaucrat capitalism. Through a decade-long revolutionary armed
struggle, your Party was able to build a powerful mass base and make
advances in an all-rounded way.

The people of the world have celebrated the great historic victory of
your Party and the people of Nepal in overthrowing the monarchy and
establishing the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. They expect,
as your own people demand, that the revolutionary process continues
through fundamental reforms by constitutional changes, policy-making,
executive action and mass mobilization.

We fully and firmly support the demands of the people of Nepal that
under your leadership the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal uphold,
defend and promote national independence, people’s democracy, social
justice, economic development through industrialization and land
reform, a national, scientific and mass system of culture and
education and an independent foreign policy for peace and
international solidarity.

There are great possibilities of global significance arising from the
revolutionary strength of your republic, Party and people. Nepal can
serve as a base for promoting the global historic mission of the
working class for defeating imperialism and building socialism and for
generating the broadest possible mass movement of international
solidarity against imperialism and reaction.

We extend to you our most militant best wishes. We are hopeful and
confident that you as Prime Minister will lead the republic, your
Party and the people of Nepal towards still greater revolutionary
victories. The prospects are bright because your Party and people are
united, reliant on their own revolutionary strength, ever vigilant
and militant in defense of revolutionary gains and are determined to
struggle and make the necessary sacrifices to reach the next new and
higher level of the Nepali revolution.

Please accept the assurances of our highest comradely regards.

For the International League of Peoples’ Struggle

Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Chairperson
International Coordinating Committee

19th August 2008 | Filed under: Burning Issues | Click here to follow any responses to this entry: RSS 2.0 feed