The blatant manifestation of domination of Indian Expansionism at one hand
and the total surrender to the Indian big brother at the other, is nowhere
more clearly seen than in the sell-out of Nepal's natural resources, mainly
water resource to India. Although Nepal is second poorest country in the
world, it has the capacity to produce second highest amount of electricity
(equivalent to the total capacity of electricity produced by Mexico, USA
and Canada combined). However the ruling classes of India have been
systematically harnessing Nepal's water resource at the cost of Nepal's interests
and priority. Kosi Agreement 1954, Gandaki Agreement 1959, Tanakpur Treaty
1991 and the latest Mahakali Treaty 1996 provide the best examples of this
usurpation. It may be noted that Kosi, Gandaki & Karnali are the three
major river basins in Nepal). While Kosi Agreement, Gandaki Agreement and
Tanakpur Treaty reflect semi-colonial mode of usurpation done almost unilaterally
without any role of Nepal in them, the recently concluded Mahakali Treaty
represents a more subtle and more dangerous form of neo-colonial domination.
While Mahakali integrated Development Project (MIDP) does not fall under
Nepal's priority but is essential for the Indian monopoly bourgeoisie, a
foreign debt of Rs. 250 billion (equivalent of five years of annual budget
of Nepal) is thrust upon Nepal as the cost of this project. And Nepal is
forced to sell electricity at throw-away price. It is worthwhile to mention
that Arun III, another multipurpose project in Eastern part of Nepal was
rejected on the ground that it was expensive amounting to Rs. 54 billion
(i.e. almost 1/ 5th of the total expenditure of MIDP project). It was to
be financed by the World Bank and India had no involvement & interest
in this project. However the MIDP project was not only supported by the ruling
Congress lead coalition government but even the main opposition party, the
UML. This only proves that the Indian ruling classes have a better grip over
the Nepalese politics than other imperialist powers. No wonder that imperialist
countries like the USA & UK joined hands with the Indian ruling classes
to get the Mahakali Treaty ratified by the two-third majority in the Nepalese
parliament in September last.
The CPN (Maoist) and other patriotic and democratic forces have opposed this
Treaty from the very beginning and have mobilised the masses and public opinion
against it. A Nepal Bandh (general strike) called on December 12 by the National
People's Movement Coordination's Committee and actively supported by the
CPN (Maoist) to protest against the ratification of this Treaty and other
current issues including state repression etc. was a grand success.
Historically the current 'United Marxist Leninist' (UML) clique in Nepal
emerged from the unification of the M-L group with a revolutionary background
with other revisionist groups in 1990. The transition from the revolutionary
ML group to the reactionary UML clique is worth noting. Influenced by the
Naxalbari movement led by Com. Charu Majumdar in India & the Cultural
Revolution in China, a group of radical youths rebelled against the then
revisionist leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal and started armed
activities in 1972 / 73. However due to petty bourgeois vacillations and
massive repression let loose on them by the reactionary government, the group
started retreating from its revolutionary path which finally culminated in
the formation of UML and plunging in parliamentary cretinism. But how fast
the UML could become stooge of both the internal and external reactionary
forces and itself degenerate into open reaction is just amazing. As the single
largest party in parliament the UML served in the ministry of the reactionary
state for nine months in 1995. Recently Madhav Kumar Nepal, the General Secretary
of the UML has been appointed as a member of the Royal Council by the king.
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) representing the interest of the feudal
monarchy is now it's closest ally. UML's hunger for power is so intense that
it has tried to topple twice the present Congress led coalition government
by buying a section of RPP ruling party. They were even prepared to serve
under the Prime Ministership of RPP leader Lokendra B. Chand. Knowing that
the blessing of the king is not enough it has recently exhibited its blatant
anti-national character by agreeing to ratify Mahakali Treaty to appease
the Indian expansionists. Thus what started as a ML group to rebel against
the then revisionist Communist Party of Nepal has now turned into a faithful
running dog of feudal & imperialist forces. And yet these traitors dare
to retain the 'ML' name to hoodwink the masses and the international opinion.
Perhaps no party in the world has prostituted the word 'ML' or for that master
'Marxism' to such an extent as the UML clique is doing now.
It is no wonder that the UML clique is terrified by the protracted people's
war led by CPN (Maoist), and is hence several steps ahead of other reactionary
forces in condemning it as a 'terrorist' act & 'a danger to the parliamentary
system'.
The neo-revisionist 'Mashal' group has for some time launched a vituperative
campaign against the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM) and its
participating member Parties to hide Its degeneration into open reformism
and parliamentarism. Through its legal publications and open press statements
it has not only sought to smear RIM as a 'Trotskyite' formation, but has
done honorary service to the reactionaries and imperialists by making public
sensitive informations about this important international body.
It is well-known that some time back the Committee of the RIM (CORIM) had
in a very polite manner suggested the 'Mashal' group to voluntarily opt out
of the international body because of its (i.e. Mashal's) deviation beyond
redemption from the ideological - political foundations of the RIM. However,
instead of attempting to rectify its deviations or withdrawing gracefully
from the international body it shamelessly mounted a public mud - slinging
campaign against the RIM to the delight of the reactionaries and opportunists
the world over.
Even a mere literate of revolutionary Marxism and the international communist
movement should easily discern the essence of neo-revisionism practiced by
the 'Mashal' group In the spheres of ideology, politics and organisation
and its irreconcilable contradictions with the RIM and other participating
member Parties. In the sphere of ideology, its blind opposition to 'Maoism'
is virtually turning into its abandonment of 'Mao Thought' as well. To argue
that 'Maoism' downgrades or negates 'Leninism' is mere sophistry. To pit
one authority of the proletarian class against the other has been an old
trademark of the opportunists. Similarly in the sphere of politics its aversion
to all kinds of people's wars or armed struggles, its never-ending obsession
with legalism and parliamentarism and its tailing behind the neo-reactionary
UML clique in Nepal, is an open secret. Organisationally, its legalistic
form and ever decreasing size is known to all. Against this naked reality
its insistence neither to mend its ways nor to leave the company of
revolutionaries at the world level is just ridiculous.
It is really amusing to note that rather than to look inside oneself to locate
the causes of one's degeneration the 'Mashal' group has sought to denigrate
RIM and its participating Parties as taking to 'Trotskyism'. Doesn't it remind
everybody of the proverbial 'fox' cursing the 'sour grapes' ? If at all the
RIM has turned 'Trotskyite', then why should a self-professed 'revolutionary'
organisation like 'Mashal' be wishing to be glued with it ?
In the context of the increased importance and revolutionary role of the RIM In the international communist movement it is hightime that it is cleared of neo-revisionist pests like 'Mashal' and its revolutionary base widened steadily.