The Chameleon Nature of Maoist Strategy
Gorkhali Nepal
July 16, 2007
Kundan Singh Khatri
Flexibility is universally considered a virtue for any organization. Unless of course, that flexibility is adopted for the explicit purpose of treachery. Sadly, the almost uncanny ability of the Nepali Maoists to adapt to ever changing dynamics and remain on top of every situation is solely utilized for deceiving the Nepalese people and the well wishing, but often naive, International Community vis a vis the real and quite inflexible Maoist strategic objective of securing total and unequivocal power.
The latest change of shade in the Maoist Chameleon's rough skin is their newfound criticism of the same UN that they were so instrumental in welcoming to Nepal for the apparent purposes of facilitating the peace process and the actual intent of legitimizing their party machinery. The Maoist leadership is now 'seeing red' at the UN's non-conformity to their combatant verification game plan. To quote a leading daily, the Maoist PLA Deputy Commander and Parliamentarian - now that's a chameleon act in itself - Janardan Sharma, claimed on Saturday that the "second phase verification of the PLA arms and combatants was stopped because of a 'conspiracy hatched' by the UN".
This Chameleon-ism is ironically one of the most enduring hallmarks of the Maoist game plan. For over a decade, the Maoists have taken the Nepalese people and most of the International Community for a ride, using deceit and betrayal in the unwavering pursuit of their strategic objective, the establishment of a totalitarian communist regime. Even a cursory consideration of the Maoist slogans over time reveals this dangerous and far reaching aspect of their game plan.
Initial Position Changed Position Apparent Reason for Changes End Objective
CA elections as the key medium to solve all issues - including the question of a Republic Stated - Declare Republic before CA Elections
Unstated - May not even go into CA Elections
Decreasing likelihood of success in a free and fair election (Loss of Madesh and general popularity)
Capture of Full & Unequivocal Power
We will stop extortion, kidnapping and other 'revolutionary' after dissolving of reinstated parliament Not yet - but we will do so after joining Parliament.
No - After joining Cabinet / government.
No - After CA Elections
Ample & consistent evidence of ability to get their way through blackmail and pressure tactics - so why not make the most out of the situation?
Today, the newest victim of Maoist chameleon-ism is the issue of the verification of combatants in the UNMIN monitored cantonments. Despite all manners of agreements in existence governing the matter, the Maoists have thrown in yet another spanner into the peace machinery. Apparently unhappy by the fact that UNMIN did not give a clean chit to all their underage combatants and perhaps more than a little embarrassed that some 19 percent of initially registered combatants are no longer present in the camps, the Maoists now demand that the verification process be halted until those verified at Chula Chuli are immediately integrated into the Nepalese Army.
In fact their frustrations seem so gross, they have actually taken to accusing the UN of foul play - bringing into question the credibility of the peace process itself. All this mind you, at a time when astute political watchers like ex-PM Surya Bahadur Thapa and others are finally beginning to publicly ponder whether an 'indirect approach', one of securing a manipulative integration of the PLA into the National Army and its eventual subversion and mobilization for party interest, is in the offing here (see previous article by same author - "What next on the Maoist Roadmap?"
Negotiations are supposed to be a process whereby two opposing viewpoints, say 'A' and 'B' are considered and debated in search of a meeting point somewhere in the middle - a two sided compromise. But in Nepal, negotiations simply mean the incremental subjugation of the government / SPA position in favor of the Maoist position. Initially the government / SPA may agree to only 10 percent of the Maoist demands. However, slowly but surely, they invariably give in inch by inch until the Maoists have it their way. The SPA then declares, what has been at best a delay of an unmitigated disaster, a 'victory for peace in Nepal' and we move on to another round of 'negotiations'.
While this sort of suicidal 'negotiations' may have arguably secured the one positive outcome of keeping the Maoists from returning to armed hostilities, the issue of verification and its implications are too serious and grave to write off so lightly. All concerned must put their feet down firmly and stop the Maoists from getting on yet another bandwagon on their journey towards the same destination - total power. The SPA, UNMIN, the Nepalese people and the International Community at large cannot allow the critical aspect of verification with its far reaching implications on integration to be held hostage to a trick of the chameleon.
Flexibility is universally considered a virtue for any organization. Unless of course, that flexibility is adopted for the explicit purpose of treachery. Sadly, the almost uncanny ability of the Nepali Maoists to adapt to ever changing dynamics and remain on top of every situation is solely utilized for deceiving the Nepalese people and the well wishing, but often naive, International Community vis a vis the real and quite inflexible Maoist strategic objective of securing total and unequivocal power.
The latest change of shade in the Maoist Chameleon's rough skin is their newfound criticism of the same UN that they were so instrumental in welcoming to Nepal for the apparent purposes of facilitating the peace process and the actual intent of legitimizing their party machinery. The Maoist leadership is now 'seeing red' at the UN's non-conformity to their combatant verification game plan. To quote a leading daily, the Maoist PLA Deputy Commander and Parliamentarian - now that's a chameleon act in itself - Janardan Sharma, claimed on Saturday that the "second phase verification of the PLA arms and combatants was stopped because of a 'conspiracy hatched' by the UN".
This Chameleon-ism is ironically one of the most enduring hallmarks of the Maoist game plan. For over a decade, the Maoists have taken the Nepalese people and most of the International Community for a ride, using deceit and betrayal in the unwavering pursuit of their strategic objective, the establishment of a totalitarian communist regime. Even a cursory consideration of the Maoist slogans over time reveals this dangerous and far reaching aspect of their game plan.
Initial Position Changed Position Apparent Reason for Changes End Objective
CA elections as the key medium to solve all issues - including the question of a Republic Stated - Declare Republic before CA Elections
Unstated - May not even go into CA Elections
Decreasing likelihood of success in a free and fair election (Loss of Madesh and general popularity)
Capture of Full & Unequivocal Power
We will stop extortion, kidnapping and other 'revolutionary' after dissolving of reinstated parliament Not yet - but we will do so after joining Parliament.
No - After joining Cabinet / government.
No - After CA Elections
Ample & consistent evidence of ability to get their way through blackmail and pressure tactics - so why not make the most out of the situation?
Today, the newest victim of Maoist chameleon-ism is the issue of the verification of combatants in the UNMIN monitored cantonments. Despite all manners of agreements in existence governing the matter, the Maoists have thrown in yet another spanner into the peace machinery. Apparently unhappy by the fact that UNMIN did not give a clean chit to all their underage combatants and perhaps more than a little embarrassed that some 19 percent of initially registered combatants are no longer present in the camps, the Maoists now demand that the verification process be halted until those verified at Chula Chuli are immediately integrated into the Nepalese Army.
In fact their frustrations seem so gross, they have actually taken to accusing the UN of foul play - bringing into question the credibility of the peace process itself. All this mind you, at a time when astute political watchers like ex-PM Surya Bahadur Thapa and others are finally beginning to publicly ponder whether an 'indirect approach', one of securing a manipulative integration of the PLA into the National Army and its eventual subversion and mobilization for party interest, is in the offing here (see previous article by same author - "What next on the Maoist Roadmap?"
Negotiations are supposed to be a process whereby two opposing viewpoints, say 'A' and 'B' are considered and debated in search of a meeting point somewhere in the middle - a two sided compromise. But in Nepal, negotiations simply mean the incremental subjugation of the government / SPA position in favor of the Maoist position. Initially the government / SPA may agree to only 10 percent of the Maoist demands. However, slowly but surely, they invariably give in inch by inch until the Maoists have it their way. The SPA then declares, what has been at best a delay of an unmitigated disaster, a 'victory for peace in Nepal' and we move on to another round of 'negotiations'.
While this sort of suicidal 'negotiations' may have arguably secured the one positive outcome of keeping the Maoists from returning to armed hostilities, the issue of verification and its implications are too serious and grave to write off so lightly. All concerned must put their feet down firmly and stop the Maoists from getting on yet another bandwagon on their journey towards the same destination - total power. The SPA, UNMIN, the Nepalese people and the International Community at large cannot allow the critical aspect of verification with its far reaching implications on integration to be held hostage to a trick of the chameleon.
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