Mao Zedong
There are many Communist political parties in Nepal but none attracts more attention than the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). Within six years of starting the armed insurgency, the CPN (Maoist) has established itself as a dominating force on Nepal’s political scene. The party embraces Mao Zedong’s principle that the party, the people’s army, and a united front are the three weapons for a successful revolution of the people. While the party spreads its ideology and formulates policies, the army is responsible for attacking its enemies and defending the areas under its control. Lastly, the united front joins friendly forces with a view to creating the prerequisites for the proposed people’s government. The success of the CPN in Nepal is due to their effective action of strategically combining political and military programs.
The CPN (Maoist) is organized like a pyramid; at the top is the politburo, which is followed by the central committee, regional bureaus, sub-regional bureaus, district committees, area committees, and cell committees. The politburo and standing committees are equipped with the power to make most of the political and strategic policies of the party. The committees, with fewer than ten thousand members, are the most decisive body in the party; however, when they are unable to hold meetings, the chairman, Prachanda, makes all the decisions. Prior to the People’s War, it was difficult for Prachanda to be taken seriously by the Monarch and Government of Nepal but after 2001, every single word he issues is followed by a great amount of interest and speculation. The CPN (Maoist) is located in five regional districts under its central committee. Their international department is responsible for organizing the Nepalese people living outside the country, maintaining international relations and contacts, collecting money, buying weapons, and arranging guerilla training. Representatives of the CPN (Maoist) are active in India, London, Brussels, and Berlin. While certain leaders of the party operate with guises above ground, they mostly operate in secret. Many Maoist leaders live in safe urban areas with a core group residing in Kathmandu.
Prachanda
The most powerful sector of
the CPN (Maoist) is the army consisting of 5,000 guerilla soldiers
and Prachanda holds total authority when making
decisions regarding the army’s movements and attacks. The army
employs Nepalese women, who are squad members and active in the platoons,
companies, and battalions. In addition to the army, there are thousands
of non-uniformed, gun carrying people who comprise the party’s
militia.
Female Maoist soldiers insist that they are freedom
fighters and not terrorists
In February 2000, the CPN (Maoist) formed joint committees that paralleled existing government bodies. Their long-term plan was to establish a central people’s government. In order to create a singular united front, the CPN (Maoist) have also formed a dozen ethnic and regional fronts. They have also established many organizations that work to garner public support of the party’s activites.
The CPN (Maoist) successfully spread its influence around the country and even gained complete control over some areas. The Maoists earned a prominent position in Nepal’s political arena because it now has governments in twenty-one of Nepal’s districts. The areas under the Maoist influence are divided into three categories. The areas under complete control are known as principal base areas and neighboring areas are called secondary or guerilla areas. Finally, cities such as Kathmandu are known as propaganda areas. The main objective in the capital city is to spread publicity, thus avoiding confrontations with the country’s Government. The Maoists have created police-free zones in the areas under their jurisdiction but they still allow schools, health centers, agricultural offices and post offices to operate because these institutions are not seen as a threat to Maoist ideals. After the Maoist attack on Dunai in September 2000, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) was deployed to combat the guerilla army and the RNA has been active in fighting the Maoists ever since. Their presence is now well known in Nepal’s Maoist areas.
Maoist rebels in Nepal
Created by Lauren Wessler for Mount Holyoke College
Last Updated May 12, 2005