Who are the Rebels?

The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M), is a Maoist political party, formed in 1995 following a split in the Samyukta Jana Morcha Nepal (SJMN) or United People’s Front Nepal. It was set up by radical faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias “Pradchanda” (the Fierce One). Another influential leader of the party is Baburam Bhattarai. They condemned the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninists) or the CPN (UML) and other mainstream communist factions as 'renegades’ and 'revisionists’ due to their participation in the parliamentary process. On February 13, 1996 it started an armed struggle by attacking six government and police outposts simultaneously in midwestern Nepal, thereby declaring a ‘People’s War’ in Nepal.
Apparently, the two key rebel leaders, Prachanda and Bhattarai were inspired by Peru’s Sendero Luminoso, better known as the Shining Path rebels. They were influenced by the Shining Path’s stated objective to demolish the government institutions and replace them with a revolutionary peasant regime. Like the Shining Path, these rebels deal with the opposition mercilessly. However, Nepalese Maoists have also modified the Maoist ideology to some extent mingling some of their own ideas to it. Thomas A. Marks has described that their means comprises five elements: mass line (an alternative socialist society), united front (uniting with other anti-government groups who do not necessarily share the same goals as the CPN), military (armed action), and political warfare (non-violent methods such as legal political activity or negotiations in lieu of military actions), and international action( finding allies and support in the international community). Apart from the Shining Path, they also got these tactics from Indian Maoists known as “Naxalites”. It is also said that the Maoists initially got their inspiration from the revolutionary notions of the late Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong. It is ironical that the leaders of the rebels group, Prachandra and Bhattarai, are both well educated Brahmins but most of their followers are largely drawn from Nepal’s lower class. Most of these Maoists who are young and come from the peasant families of dalits, low caste Hindus, make up the 20% of Nepal’s population. Several of other leaders also come from lower middle class families. Some of them have studied in India and other parts of the world where they were highly influenced by the leftist ideas. It is evident that they have gained heavy support from the Magar tribe. It is noted that Magars have dominated the guerrilla units even in the areas where they form a minority.
  The Maoists works have created a nationwide political awareness and consensus. The party has been following the Maoist guerrilla strategy of “people’s war” and has been slowly trying to control the rural parts of the country in an attempt to encircle the cities. In this attempt, they continuously fought with government forces at places and times when they can significantly outnumber their enemies. It was in 2001 when the Nepalese Army began their campaign against the Maoists, chiefly in the western areas of the country even under intermittent ceasefires.
The CPN (M) is known to be a member of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM) and the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia. The Trade union wing of the party is the All Nepal Trade Union Federation (Revolutionary). The student wing of the party is the All Nepal National Free Students Union (Revolutionary).