(Courtesy: Comrade Libre)
There is much talk in the Nepali media about the atrocities committed by the YCL (Young Communist League) – the recently formed youth wing of the CPN-Maoists. To the informed observer however, this band of misfits is nothing more than a bunch of “young, confused and lost” adolescents, robbed of their right to a proper childhood by a group of power-hungry Bahunists (and their anachronistic ideology).
To be sure, the YCL is the most abhorred, feared and loathed, pseudo-political element roaming the streets of Nepal today. They are feared because the group consists of an entire generation of Maoist combatants who never made it into cantonments. They are abhorred because their methods are violent, their actions swift and calculated.
Last but not least, these “young, confused and lost” men and women are loathed because they epitomize the truest character of the Maoist masses – those who are devoid of any formal education, are completely absorbed by impractical ideology and those who have no applicable knowledge other than the false notion that “power comes from the barrel of a gun.”
Although raised as an alternate to the hardcore Maoist fighting force, it is common knowledge that the YCL, the ANNFSU-R and the Maoist militia are all one in the same. The newly hired recruits that crowd UN monitored cantonment sites only represent two sets of Maoists – those who range between the ages of 25 and 40 (and were wounded in battle), and those between the ages of 14 and 25 who were recruited into cantonments with the lure of stable employment.
The “young, confused and lost” then, are accounted for by the hardened fighters who for the past decade have been carrying out the grunt work that has enabled Pushpa Dahal, Baburam Bhattarai, CP Gajurel, Mohan Baidya (and their cohorts), to enjoy civilization (and positions of power), at the YCL’s expense.
The media’s portrayal of the fearless YCL is in some sense, grossly exaggerated. At the most fundamental level of analysis, the “young, confused and lost” are products of violence, forced indoctrination, and a brand of education that is sufficient to make these individuals dangerous, but insufficient to raise their awareness to the point where they become independent, informed, decision makers.
These “young, confused and lost” individuals have been wreaking havoc on the Nepali population-at-large for over a decade. Large portions of this lot were armed during the insurgency and they are still armed today. They were feared as Maoist fighters for over a decade and they are feared today as the notorious YCL. In essence, internally, little has changed in the way of life for the YCL/Maoist fighters/Maoist militia.
However, two factors (external to the YCL’s modus operandi) have changed. First, in the current context, the “young, confused and lost” are attacking “democratic” agents of the Nepali Congress, the UML and other mainstream parties. Second, they are experimenting with techniques they successfully used in the villages of Nepal, in urban settings. Both of these approaches are guaranteed to backfire on the YCL and ultimately, on the Maoist leadership.
For starters, maligning Royalist elements (or even non-Maoist cadre) in the hinterlands of Nepal was “acceptable” – especially when any journalist who dared to publish Maoist atrocities could be murdered with impunity.
But now, with the mainstream media that survives on alms from Nepal’s “democratic” parties writing away (under the auspicious protection offered by UNMIN, the ICJ and like-minded groups), the Maoists are no longer immune to long overdue criticism.
There is much talk in the Nepali media about the atrocities committed by the YCL (Young Communist League) – the recently formed youth wing of the CPN-Maoists. To the informed observer however, this band of misfits is nothing more than a bunch of “young, confused and lost” adolescents, robbed of their right to a proper childhood by a group of power-hungry Bahunists (and their anachronistic ideology).
To be sure, the YCL is the most abhorred, feared and loathed, pseudo-political element roaming the streets of Nepal today. They are feared because the group consists of an entire generation of Maoist combatants who never made it into cantonments. They are abhorred because their methods are violent, their actions swift and calculated.
Last but not least, these “young, confused and lost” men and women are loathed because they epitomize the truest character of the Maoist masses – those who are devoid of any formal education, are completely absorbed by impractical ideology and those who have no applicable knowledge other than the false notion that “power comes from the barrel of a gun.”
Although raised as an alternate to the hardcore Maoist fighting force, it is common knowledge that the YCL, the ANNFSU-R and the Maoist militia are all one in the same. The newly hired recruits that crowd UN monitored cantonment sites only represent two sets of Maoists – those who range between the ages of 25 and 40 (and were wounded in battle), and those between the ages of 14 and 25 who were recruited into cantonments with the lure of stable employment.
The “young, confused and lost” then, are accounted for by the hardened fighters who for the past decade have been carrying out the grunt work that has enabled Pushpa Dahal, Baburam Bhattarai, CP Gajurel, Mohan Baidya (and their cohorts), to enjoy civilization (and positions of power), at the YCL’s expense.
The media’s portrayal of the fearless YCL is in some sense, grossly exaggerated. At the most fundamental level of analysis, the “young, confused and lost” are products of violence, forced indoctrination, and a brand of education that is sufficient to make these individuals dangerous, but insufficient to raise their awareness to the point where they become independent, informed, decision makers.
These “young, confused and lost” individuals have been wreaking havoc on the Nepali population-at-large for over a decade. Large portions of this lot were armed during the insurgency and they are still armed today. They were feared as Maoist fighters for over a decade and they are feared today as the notorious YCL. In essence, internally, little has changed in the way of life for the YCL/Maoist fighters/Maoist militia.
However, two factors (external to the YCL’s modus operandi) have changed. First, in the current context, the “young, confused and lost” are attacking “democratic” agents of the Nepali Congress, the UML and other mainstream parties. Second, they are experimenting with techniques they successfully used in the villages of Nepal, in urban settings. Both of these approaches are guaranteed to backfire on the YCL and ultimately, on the Maoist leadership.
For starters, maligning Royalist elements (or even non-Maoist cadre) in the hinterlands of Nepal was “acceptable” – especially when any journalist who dared to publish Maoist atrocities could be murdered with impunity.
But now, with the mainstream media that survives on alms from Nepal’s “democratic” parties writing away (under the auspicious protection offered by UNMIN, the ICJ and like-minded groups), the Maoists are no longer immune to long overdue criticism.
Granted, the Maoists have their own mouthpieces that publish in Nepali. But one man in Washington DC (and a couple of scattered elements in Europe) can hardly be expected to effectively shield the Maoists against the English-writing press, crying foul play from the heart of Nepal – the same press that essentially drives the international community’s perception of ground reality in Nepal.
Terrorizing the vast majority of Nepalis in remote parts of Nepal may have been a cakewalk for the YCL. But trying the same nonsense on the relatively educated, urbane, and sophisticated elements of the Nepali population is certain to generate an eventual backlash that neither the “young, confused and lost” nor their leadership have previously confronted. As the saying goes, “being in opposition is a luxury” that is realized best by those who are incumbents – thank goodness the Maoists are finally in the interim government!!
Eventually, the YCL ("young, confused and lost") will become the biggest liability to none other than the Maoist leadership itself. After all, who in their right state of mind would provoke the Nepali Congress youth by throwing slippers at the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction? What kind of sane politician would condone a group of men, beating up a group of NSU women (with such malicious intent that the actual strikes were intentionally aimed at the womens’ reproductive organs)? What kind of political element can knowingly pick synchronized battles with the Royalists, the Bahunists, and with Nepal’s business community, all within clear view of the international community?
At the end of the day, the “young, confused and lost” represent precisely what the Maoists (minus the mysticism) are all about – a bunch of stray dogs, pissing on a bamboo pole, that hoists the Maoist flag, on supposedly “captured,” Royal property in Salla Ghari, Bhaktapur. This is what it all boils down to.
And who is at fault for nurturing and unleashing the uncontrolled damage to the Maoists’ image? Who else but the Maoist leadership itself! The same ideologically brainwashed, politically outdated, group of losers who preyed on the social tensions that today, have spiraled clearly out of the Maoists’ control.
To be succinct, who else is there to blame but a group of 40-50 year old Maoist leaders who themselves were at one point, “young, confused and lost?” And what choice do the Nepali masses (backed by the international community) have, but to welcome this lot of “young, confused and lost” individuals, into the 21st century, by teaching them a lesson in democratic politics that hopefully, they will never forget!!
Terrorizing the vast majority of Nepalis in remote parts of Nepal may have been a cakewalk for the YCL. But trying the same nonsense on the relatively educated, urbane, and sophisticated elements of the Nepali population is certain to generate an eventual backlash that neither the “young, confused and lost” nor their leadership have previously confronted. As the saying goes, “being in opposition is a luxury” that is realized best by those who are incumbents – thank goodness the Maoists are finally in the interim government!!
Eventually, the YCL ("young, confused and lost") will become the biggest liability to none other than the Maoist leadership itself. After all, who in their right state of mind would provoke the Nepali Congress youth by throwing slippers at the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction? What kind of sane politician would condone a group of men, beating up a group of NSU women (with such malicious intent that the actual strikes were intentionally aimed at the womens’ reproductive organs)? What kind of political element can knowingly pick synchronized battles with the Royalists, the Bahunists, and with Nepal’s business community, all within clear view of the international community?
At the end of the day, the “young, confused and lost” represent precisely what the Maoists (minus the mysticism) are all about – a bunch of stray dogs, pissing on a bamboo pole, that hoists the Maoist flag, on supposedly “captured,” Royal property in Salla Ghari, Bhaktapur. This is what it all boils down to.
And who is at fault for nurturing and unleashing the uncontrolled damage to the Maoists’ image? Who else but the Maoist leadership itself! The same ideologically brainwashed, politically outdated, group of losers who preyed on the social tensions that today, have spiraled clearly out of the Maoists’ control.
To be succinct, who else is there to blame but a group of 40-50 year old Maoist leaders who themselves were at one point, “young, confused and lost?” And what choice do the Nepali masses (backed by the international community) have, but to welcome this lot of “young, confused and lost” individuals, into the 21st century, by teaching them a lesson in democratic politics that hopefully, they will never forget!!
15 comments:
The YCL may rightly be seen as the "young, confused and lost". It is time however for the Government, or at least the democratic forces within it, to come up with alternatives for these young miscreants. Think vocational education, employment and such other enticements which the young, uneducated and unemployed of any country deserve.
YCL might be young, confused and lost, but that does not take away from the fact that they are still dangerous. They need to be dealt with sternly. It is ridiculous that a member of the standing government has a private mob, running their election campaign.
SPA is in no position to challenge YCL- demonic and dearranged lot created by Maoist to ursurp power by any means. If you listen to Pranchande "change in form but in tactics" you would not need to look further.
When you give devil its due- these happens. Even Indra "king of Gods" have had to run. Right be right and all will be fine.
Anonymous, i agree with you and I appreciate the irony that this writer has used.
YCL is a problem. It is THE problem. And the question may be "why should we care when this was not a problem of our making?"
But the tragedy is that regardless, this is still our problem and one way or another (by force or toys), we will have to deal with the YCL.
Jai Nepal.
It was almost amusing to read today in NepalNews.com that the Maoists have slated a proposal in the Parliament to declare Nepal a Republic to facilitate the CA elections - and that the PLA should now be considered a part of the national security force. I hope our enlightened parliamentarians will not only shoot these proposals down like clay pigeons but also have the cleverness to laugh at the comrades. The red star will not rise so easily in our beloved motherland!!
"...if the Maoists are not tamed properly...": from a piece by Mr. Khatri recently. That's a big IF there. Who's to "tame" them? Politically, the SPA is hardly up to the task. So what remains? Who's going to do it militarily? I have read elsewhere that the mid-level officer corp in the NA is as good as anywhere in the world. If there are solid commanders at the battalion level, and maybe even at the brigade level, what's to stop the NA from taming the Maoists - and obviously the YCL? The question arises as to why they were not able to do so between February 2005 and April 2006. The answer: lack of motivation. As long as the NA does not have the full political support for its campaign (just like the Peruvian Army had from its President Fujimori when it squashed the Shining Path communists), its half-hearted defensive manoeuvres will be futile. How many times did the NA (RNA then) go out on search and destroy missions? What/who held them back? In the answers lie the current and future capability of the NA. After all, wars are not won by generals poring over their planning boards but by the blood and guts of the soldiers and their commanders in the battlefront. Motivate those soldiers and the job is almost done.
horatio: what peice by Mr. Khatri are you referring to? Could you please provide a link or the source so that I may read it also? Thanks.
Ravi, "Nepal: the Maoists' Grand Strategy - Threat to Democracy" by P.B. Khatri, NewsBlaze, Daily News.
Thanks Horatio. Is that publication available online?
Ravi, here is the article...I'm not sure if it's available on line:
Nepal: The Maoist's Grand Strategy - Threat to Democracy
By PB Khatri
The Maoists waged a so called "people's war" in Nepal that has cost many lives and damaged unaccountable amounts of public and private property. Following the success of "Janaandolan II", truce was declared, but widespread acts of terrorizing, such as killing, kidnapping, intimidation, extortion, atrocities, organized crimes and political violence are common, even during the post truce period. Such acts are ongoing and there is no sign of denouncing such acts by the Maoists even when they joined the interim parliament and government.
The Maoists are politically trying to get big credit for "Janaandolan II". They are doing so because they are getting too much leverage from the "old regime". The Maoists tend to hide their past military setbacks by claiming that the outcome of Janaandolan II was only possible due to "fusion" of "people's war" and "mass movement". They have committed uncountable numbers of crimes against humanity over the period of the 12 year war, but they haven't spelled out even a single word about their side of wrong doing. Interestingly, the majority of mainstream political parties along with civil society and human rights organizations are also silent on these critical issues. In order to lure the Maoists in to mainstream politics the government gave total amnesty to the Maoists. Scores of criminals acting under Maoist cover got political amnesty which resulted in a culture of impunity in Nepal.
As the Maoist Supremo, Prachanda, mentioned in one of his recent addresses that the people's war is not over yet and they will continue to stage the war in different forms until their end state is achieved. Such a statement clearly indicates that the Maoist party is not serious about an ongoing peace process and the present peace arrangements. One can easily draw the conclusion that the Maoists will not be satisfied until their ultimate aim is achieved which is a totalitarian communist regime. Such statements have surely inspired the Maoists cadres at various levels to stage more atrocities and terrorist acts.
The Maoists, becoming well aware that it is impossible to capture central power by military means, adopted the strategy of political maneuver to pursue their ultimate goals. It was complex for them to sustain the protracted war as they kept on suffering very badly during the series of combat operations with the security forces. They had a crisis of manpower shortage, shortage of arms and ammunition and they couldn't attract the masses with their outdated political ideology. On one hand, they were becoming very unpopular day by day among the populace, and on the other hand, they had problems receiving "outside support" particularly from neighbouring countries. These problems, coupled with international pressure finally forced them to surrender politically to the seven party alliance (SPA). The fluid political situation and conflicting political ideologies and interests of the SPA gave the Maoists the upper hand in political bargaining. The Maoists found a conducive environment to bring the SPA around to their own terms and conditions.
The present political culture is not focused towards fulfilling the people's aspirations and interests but diverted towards addressing the Maoists agenda. The main focus is shifted towards punishing the institution of monarchy and monarchists as the Maoists consider them as the prime enemy of their "political grand design". The Maoists also focus on making the Nepalese Army weaker as the Maoists think that the strong Nepalese army will be the biggest hurdle on their path to achieve their ultimate goal. In the course of weakening the Nepalese Army, the Maoists are trying to disrupt the organizational structure by inducting politically indoctrinated cadres into the National Army with a view to penetrate and destabilize the rank and file of the Nepalese Army. They are also spreading false propaganda to damage the credibility of the Nepalese Army and its leadership.
Interestingly, the voices have been raised only to penalize members of security forces for the atrocities alleged to have been made during the so called "people's war". Very low voices are raised against the Maoists for the uncountable crimes against humanity that they committed during the same period. It is known to all that the crimes committed by the Maoists are much higher in terms of magnitude, intensity and seriousness. They have even killed their own cadres wounded in war, fearing that the security forces will detain them and get information from them. There are many innocent civilians, unarmed security forces, family of security forces members, political activists and government civilian employees who became victims of Maoist brutality.
Very few politicians, human rights activists and journalists have shown courage to point the finger at the Maoist atrocities. The government is virtually doing nothing to penalize those found guilty during the post ceasefire period. The government is probably showing restraint either to please the Maoists or due to their inability to enforce law and order. It is the culture of impunity which has inspired the Maoists to repeatedly commit the crimes. The so called Young Communist League (YCL) (which are unregistered Maoists militants) formed to confront civilians and other political forces. They are taking law and order into their own hands and openly challenging government authorities and Police forces by operating in parallel. If the activities of YCL are not taboo to political activities only then this will certainly create many problems which will damage the system of state affairs.
There is a need to establish a truth commission, tribunal court and peace and reconciliation council to impartially investigate the crimes against humanity and penalize those no matter which organization they belongs to. The mandate given to the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) must be strong enough to bring justice by ending the culture of impunity. The present mandate given to UNMIN is weak probably due to the political nature of the mission. Their voice is not strong enough to deter the Maoists from repeating criminal activities and atrocities.
The political interests of SPAM must not overshadow the rule of law and basic rights of the people. The SPA must realize that if the Maoists are not tamed properly then it is imminent that the next target of the Maoists will be the SPA themselves, mainly Nepali Congress and UML. Once the Maoists destroy the Monarchy and the National Army then it will be easy going for them to grab central power. They don't consider other political parties including NC and UML as major threats on their path to achieve the end state of their grand strategy.
Copyright © 2007, NewsBlaze, Daily News
Thanks Horatio. This is an excellent piece.
A bad case of Whitemen's burden:
UN planning evacuation to India [Excerpts]
Monday, 14 May 2007
By Sushma Amatya in newsfront
Kathmandu, 14 May: Signaling that Nepal’s security situation might take a nosedive, the UN seems to be preparing unprecedented measures for the safety of its expatriate employees posted in Nepal. All such employees and their dependents might soon be asked to obtain Indian Visa, a UN source said.
This is an indication that if the situation deteriorates further and an emergency situation arises, the UN employees may have to evacuate to India, the nearest safe country.But the UN move appears odd since its officers are involved in the peace process with the Secretary General and the office of thee UN Human Rights Commissioner in their separate offices in Nepal. However, of late the UN has been critical of the activities of the Maoists especially for their not returning the confiscated property of private individuals, obstructing the verification of combatants in the cantonments, and violent activities that the Young Communist League cadres have been carrying out in many parts of the country.
This coupled with the violence, agitation, abduction and execution by armed groups in terai has contributed to the international bodies reviewing their assessment of safety situation in Nepal."We have no idea if UN is going to ask its expatriate employees to seek Indian Visas," a senior official in the foreign ministry said." We however understand that for the UN, the safety of its employees is an important issue for which they will always be alert to."In the event of such an evacuation taking place, Nepal will be considered an unsafe place like Afghanistan in South Asia region, the UN source said. It added that Nepal’s situation is being assessed in New York and any incidence of violence taking place here will have a bearing in the move.
By the Horiato- word "taming" is passe, its eradicating that is necessary. Lawlessness and thuggery cannot be tamed, must be enforced and eradicated. cannot let Nepal freefall under a so-called- loktrantra or ganatantra. Its the people that matters who must be free enough to declare their asipirations. The way things are- SPAM FEAR the people and Monarchy. There is no doubt on this. Thats the reason they want to hurry and shove down our throat their IDEALS, REVISIONISTIC mantra, and Kill the very notion of one Nepali. Lets join together to wipe them off from face of this earth.
This report in News Front by Ms Amatya is being overplayed too much. UN has been on alert ever since the terrorists terrorized this country-- and prior to last year's April movement, the UN had already directed its agencies to use India as an evacuation point. It was already then that the agencies had started to seek Indian visas for its international staff and their dependants. SO, this is nothing new and is definotely not related to the US Government's new advice about not to travel to Nepal. Its one thing to report but while doing that being sensible and responsible so that we don't press our alarm bells prematurely is something that our local media have sorely failed in. But in this country of failed governments and failed political and terrorist parties, what do you expect?
After ADB and Japan, World bank threated to remove its hand from its development aid due to incapability of the spaM in providing security.
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