HETAUDA, FEB 03 -
The closed session of the UCPN (Maoist)’s General Convention was
delayed for hours on Sunday following a dispute between top leaders over
nomination of representatives and observers to the party’s decision
making body.
After tough discussions, top leaders were able to resolve the row over convention representatives and delegates of some regions on Sunday evening. There were disagreements over representatives to be selected from Bhojpura, Tharuwan, Mithila state and districts including Bara, Parsa and Rautahat. By the time the Post went to press, it was not clear which top leaders prevailed in securing how many delegates. However, party insiders said Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal commands a strong majority among the 3,500 delegates attending the closed session. Hundreds of party workers were visibly tired and frustrated as they waited for the session to begin. It started at 6:45 pm, seven hours behind schedule. Party Spokesperson Agni Sapkota claimed that the session was delayed due to technical glitches in printing and distribution of identity cards for the delegates. Logistical problems were visible on the identity cards as the party dispatched its state committee chiefs to identify and escort their delegates to the hall at the Hetauda Industrial Area. The well-decorated stage for the closed session had a portrait of Dahal hanging on its wall alongside other communist leaders of the world.
A political document was tabled by Dahal at the session on Sunday night, where he prescribed a capitalist revolution by mobilising youths in the production sector. The document distributed to the delegates on Sunday was not new. It was already covered by the media in Kathmandu last month.
The paper suggests the line of peace, constitution and economic development as immediate priorities of the party. So far, there are no dissenting papers on the chairman’s document.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and his faction is likely to assert ownership of the political line during the discussions. Another Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha has threatened to bring out a separate document if Dahal’s document fails to incorporate issues related to ‘national independence.’
The chairman’s document has come under fire from an influential group of leaders and cadres attending the jamboree for remaining silent on ‘Indian intervention.’
The session is scheduled to endorse a ‘peace-era policy’ for the former rebel party. Delegates from districts, who waited for hours for the session to begin were critical of the ‘lavish lifestyle’ and ‘failure’ of their leaders.
“Our leaders are becoming more corrupt by the day. The party has almost forgotten the harsh struggle and leaders are now concerned about their individual prosperity,” lamented a delegate from Kalikot district.
“This delay in the closed session is proof of the growing factionalism in the party,” he added. The delegates also expressed dissatisfaction over the Rs 5,000 levy charged by the party for each of the representatives and observers.
“The amount is way too expensive for many of us,” said a representative of the party’s sister organisation, the Revolutionary Journalist Association.
After tough discussions, top leaders were able to resolve the row over convention representatives and delegates of some regions on Sunday evening. There were disagreements over representatives to be selected from Bhojpura, Tharuwan, Mithila state and districts including Bara, Parsa and Rautahat. By the time the Post went to press, it was not clear which top leaders prevailed in securing how many delegates. However, party insiders said Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal commands a strong majority among the 3,500 delegates attending the closed session. Hundreds of party workers were visibly tired and frustrated as they waited for the session to begin. It started at 6:45 pm, seven hours behind schedule. Party Spokesperson Agni Sapkota claimed that the session was delayed due to technical glitches in printing and distribution of identity cards for the delegates. Logistical problems were visible on the identity cards as the party dispatched its state committee chiefs to identify and escort their delegates to the hall at the Hetauda Industrial Area. The well-decorated stage for the closed session had a portrait of Dahal hanging on its wall alongside other communist leaders of the world.
A political document was tabled by Dahal at the session on Sunday night, where he prescribed a capitalist revolution by mobilising youths in the production sector. The document distributed to the delegates on Sunday was not new. It was already covered by the media in Kathmandu last month.
The paper suggests the line of peace, constitution and economic development as immediate priorities of the party. So far, there are no dissenting papers on the chairman’s document.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and his faction is likely to assert ownership of the political line during the discussions. Another Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha has threatened to bring out a separate document if Dahal’s document fails to incorporate issues related to ‘national independence.’
The chairman’s document has come under fire from an influential group of leaders and cadres attending the jamboree for remaining silent on ‘Indian intervention.’
The session is scheduled to endorse a ‘peace-era policy’ for the former rebel party. Delegates from districts, who waited for hours for the session to begin were critical of the ‘lavish lifestyle’ and ‘failure’ of their leaders.
“Our leaders are becoming more corrupt by the day. The party has almost forgotten the harsh struggle and leaders are now concerned about their individual prosperity,” lamented a delegate from Kalikot district.
“This delay in the closed session is proof of the growing factionalism in the party,” he added. The delegates also expressed dissatisfaction over the Rs 5,000 levy charged by the party for each of the representatives and observers.
“The amount is way too expensive for many of us,” said a representative of the party’s sister organisation, the Revolutionary Journalist Association.
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