Bogati rules out action against Baidhya faction

Says dialogue needed to dispel confusions

Tika R Pradhan

KATHMANDU: Unified CPN-Maoist Secretary Post Bahadur Bogati today said the party chairman was not for initiating action against leaders close to Vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya even as voices from the party establishment side seeking action grow louder.

Those toeing the party establishment line believe the hardliners in the party following Baidhya have gone against the party decision.

“The chairman is not for taking action against the leaders close to Vice-chairman Baidhya. We are constantly in touch with the leaders; but serious talks are yet to begin. We will resolve the problems through discussion though,” said Bogati, who is also the energy minister in the incumbent government, while talking to journalists at his official residence in Pulchowk this evening.

Bogati said the Baidhya faction was in confusion even though it was very clear on peace and constitution. “But why they are confused needs to be sorted out,” said Bogati. “Their dissatisfaction is not with political programmes. They have to share their grievances and then we can sit for discussions to clear all the confusions.”

During a meeting with party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at his residence this morning, Baidhya had informed the former about the recent meetings and said those were not gatherings of his supporters but were political training sessions held in a bid to dispel ‘some confusions’ at the lower level.

According to Bogati, the thrust of the current problem is the process to manage internal wrangling in the party.

On Nepali Congress and CPN-UML’s stances, Bogati said both the opposition parties were not ready for the conclusion of peace and constitution-drafting processes even though the Maoists came up with ‘a bold decision’ to accomplish the twin tasks at the earliest.

“NC and UML must show similar bold commitment to move the peace process forward,” said Bogati, adding that the parties were afraid that the Maoists alone will take the credit of taking the peace process through. “Even the international community fears that the Maoists will gain more popularity.”

As far as India is concerned, Bogati said, the party was trying to address the issues through diplomatic means.

On relation between the coalition partners, the Maoists and United Democratic Madhesi Front, Bogati said both the parties have emerged through movements.

Party’s reading

• Baidhya faction confused

• Internal problems will be solved through dialogue

• Leaders clear on peace and the constitution during one-on-one meetings, but at group discussions, picture becomes hazy

• Four-point deal with UDMF done in good faith

• NC, UML must show boldness as Maoists have done

• NC, UML fear Maoists will take all the credit

• International community wary of Maoists becoming more popular

(Published in The Himalayan Times on September 24, 2011)

Move complicated peace process‚ says Gajurel

Seeks apology from Bhattarai‚ Dahal to end controversy in party

TIKA R PRADHAN

keys handover

KATHMANDU: A senior Maoist leader, who is close to Vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya, today said Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s ‘suicidal’ activities had but further complicated the peace process.

Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel told this daily that the decision to hand over keys of arms containers should have come only after the modality, norms and number of combatants to be integrated and rehabilitated were finalised.

A section of Maoist leaders close to Baidhya have objected to the party decision to hand over the keys of arms containers to the Special Committee and have termed the decision ‘suicidal’. The Baidhya faction even took to the streets to oppose the party decision. “The leaders have, instead, initiated the process of disintegrating People’s Liberation Army by taking such a decision,” Gajurel told The Himalayan Times.

Earlier at a programme in the Capital today, Gajurel said the controversy over handing over of keys could be settled if Chairman Dahal and Prime Minister Bhattarai ‘admit to their mistake’. The party secretary’s statement today came a day after politburo member and a close aide to Dahal Haribol Gajurel’s statement that the party ‘could pardon those involved in anti-party activities if they apologised’. The Baidhya faction is at odds with Dahal and Bhattarai, and as the dispute reached the peak, both sides now are seeking apology from each other.

“Dahal and Bhattarai should apologise for taking the decision to hand over the keys of arms to the Special Committee,” said Secretary Gajurel. The keys of arms containers, however, have been handed to SC. “We are aware that the keys now cannot be returned,” he said. “But such warnings will help check similar mistakes in future.”

He added that they (those close to Baidhya faction) were ready to join the government if the leaders ‘admitted their mistake’. The Maoist secretary, however, tried to keep a lid on speculations that the party was heading towards a rift. “We have the support of more than 40 per cent of lawmakers if we were to split the party, but that’s not our intention. We just want a course correction from our leaders.”

People’s Council to be expanded

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the United National People’s Council, headed by Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel, on Monday decided to expand its wings up to the state committees and district committees, and later to local levels. According to Gajurel, the meeting agreed to appoint central committee member of the party and the central convener of the Indigenous Nationalities Federation Suresh Ale Magar to look after Council’s day-to-day operations.

(Published in The Himalayan Times on September 6, 2011)