General Secretary of the United Marxist-Leninist (UML), speaking in an election campaign gathering in Kathmandu today said that Nepal’s Maoists were terrorists and monarchists working against the very norms of democracy. Out of his 85 minutes of speech, he spent almost 65 minutes on trying to teach people that the Maoists do not believe in democracy and peaceful politics and that people must believe in the UML because it was a genuine people-based party. He was asking for votes for his party stating that the UML is the only capable party of Nepal and no other party has that capacity. In the middle of speech, Madhav Nepal alluded to Maoist Chairman Prachanda as Pol Pot believing only in military arrogance. In an educative manner, Nepal said, “Those who believe in military arrogance and not in people’s power, they will have to suffer Pol Pot’s fate. Pol Pot even did not get anybody to go on his funeral procession though he was a military hero during his reign.” Adding to his expression, he said, “Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua is the President because he believed in people’s power.”
General Secretary Nepal equally spent a considerable amount of his time on defending feudal mechanisms that have never agreed to work as per the people’s mandate for progressive changes in the country. He did not speaking a single word against the crimes against humanity and those involved in them. Instead, he strongly demanded that no body do anything against those involved in crimes against humanity. Many people were surprised as he spoke for maintaining impunity.
Another monarchist leader within the UML party, Khadga Oli also spent most of his time on speaking against his party’s rival, Maoists. He referred to the Nepali Congress Party and his own party UML as bulls while he referred to Maoists as calf. He said, “When two bulls are fighting, an oversmart calf may be crushed between them.” Many people gave a laughter when they heard this expression.
Maoists and many UML supporters themselves have accused Mr. Oli of being a monarchist. During King’s direct rule in Nepal, Mr. Oli suggested in his party that they should not agitate people against monarchy. Mr. Oli is also known as an extremist rightist within the UML party.
While Madhav Kumar Nepal was speaking as if he was so people-loving a leader in Nepal, many people on the ground were referring to how he easily supported King’s autocracy and instructed his party leaders to join the suppressive regime. Similarly, people were talking about the UML’s growing corporate elitism that could please only the middle class and elite people while angering the working class. One of the middle-aged men in a group of about 25 took out a paper and showed to others. The paper contained a printed text of the letter written by Madhav Nepal to King asking for prime ministership. It was an application for the post of prime minister written when King Gyanendra advertised the job. The letter was a copied text with the signature of Madhav Nepal he had categorically said in it that as he had got support from other parties, he was eligible for becoming the prime minister. The letter could remind one of the 2005 period in Nepal where King had been ruling the country by hijacking democracy and the parties were agitating against King’s rule.
While only 12 days remain for the constituent assembly in Nepal, the UML and Maoists have been staging fights throughout Nepal. People are worried about their own security as far as their duty to vote is conce