Maoism in South Asia, Insurgency or Movement

Maoism, a school of Marxist or left leaning politics, now a day is a very talked about subject among the radical scholars around the world. There are dozens of study circles or knowledge exchange clubs are active around the world. But in many countries Maoism is an anxiety & concern in terms of security and peace. Under the Marxist umbrella there are many schools of thoughts are being practiced by the activists and theorists. Maoism is much more popular than the school of Trotsky, Rosa Luxemburg, Anver Hoxa or Antonio Gramsci. Even this line of communism is more attractive to the youngsters than Leninist school of thought. Though Maoism has gone away from China, the left radical school of thought is very popular in Latin America, South Asia and the West. It is known to concerned that many clandestine groups are active in Latin America including Shining Path, study circles in Europe  and America are seeing Maoism as a path of revolution and in most cases the socio-political reality are being undermined by the present time revolutionaries. Rather the people involved in this process are a bit romantic; they are in many sense romantic revolutionaries. That is why in many countries, especially in South Asia, educated middleclass, students, youngsters from industrial laborers and agriculture laborers were being attracted by this school of thought. More over firearms are the essential part of current practices of Maoism, which attracts the people who are a bit adventurous, romantic and motivated for revenge. As of observation, the people who join in any radicalism are found three types of individuals. One portion of them joins in the process inspired by the love to the people, second portion inspired by the odium they are captivating in their mind and the third type are convinced theoretically- rightly or wrongly. That is why the behavioral pattern of the Maoist practitioners is deferent, some of them are cruel and some are very soft hearted personally. What ever the theoretical debate is, the Maoism, as an issue, is a great concern for South Asia for the decades. Maoist victory in Nepal and activities of Maoist groups and parties working from Afghanistan to Bangladesh, which are involved in armed practice, creates an additional demand of attention of the state mechanism of SARC members.Maoism in SARC Countries is connected to the communist movement of British India. In 1920 Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed and the leftist parties are active in the region have emerged from CPI. Exceptions are the Jatio Samajtrantric Dal (national socialist party) school of Bangladesh, Sharbahara (Have-nots) School of Bangladesh, the socialist revolutionaries & SUCI of India and JVP of Sri Lank. Nepal has also its own tradition, but influenced by the Indian politics significantly. In South Asia there are strong presence of Maoist in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. But in Pakistan there are some left parties and groups who are believe in Maoism, but not involve in armed practice and they are not influential enough. Rather religion based armed activities replaces the left trend. Maoism, in Pakistan, popularly practiced among the affluent intellectuals. As a matter of fact Maoists are not security threat in Pakistan. Truly, in Pakistan, Maoism neither a movement nor an insurgency, it is a practice of intellectuals or local influential mainly. In 50s and early 60s 0f 20^th century there are some armed practice in rural Pakistan, which was not directly related to pure Maoist line of communism. In Afghanistan, as of available information, there is a women organization believe in Maoism. This organization is active in Afghanistan and Pakistani area near by Afghan border. Just they are working to make afghan women conscious. Apart from this organization, in present time, there is no information available about Maoist activism in this conflict and war trodden country.  But as per A WORLD TO WIN (A World To Win 2004/30, P. 31), a publication of Revolutionary International Movement (RIM), an international coalition of Maoist parties around the world, there is a party named Communist Party of Afghanistan, which was one of the members of RIM in the year of 2004. In India, the history of Maoism related to the dividing process of Communist Party of India (CPI). CPI was divided on the basis of Moscow-Peeking debate in 60s of 20^th century. The followers of Peeking again divided into many parts. Naxalbari movement is the beginning of armed activism in India by Maoists so far. After the abortion of Naxalbari Movement, the activists of the movement divided in to three banners mainly i.e. the Liberation Group, the Lal Jhanda Group and the Peoples War group. Present active Maoists in India are the rearranged or offshoots of the said three groups. Though these armed groups are security concerned of authority and a threat to the social peace, these are emerged from the main stream communist movement of India. However Maoist activism was started in India as a popular movement, presently it appears as clandestine insurgency that is not that much of related to idealism. Rather, in most cases, these activities are related to vested interests, as per the available information. Reports appeared in news media cited that Jharkhand, West Bangle, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odessa are main Maoist insurgency trodden Indian State. The reports also stated that rural poor based Indian Maoists are presently trying to hold strong feet among the urban poor, especially those are living in slums of big cities and industrial zones. In Sri Lanka, there are sharp presence of Maoist politics with a Communist party of Mao line and Janata Vimukti Paramuna (JVP), another party believe in armed revolution and also have clandestine activities and popular political actions. JVP does not emerge from the traditional Indian communist movement like few other organizations active in Bangladesh. In 1971 and 70-90s of last century JVP insurgency was toughly destroyed by the authority. Ceylon Communist party is the main player of Maoism in Sri Lanka; this party is a component of RIM. It could be told that Sri Lankan Maoist parties have the character of a Movement apparently.  Once there were some left groups belong to Tamil separatist movement. Presently LTTE is the only organization survives. LTTE is not marked as Maoist any way.   Bhutan- the land of Drukpa (son of Dragon), is a small Himalayan Kingdom presently in the process to be a Republic has also a party with Maoist brand. As of my experience, I met two student activists at Allahabad, India in the year of 1990 at a student leader consultation program, who were involved in left activism in secret. As of present time information Bhutan has at least five political parties.  Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist)  is the party which claimed as Maoist themselves. Yet there is no information of organized armed activities from the party. The activities of this party are a theoretical movement so far. Bangladesh is also a fertile land of Maoist groups as like India. The Maoists of Bangladesh had been emerged from the traditional Communist Party of India. As of legacy, the then East Pakistan (presently Bangladesh) have the tradition of communist movement. In 60s of last century East Pakistan Communist party spited in to two parts one supported Moscow and another supported Peeking. Peeking loyal communist party emerged as clandestine Maoist insurgents. This party divided in to dozens of splits and presently all local chieftains are independently active, the activities could be marked as vandalism as well. Another Maoist trend is the Shorbahara (have-nots) Party school which was founded by a young revolutionary who fought for the independence of the country as well. After the founders death under police custody the party divided in to two parts. And again they have been spited and few of local armed groups started work in the name of Shorbahara, which have no link with the two main streams. Shorbahara factions are the member of RIM in Bangladesh. Jatio Shamajtantric Dal (JSD) is another school of socialism in Bangladesh. This party was formed in early 70s of 20^th century by the young force of Bangladesh Awami League, who dreamed an independent socialist Bangladesh from 60s of last century. Any way this school also divided in to several parts later. Splits of this school abandoned armed activities in late 70s. Till in the politics of Bangladesh this school has important presence.  The south west part of Bangladesh is a security concern of law enforcing agencies due to the unlawful activities of armed groups. In Bangladesh Maoism was a movement of communist workers once, presently almost all armed groups are extortionist by character. Even they have lost the character of insurgents. Nepal is the important place to be discussed as the Maoist has got the victory by a popular election. Nepalese Communist Movement is deep rooted in the heart of Indian Communist Movement; even the political activities of Nepal was been started from India in 1940s.  In true sense, Communist party of Nepal was formed by the influence of Indian progressive political activities. After a long struggle Communist party of Nepal divided into many parts and as this country was ruled by absolute monarchy communist splits was working underground. Here should be recalled Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) started splitting in 1960s as of the communist parties around the world and as of radical trend in tradition Maoist become the majority and on the basis of debates the party started a process of continuous split.

 In 1978 an initiative had been taken for regrouping the splits. The student movement of 1980s was supported by the Maoists. At that time communists of Nepal formed a united party and join in the government. Few days later extreme left group of communist workers popularly known as Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) went under ground and started armed struggle against the monarchy. This party is representing RIM in Nepal. It could be said that Maoists of Nepal was involved in a progressive movement, may be it was branded as insurgency or terrorism by Royal loyalists or the West.Presently Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is the majority party in parliament, though they are the supporter of insurgents of South Asia as a member of RIM. As a popular political party with radical idealism, (which is going to taking the responsibility of governance of a country), should be more responsible to the political equilibrium, social peace and security threat of the region i.e. the South Asia. And Nepal, as a member state of SAARC, should have maximum level of honor to the security concern of other member states and it is a legitimate expectation of the people of the region. The Maldives is only the country where there are no Maoist activities as of available information. Presently there are five political parties are active in this inlands country; these are Maldivian Peoples Party (DRP), Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), Justice Party (Adhaalath Party) (AP) , Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Maldivian National Congress (MNC). It is not clear to me that why this nation is not influenced by the traditional Indian Communist Movement. For years Maoist political parties of the world are working closely under the banner of RIM. As of available information 15 party or groups are the member of RIM from deferent part of the Globe. The list of the RIM members is as follows:  Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist), Communist Party of Afghanistan, Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) [BSD (ML)], Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist) (Naxalbari) , Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) , Communist Party of Peru , Maoist Communist Party (Turkey-North  Kurdistan) , Maoist Communist Centre of India , Maoist Communist Party [Italy], Marxist-Leninist Communist Organisation of Tunisia , Proletarian Party of Purba Bangala (PBSP) [ Bangladesh ], Revolutionary Communist Group of Colombia , Revolutionary Communist Party, USA Mentionable that Maoist Should be noted Communist Centre of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (People’s War ) united in 2004 and emerged with the new name of  Communist Party of India (Maoist). Around the world especially in West, Maoist activities are limited in debates and intellectual practice. In SAARC countries the Maoist groups are active with arms and as of reports appeared in the news media these insurgents have enough fire power to fight with law enforcer. In India special forces are involved in counter-insurgency, in Bangladesh law enforcer are in a special drive to control this hooliganism.It is important to say that the Maoists of South Asia are working through a network and possibly they have a network of exchanging experience and technical know-how.  As per information available, the Maoist of South Asia are working another active network (other then RIM) named Co-ordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA).Member organizations of this network are Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)(People’s War), Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), Revolutionary Communist Centre of India (MLM), Revolutionary Communist Centre of India (Maoist), Communist Party of India (ML)(Nakshalbari), Purba Bangla Sarbahara Party (CC), Purba Bangla Sarbahara Party, (Maoist Punarghathan Kendra), Bangladesh Samyabadi Party (ML), Communist Party of Ceylon (Maoist). (Presently Communist Centre of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (People’s War) working as Communist Party of India (Maoist).Once started as a progressive movement, presently emerged as insurgency is a practical problem of this region. This is not a security problem alone; of course this should be taken as a social & political problem of the South Asia, which is closely related to economic development, human development, social justice, employment and very importantly distribution pattern and/or ratio of wealth. As the insurgency is related to the armed practice, of course it is an issue of security. But it could not be solved by security measures only; the problem should be mitigated by socio-political & economic initiatives and it needs a certain period of time. The leaders of SAARC should consider the issue properly. #