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Nepal: Young Communist League or Young Criminal League

Bhuwan Thapaliya - 6/14/2007

The trouble with talking about Maoists so called “Young Communist League” is that so many important questions still have no answers. Nepalese who want peace are trapped and Nepal is unlikely to become peaceful as long as the Young Communist League (YCL) issue remains unsettled. Analyst says there can be no progress on peace until YCL stops its intimidating activities and advocate violence to achieve its political means.

The comprehensive peace agreement singed last November paved the way for democracy and peace in Nepal but it has derailed after the formation of YCL. Considering this, seven political parties have shown their unhappiness by turning down the activities of YCL, promoted by both the United States of America and India .

India and America are pressing Maoists on its YCL behavior after analyzing the YCL activities of the recent months.

The visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Barry Lowenkron, stated his dissatisfaction last week in a press conference by stating that the activities of CPN – Maoist’s youth wing – the Young Communist League (YCL) – have remained a major hindrance to peace efforts in Nepal .

Observers are already asking, “How will the bitter experience of India and America with the Nepalese Maoists, especially the row its youth wing called Young Communist League (YCL) has caused between them and the other political parties of Nepal, influence the West’s Nepal roadmap? “

The debate over the YCL has reached the apex on all political frontiers after Prime Minister accused the YCL as Young Criminal League. Moreover observers state, it has been stimulated by change in India ’s thinking about Nepal . And there is truth in their remarks.

To make the matters worse for the Maoists, The pundits in Delhi are preparing for change in Nepal .

Indian Prime Minister Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has stressed on permanent cooperation between Nepali Congress (NC) and Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) for the purpose of lasting peace and democracy through the elections of Constituent Assembly (CA) in Nepal , according to the media sources.

What provoked India to change their stance is yet unknown but observers say that Indian PM expressed dissatisfaction over Maoists' behaviour against expectations during his meeting with a team of UML leaders led by its general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal in New Delhi, according to the media sources.

Meanwhile, some analyst criticize India by saying that its latest Nepal stance has nothing to do with Maoists behavior in Nepal but by the revelation from a senior leader of the United Front of Assam( ULFA).

A senior leader of the United Front of Assam (ULFA), who surrendered with Assam authority has accused that Nepal is turning into an operation base for this militant group, which is in armed conflict against India , according to the media reports.

According to Indian media reports, Ghanakanta Bora and his wife Tulsi, both senior leaders of the outfit have said that the ULFA set up some bases in Nepal with the help of Maoists and the outfit was preparing to shift a large number of cadres and leaders to Nepal .

If the report is true, then the news is too awful for Nepal because Nepal cannot afford to be an operation base for any militant group. Nepal , being a good neighbor must never let her land to be used against its neighbor. The casualty could be peace itself in Nepal .

Meanwhile, whatever the reason. The change in India has discouraged the Maoists in Nepal .

Maoist chairman Prachanda has reacted strongly to the Indian Prime Ministers remark. He labeled it as the beginning of foreign interference to foil eight party unity.

“Talking to reporters at a press meet in Butwal, on Wednesday, Prachanda said that Indian advice was not a good sign. He said it pointed out to brewing conspiracy and a game to 'finish' Maoists,” according to the Nepalese media reports.

Meanwhile, observers say the present political development in Nepal needs to be seen in a proper context. Some people are simply crying wolf, as if the Prime Minister Koirala’s remarks that the YCL had degenerated into being “young criminal league” was targeted against the Maoist party.

Nonetheless, we should be oblivious of the fact that seldom does a day go by without the Young Communist League’s atrocities. Thanks to these atrocities, ordinary Nepalese are wondering about the very future of Nepal and its democracy. The country does seem to want democracy. It is simply unhappy with the quality of democracy it is offered by the YCL these days.

Where is all this leading? It is a question much of Nepalese may soon be asking, and its answer is: not even the God knows.

The YCL activists are continuing to endanger the lives of the common people and threaten the political independence and sovereignty of the country. The way it grew in recent years is very disturbing and unacceptable. It is true that the Maoists high commission has made various efforts to control the YCL activities, but, however, those efforts have not been very effective.

True, true and true. Considering this, if the YCL’s activities aren’t curbed in time, then it will be too late. Analysts say that this is the right time to act. If global forces like the United States of America , European Union, and the United Nations warn the Maoists in time, then things will be different.

They point out that all is not lost in Nepal, and if they act in tandem, a smaller proportional more than in the past and directly point the finger at the Maoists regime for the deteriorating condition of Nepal, then there are chances for Nepal to be stable yet again.

If these power houses just stares and refuses to act, then it is not too long before Nepal will be a rugged communist state. Observations such as these may sound callow now. But if this trend continues, then, eventually, Nepal will probably become a Radical Communist State much to the dismay of the whole world.

What form might it take? It is hard to be sure, but some Western scholars believe that a radical communist Nepal could be even less compromising, in domestic policy, than Iran . This is not because Nepalese Maoists leaders are necessarily more repressive than Iran ’s Islamic leaders. The difference is that they would have less authority, and fewer institutions, to control their wilder supporters and their own young group of comrades in the midst of unemployment, deteriorating economy, and ever soaring inflation.

Moreover, many analysts term the YCL activities as that of the terrorists. Some place the YCL much higher than the terrorist’s ladder. According to them, what makes the league dangerous than the terrorists is this fact. The terrorists don’t live with people. They come out of nowhere, ambush and kill people and decamp. But the YCL, they live with people, mentally harass people and make them obey them to achieve their political means. So they are more dangerous than the terrorists. They are always with the people and they cannot even for an iota of a second run away from them. The mental scars are more insidious.

Perhaps, they are right. But, however, in view of the widespread nature and seriousness of the problem, a timely additional step is called for. Action has to be taken and, as the analyst say, it is Maoists to take. The choice before the CPN – Maoist’s is to continue with the YCL activities, and watch the party lose its hard fought consensus or curb the YCL activities and strengthen the pillars of its party before the much coveted constituent assembly election.

Analyst says, to shape their future, Maoists must learn from their mistakes. But even then their destiny will depend on others as some observers claim that the trouble with Nepalese politics is that it is run by two Nations – India and the United States .

Nonetheless, it is, however, a reminder that Maoists, no less than the seven political parties, has much at stake- and is risking it by not taking immediate action. For instance, what of the Maoists constituent assembly electoral arithmetic? The party’s prospects may have been damaged by the activities of the YCL.

Moreover, if the CPN- Maoists really want peace, prosperity and democracy, now is the time to lift the glass on offer, pronounce it half full, and use it to wash down the bitter pills needed to secure the peace for lasting stability in Nepal .

And perhaps this may be Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s point too.