'Maoists joining mainstream will impact S Asia'

Kathmandu, Apr 29: CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechuri today said Nepali Maoists' joining the mainstream will not only lead to peace in the Himalayan kingdom but the entire South Asian region, including India.

''We are very hopeful and optimistic that the Nepali maoists will join the new democratic mainstream, marked by the restoration of Parliament and the introduction of the resolution for a Constituent Assembly... their recent actions have sent quite positive signals,'' he told reporters here, noting that 24 hours after their (Maoists) initial rejection of the King's proclamation, they had announced lifting of their blockade of the capital and other urban areas, and after another 24 hours, declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire.

Reiterating that the Maoists' actions were sending positive signals, Mr Yechuri said if they joined the 'new' democratic mainstream -- which is based on the formation of a Constituent Assembly and not simply a revival of the structure existing since 1990-- in Nepal, the reverberations of this would travel throughout South Asia including India, which is also grappling with a Maoist problem.

''The Maoist ideology is based on the premise that political and social transformation can only be achieved by the gun and not through democratic means... if the Maoists here -- who are the most powerful in the region -- join the new mainstream, it will have a political result on Maoist movements through the region , including India,'' he said.

Noting that ever since the Maoist movement began in 1967, after splitting from his party, the CPI(M) has always called upon them to rejoin the democratic mainstream, based on a multi-party system and competitive politics. ''We had a success in this regard when the CPI(ML), headed by Vinod Mishra, heeded our call and rejoined the democratic polity... this party has been participating in elections ever since then.''

Mr Yechuri said he had told Nepalese Maoist leader Prachanda that in the 21st century, it was futile to follow the models of the 20th century, especially the Soviet example, which had lost relevance.

''The Soviet model of violent seizure of power was in an era when democracy was not very well established in the world...this is not the case now,'' he said.

Replying to a query on whether India would release over 100 Maoists, including two senior leaders, it holds prisoner, he said this would depend on a request from the Nepalese government.

''These activists have been imprisoned on the basis of the relevant Nepalese anti-terrorist law... if the Nepalese government intimates the Indian government it has commenced a programme of reconciliation as part of the political process, repealed the law and seeks their release, India will have no reason to detain them further,'' he noted.

On the Maoists' demand for the abrogation of the 1950 Indo-Nepalese treaty, Mr Yechury noted that the treaty was signed between the two governments and it was only these two who could hold discussions on its future.

UNI

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