Maoist cadres seethe at strike recall
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KATHMANDU,, MAY 09 - While common people across the country heaved a sigh of relief when the UCPN (Maoist) called off its general strike on Friday, the agitating Maoist cadres, it seemed, were left high and dry and an unhappy lot.
A senior Maoist cadre who didn’t want to be named said on Saturday that Maoist cadres were all set to rally against their leaders on Friday night for abruptly withdrawing the strike, but they stepped back after their leaders consoled them and asked them to wait for 48 hours.
“We cannot leave this agitation in the middle of nowhere and quit,” a cadre said. “We are looking further to our party’s next strategy.”
“The strike withdrawal was necessary as it was impossible to contest the government with the help of current manpower. Ferrying in more cadres was also not possible because of the strike. The withdrawal is only a means to strengthen the party and make ready for a final agitation,” the cadre quoted a Maoist leader as telling them.
According to him, the party will bring in a large number of cadres to the Capital and manage good food for them in a couple of days and announce a final agitation.
He said the “frustrated” cadres will fight back against the Maoist leaders if the latter tried to linger the protest.
“The news of the strike withdrawal disappointed us all,” said Aatma Ram Mahatara, another Maoist cadre.
“I felt as if all our efforts had gone in vain,” he added. “Later I came to know that it was the party’s strategy and was a bit relieved.”
Yet, according to him, the party should not have ended the general strike. “If we are to go for another round of protests, we cannot have the same energy that we had now,” he said. “How can I return home without winning the state?” Dilli Bahadur Thapa from from Jumla thinks it will be a matter of shame to return home “empty handed.”
For Dinesh Raj Bhandari, another cadre, Friday’s peaceful rally was the main reason for the Maoists changing the strategy. “If we had been more aggressive, we would not have to see this day,” he said.
However, a few cadres felt the party’s decision was right. Sunita Pande of Dhading said the strike withdrawal was a good decision. “As I feel the party’s leadership must have thought about a better strategy, I think the move was right,” she said.
Posted on: 2010-05-09 09:18
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