E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, MAR 07 - As internal disputes expand within the UCPN (Maoist) trade union All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), three factions devoted to Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice Chairmen Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya are functioning in a parallel way.

The party's Standing Committee meeting decided on February 25 to form a fifth General Convention organizing committee under the leadership of incumbent president Salikram Jammarkattel and dissolve the parallel organizations formed by Vice Chairman Badri Bagain. However, Bagain who is close to Baidya and Lal Dhoj Nembang, the deputy general secretary of ANTUF close to Bhattarai, refused to accept Jammarkattel as a coordinator of GC organizing committee.  

 Now, Jamarkattel, Bagain and Nembang factions are functioning in a parallel way in industrial areas. Though the SC meet scrapped the separate union formed by Bagain, he is yet to declare the dissolution of his union stating that Jammarkattel should not be appointed a coordinator of the GC organizing committee. The three factions led by Jammarkattel, Bagain and Nembang are holding separate gatherings to bolster their position in the union. The Nembang faction has called a separate gathering on March 11 and the Baidya faction on March 12 to prepare their respective strategies to tackle Jammarkattel.

 Jammarkattel said that there was no question of his removal as he has not acted against the party's decision and policy. However, Nembang said the party should take action against Jammarkattel as he was involved in attacking rival factions. The Jammarkattel faction a few days ago had beaten up Nembang and held him captive for some hours. “We are for unity in the trade union. Jammarkattel should be removed,” said Nembang.

During the standing Committee meet of the Maoists that took place on March 2, Bhattarai and Standing Committee members Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Netra Bikram Chand raised the issue of the attack on Nembang but Chairman Dahal refused to discuss it.

Last week, Maoist leaders worked overtime to manage the rift in the trade union. On February 26, the Nembang faction called a different gathering at Kathmandu.  The party has held many rounds of discussion with trade union leaders but no solution is in sight. The Bagain and Nembang factions say Chairman Dahal should find an amicable solution by removing Jammarkattel. However, party leaders say it is not easy for Dahal to sack Jammarkattel. “Jammarkattel has working as per the will and the direction of Dahal since becoming president of ANTUF,” said a leader close to Dahal.  Meanwhile, according to an ANTUF source, Jammarkattel is gradually losing control of five star hotels in Kathmandu. Leaders supporting the Baidya and Bhattarai factions have captured union posts in the election held at Hotel Everest and Radisson, respectively.

Posted on: 2011-03-08 01:00

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