Kathmandu Post

Editorial»

Combating discontent

FEB 08 -
For a long time after the Maoists joined mainstream politics, there was a strong sense of camaraderie among their combatants in cantonments. They were disciplined and firmly under the control of the party. The last two years has shown a steady disintegration of the PLA, however. A major reason for the loss of morale and cohesion is the disillusionment that has arisen towards the party. The PLA has not only become factionalised along the lines of the highest levels of the party. There also appears to be a broad sense of grievance towards the party as a whole. It has to be remembered that these are people who were promised a great future when they were urged to join the peace process. Clearly, this has not come to pass. As a result, the loyalty that many combatants felt towards the party no longer exists.

The disillusionment towards the party has also undermined the sense of camaraderie among combatants themselves. If there is no cause to believe in, it makes no sense for a group of people to remain tightly connected and organised. Granted, many personal relationships have been forged between combatants in the course of their years fighting the state and staying in the camps. But now there is jealousy and resentment, as some combatants feel that others are receiving a better deal than themselves. Everyone feels they are on their own and are doing their best to get the best deal for themselves. No longer are combatants blindly willing to accept their commanders’ orders. The fiasco over the distribution of funds for voluntary retirement is a case in point. There have been a number of cases where combatants have sought refuge from the police in the fear that their commanders will take away the bulk of the money they have received. It is a somewhat ironic state of affairs that a force that forged unity in the struggle against the state are now divided and that some of its members are appealing to police — the very force they fought against at one time — to offer them protection.

It is highly unlikely that the bitter feelings among combatants can be easily assuaged. It is necessary for the Maoist party, however, to take some measures so as to somewhat allay the situation, or at least make sure it does not get worse. For one, the party should ensure that each combatant who has chosen voluntary retirement will get their share of the money. The party should not make any move to appropriate any portion of it. Then there is the YCL problem. Resentment that they are not receiving anything is high in that organisation as well, and the Maoist party should provide packages from their own resources to its members. 

Posted on: 2012-02-09 09:27

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