By Nilotpal Basu
A massive popular struggle is rocking Nepal. The struggle is reviving the memories of the huge people's movement for the restoration of democracy in 1990-91.
But the political forces that fought the struggle for democracy shoulder to shoulder then — the United Left, led by the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), and the Nepali Congress — are now on opposite sides of the barricades.
The 1990 uprising forced Nepal's absolute monarch, King Birendra, to agree to a multiparty parliamentary system and constitutional limitations on his powers. The CPN-UML united many of Nepal's splintered left groups to stand in the 1991 general elections.
The Nepali Congress won the election with 112 seats in the 205 seat parliament. The CPN-UML and its allies won 82 seats, including eight of the 10 seats in the capital, Kathmandu.
Since the election, little has been done to turn around Nepal's appalling living standards, health care system and illiteracy (60%). The government has deregulated the economy and privatised several important public assets.
Tensions between the Congress and the CPN-UML reached boiling point following the deaths of two of the CPN-UML's most senior leaders, general secretary Madan Bhandari and standing committee member Jivraj Ashrit, in a car crash in May. It is widely believed by the opposition that the deaths were not accidental and the government had a hand in them.
The government, led by Congress veteran G.P. Koirala, instituted an official inquiry by a Supreme Court judge. The CPN-UML and several eminent persons and groups commissioned two separate inquiries to ensure a thorough probe.
While the unofficial investigations found that there
was a conspiracy to murder the left-wing leaders, the government-appointed commission stated that the deaths were purely accidental.
On June 25, more than 10,000 people marched in Kathmandu to demand an unbiased inquiry. Police launched an unprovoked baton-charge and fired tear gas. The next day Prime Minister Koirala returned from overseas and put the city under virtual army occupation.
Thousands of people returned to the streets. Three people were killed and several critically injured when police opened fire on the crowd.
The armed forces rampaged through CPN-UML headquarters and threatened party leaders. Government provocateurs have attempted turn the protests into attacks on public property to justify further attacks by the police, the opposition has charged.
On June 27, a police constable refused an officer's order to open fire on demonstrators outside the police centre. Enraged, the officer beat the constable to death. Several other demonstrators were shot dead by police, and a curfew was imposed on the capital.
In parliament, CPN-UML chairperson and opposition leader Manmohan Adhikari, alleged that the government was afraid of a thorough probe. The seven-party United Left organised massive torchlight processions throughout the country on July 3 and a nationwide general strike on July 4. More than 50,000 people demonstrated in Kathmandu.
The CPN-UML and the United Left have rejected any negotiations with the Koirala government. At least 30 people have been killed by police during recent demonstrations. As many as 12 other are missing. The United Left has called for massive torchlight rallies to be held throughout Nepal on August 8 and 9 and a three-day general strike beginning August 9.
[Abridged from the Indian socialist weekly, People's Democracy.]