CPN (M): Point of View Autonomous People's Governments Formed The "People's Government" A Brief Introduction to the Policies of the C.P.N. (Maoist) C.P.N. (Maoist) Foreign Policy 2004

As per the Party's known policy of granting autonomous rule along with rights of self-determination to the oppressed nationalities and regions, a campaign is now underway to form autonomous people's governments in the liberated areas. After completing the process of forming elected people's committees at village and district levels on the basis of revolutionary united front policies, currently regional level people's governments are being installed in different parts of the country.

On January 9, Magarat Autonomous Region People's Government was declared amidst a huge mass meeting of over 75 thousand people in the historic Thawang village in Rolpa district. As may be recollected, this is the main base area of the revolution and is inhabited by the most oppressed Kham Magar nationality.

Similarly, on January 19, Bheri-Karnali Autonomous Region People's Government was formed under the leadership of Com. Khadga Bahadur B.K. and made public amidst a big mass rally in Jajarkot district. It may be noted that Karnali region is the most remote and backward area of the country. This is also one of the major storm centres of the revolution.

Soon such Autonomous People's Governments would be formed in Seti-Mahakali Region, Tharuwan, Tamuwan, Tamang Region, Kirat, Madhesh, etc.

Meanwhile, the URPC has recently issued a "Directory for Administration of People's Power, 2004," to bring harmony to the administration of local people's power in the base areas throughout the country. In this Directory, separate chapters are included for the administration of Autonomous Regions and Local Bodies, General Administration, Public Security, Revolutionary Land Reform, Forest Management, Industry, Commerce and Finance, People's Cooperatives, Physical Infrastructure Development, Public Health, Public Education, People's Culture and Social Welfare. Similarly a Public Legal Code has been formulated to administer the New Democratic people's power.

For the first time in the nearly five years since they began their insurgency, the Maoists have announced the formation of a "People's Government". This is a major challenge to the Congress government. In Rukum district the people's government was formed on 1 and 2 December. Besides a chief and a deputy chief, 15 others were elected as representatives. Top Maoist officials and other cadres attended this ceremony.

The Maoists have chosen Rukum as their temporary programme area, following which a government was formed there. After a two-day meeting in Rukum it was decided that 43 village development committees would take part in choosing the district people's government.

Maoist leaders present at the elections stated that this is a temporary people's government formed at the time of a peoples' war. This is also Nepal's first temporary government. The entire district has been left open to the Maoists after all police posts were moved to the district headquarters. Maoist sources also said that the government recently formed is a transitional one, and elections would soon be held for a permanent one.

The people's government is going to provide security to the villages, provide help to the families of the martyrs, help in local development, protest when the police or army enter the villages, and help increase the productivity of the farmers. What is not clear is where the money will come from to provide for all this work. The government in Kathmandu was on the verge of providing development funds to the districts of Rukum, Rolpa, Kalikot and Jajarkot with the help of the security forces. The formation of the peoples' government has now brought in a new element to the affair.

The Maoists formed the district people's government with great enthusiasm but it is going to be difficult for them to protect this district with the same enthusiasm. This decision was taken in haste and shows political immaturity and leftist opportunism and is going to prove a political blunder.