Re: Baburam's article available in English (was: Re: Nepalia Imbruglia)

["Ulhas Joglekar" <uvj@xxxxxxxx>]

From: Macdonald:
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: Baburam's article available in English (was: Re: Nepalia
Imbruglia)
> What is your justification for attacking (or *partially* attacking) the
CPN (m)
> while there ios such pressure being brought to bear on the governmwnt to
flush
> them out and kill them?

I am not attacking anybody. I wrote: 'I hope etc...' That should clarify my
intention. It is a question of having a credible strategy, if disasters are
to be avoided. I have already clarified my reservations elsewhere about the
strategy of economic autarchy, which I suspect, is likely to follow if
CPN(m) were successful. I have already explained in some detail the
geography, economy and culture of Nepal in the context of South Asia.
If CPN(m) were successful,they would have two options: a) Recognise the
reality of power and position of Indian state and Indian capitalism and
reach some form of accommodation with it, or b) Retreat into untenable forms
of 'delinking'. The latter option would be a kind of Pol Potism.This would
be completely at odds with the contemporary
trends in Asia. One must have a credible strategy, unless one is yearning
for glorious martyrdom. I don't claim to be an expert on India, the question
of my being an expert on Nepali affairs does not arise. If Macdonald knows
why CPN(m)'s current strategy is credible, I would like to hear about it.

>What is your logical reasoning in casually proffering
> such a comparison?

Treat Pol Potism as an analogy. Why Macdonald feels that it is 'a casual
comparison'? I have given enough indications of Nepal's position relative to
South Asia to enable everyone to see for themselves the difficulties of
constructing socialism of a certain kind in Nepal. Also remember that China
and India are nuclear weapon states. It is vital that China and India have
normal and friendly relations. China and India can not afford a nuclear
confrontation. It would a grave folly for China and India to allow their
relationship to be destroyed by events in Nepal. It would be foolish for any
Nepali political force to try to complicate Sino-Indian relations by trying
to play China against India. This is not in anyone's interests. I hope I am
making myself clear.

>I am not an expert on the CPN (m) either, but I think
it best
> to try and let them play out their revolution and we do our best (you more
so
> than I, living in the neighbours' powerful state) to make sure that no
power is
> brought o bear, through propaganda or otherwise, that helps attack this
> revolution in progress.
> the rest will be determined by Nepalis.

I agree that it is for Nepalis to decide. But there are Nepalis and Nepalis.
There are other Leftwing forces in Nepal. Why they don't agree with CPN(m)?
Do CPs of any kind have credible strategies which correspond to contemporary
realities of 21st century?

Ulhas