Posted on 06/25/2007 3:54:37 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
When they fought their 10-year 'People's War' inspired by Chinese leader Mao Zedong's teaching that power comes "out of the barrels of a gun", Nepal's Maoist guerrillas were condemned by Beijing for "bringing disrepute" to their great leader. But now Maoist supremo Prachanda's son is on a China tour on the invitation of the country's intellectuals.
Ever since the insurgents made their peace with the Nepal government and became a dominant partner in the ruling coalition, Beijing has been doing some quick re-thinking on its Maoist policy.
As a sign of that, the son of Maoist supremo Prachanda Thursday flew to Hong Kong en route to visiting Beijing and Shanghai, just a day after China's new ambassador to Nepal said Beijing was yet to establish formal relations with the rebels.
Prakash, whose rise in the party created heartburns in the past, began acting as his father Prachanda's armed bodyguard after the guerrillas came overground following the peace pact. Prakash is accompanied by top Maoist army "general", Barsha Man Pun, better known as Ananta, on his China trip.
Though the Maoists' People's Liberation Army soldiers have been corralled in seven cantonments, its top "generals" or deputy commanders however are outside, including in parliament, after having been "transferred' by their party in other departments.
Prakash and Ananta are visiting the Chinese cities on the invitation of a group of Chinese intellectuals, who, in state-controlled China, have to be endorsed by the government.
While there is talk of Prachanda himself and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala having been invited to China, the Maoist young brigade is already on its way to paper the rift between their party and the country that's been their ideological mother.
The Maoist "crown prince's" visit came a day after the new Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Zheng Xianglin, said his government was yet to establish formal relations with the Maoists, earlier branded as "anti-government forces" by Beijing. China earlier has sold weapons to King Gyanendra's royal regime to battle the insurgents.
"However, the Maoists are now part of the coalition government," Zheng said. "We have to have dialogue and contact with all government officials, including the Maoists."
Beijing is stepping up its overtures to Kathmandu following sweeping changes since last year after King Gyanendra had to step down due to an uprising.
Next month, a Chinese delegation would arrive in Kathmandu to discuss economic cooperation. Later, a second delegation would come to discuss political and diplomatic issues.
Currently, China is building a civil servants' hospital in Kathmandu, a polytechnic, roads and an ayurvedic centre.
The Maoists however hold no grudge against Mao's country for the earlier cold shoulder.
"We want to have harmonious relations with both our neighbours India and China," Maoist leader C.P. Gajurel, current head of the party's foreign division, had earlier told the media.
Strategically, they have to reach out to Nepal because of where Nepal is, and what Nepal’s religious composition is. As I remember it, Nepal is a Hindu country. Given that China is bordered by two nuclear rivals in Russia and India, it’s a strategic thing. Having a Hindu country as a Chinese ally helps their position, vis-a-vis also being an ally of Pakistan.
But, actually, the only thing Maoist about China these days is all those damned pictures they have of him. At best, as far as communism goes, while feigning communism, they are actually closer to corporatism at best. China, like Vietnam, has accepted the market. Something tells me the Maoists in Nepal don’t have the same desire. Communism is Southeast Asia today, except for North Korea, is not really communism at all. That being said, the Nepal situation could be dangerous because China might be allying with them on the expectation that they will agitate against India.
or is it, "We are available as hired guns to the highest bidder."
Well, the Chinese economy is still at least 50% state-owned, last I heard. Deng and his successors’ policy is basically similar to Lenin’s New Economy Policy, but with even more state involvement. Also, China is indeed probably budding up with the Maoists of Nepal in the hope of putting pressure on India.
India was happy promoting these murderous thugs from a band of wanted outlaws to country’s rulers. Now these same “friends” of India will be allying with their ideological mothers, while shunning their incompetent and corrupt Indian friends. Nepal is screwed either way, but it looks like India will get screwed as well. Don’t complain when these strengthened Maoist murderers start picking India apart, from inside.
You reap what you sow, biblically.
Karma, dharmically.
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