BIKRAM RAI
Mishra: The foundations of the people’s war, like people’s courts and PLA, have been disbanded. How are you going to reconstruct these for your new uprising?
Pampha Bhusal: First of all, we must try to peacefully reach consensus for a constitution that guarantees federalism and protects our sovereignty. As far as the bases of a revolution are concerned, we already have experience organising people’s courts, unions, area commands, and a liberation army. If necessary, we will draw from these experiences and move forward.
You spent half of your life working for a revolution. Will you spend the other half trying to rebuild these conditions again?
As long as our society is mirred in class, gender, and identity conflicts, there is always ground for a revolution. We don’t have to lead the revolution, someone might take the initiave and that’s fine with us. But we have not forgotten our experiences, and the sacrifice made by thousands of Nepali men and women for our cause. We are aware of what we must do.
You talk about sacrifice, but everyone knows that the top brass was hiding safely somewhere in the neighbourhood. Will you call up ordinary citizens to take arms and ask them to give up their lives and call it your ‘sacrifice’ later on?
We call it our sacrifice because all of us were present while making plans for the revolution and that’s all I want to say for now.
You said that Dahal and Bhattarai sidelined women leaders in the old party. But all the leaders in the permanent committee of your new party are men.
As far as committees go, we have maintained the old structures.
Which means there is still gender discrimination in the new party?
It is natural that social structures are replicated in social units. But politics is all about strength of ideas and ability, so I feel that our party has done justice to us.
You spent millions on your general convention after exhorting from bussinesses in Kathmandu, and those who refused were reportedly beaten up. Is this the kind of awareness you are talking about?
Not at all. We asked for support because all parties in the world work through donations and we received positive feedback from all over the country. It’s not only about collectiong money, but also exchanging political views and convictions.
None of what you say today is new. So what has changed in all these years?
The conditions today are such that all of it is still relevant. When we protested against the Panchayat, everyone made fun of us, and people never thought that we could abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. There have been many changes, but our party will now press for qualitative changes.
Listen to the full interview in Nepali