In a state of paranoia - Nepali Times

Publisher\'s Note
In a state of paranoia

FROM ISSUE #487 (29 JAN 2010 - 04 FEB 2010) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Pushpa Kamal Dahal has done it again. He is once more blaming the messenger, the 'big media houses', for undermining his party. Usually when a politician repeats an accusation, it reinforces its significance. But with Dahal, the ranting now seems to have the opposite effect. He has cried wolf so often that the remark made during a speech in Sindhuli on Monday went either unreported, or was relegated to the inside pages.

Yet there is a sinister undercurrent here. The Maoists have made no attempt to hide their contempt for the notion of a free press, just as they have for non-violent pluralistic politics. When Dahal delivered his latest tirade against the media, the YCL broke into a chant of "Name them, name them," so they could 'fix' them.

Warming up to his theme, and egged on by the ovations, Dahal went on to accuse the media of being 'anti-nationalist'. This has always been the Maoist method: accuse everyone critical of their continued use of violence, extortion and intimidation as being "feudal, running dog lackeys of Indian expansionism". The reason Nepal's mainstream media ignored these remarks, according to some editors, was because "he's said it before". But that is precisely why it is unacceptable. Dahal is a former prime minister and the leader of the opposition. Such incitement and xenophobia have no place in the vocabulary of someone who sees himself as a statesman.

Some of Dahal's other remarks in recent days are so out of it they sound downright paranoid. For example, he has publicly stated his belief that both King Birendra and Madan Bhandari were killed by Indian expansionists and that they're after him too. It is difficult to gauge what is worse: that the Chairman is just getting carried away with his own rhetoric and doesn't know what he is saying, or that these speeches are a calculated move to 'scare' the Indians into putting him back in power.

It has been the tradition within the Maoist party that whenever it is threatened by internal contradictions, it turns to fear-mongering about the threat from the south. In 2005, just as Dahal's internal feud with Baburam Bhattarai was reaching a climax, the Maoists started digging trenches in schools across the country to counter an imminent Indian invasion.

The charitable explanation for all this is that the Maoists want to distract attention from fissures within. There is a strong segment within the Maoist Central Committee that is opposed to the ultra-nationalist flag-waving-at-the-border of the Fourth Phase of the agitation. If the Chairman's intention with these antics is to keep his party together, then good luck.

But the Nepali people have other worries. They fear that the peace process is mired, law and order is getting worse and development is non-existent. It would be better for the government and the opposition to start addressing the real and vital concerns of a long-suffering population.

READ ALSO:
Waiting for Godot - FROM ISSUE #487 (29 JAN 2010 - 04 FEB 2010)
Security sureties - FROM ISSUE #487 (29 JAN 2010 - 04 FEB 2010)
More than mountains - FROM ISSUE #487 (29 JAN 2010 - 04 FEB 2010)

1. ripvanwinkle
big surprise, i knew it all along. i never had a doubt about pkds intentions. a murderer and criminal, and as any nationalist true patriotic nepali im gonna turn my back to all these and devote myself on passing my days without light water education and security.

Posted on: 29 JAN 2010 | 3:25 PM NST

2. jange
To quote from issue 393 of NT " The Maoists have a good chance of doing well in next month's elections because they represent real change. " No wonder our dear leader Kamred PKD is frustrated with the media. Even the NY is starting to desert him.

Posted on: 29 JAN 2010 | 5:18 PM NST

3. TSherpa
For all of us who have been following Dahal's foaming rants, its' not because he we wish to but because we have no choice, just as when we have to put with the obnoxious non stop cacaphony of an insensitive neighbor's marriage jamboree. The only difference is that marriage celebrations end after a couple of days and the neighborhood gets a well deserved respite. With Prachanda and his goons, we're doomed to being the silent suffering victims to his endless mad hatter tirades. The awful ( pka awesome one ) one's desperate bravado fools nobody and one smells something is very wrong within the state of comradeland. Someone needs to tell him to shut up and stuff it but then rather you do that than me...that's our curse.

Posted on: 29 JAN 2010 | 7:39 PM NST

4. Arthur
So we have three theories in the same article 1. and 2. "It is difficult to gauge what is worse: that the Chairman is just getting carried away with his own rhetoric and doesn't know what he is saying, or that these speeches are a calculated move to 'scare' the Indians into putting him back in power." 3. "The charitable explanation for all this is that the Maoists want to distract attention from fissures within." The idea of a 'calculated move to scare the Indians into putting him back in power' is so silly that one almost misses the underlying premise. Merely saying that implies the publisher knows, and takes it for granted that the Indians have power to make or break governments in Nepal, whether or not the publisher really imagines anyone would try to scare them into appointing themselves PM by exposing them instead of by conciliating them. But onceit is accepted, that the Indians have power over who governs Nepal, how can it be merely "rhetoric" to say so, and why would anyone expect the Maoists to be divided about ending that situation? So we are left with a parallel to option 1, the publisher has so little to say and is so impressed by his rhetoric in saying that he doesn't actually understand what his own words actually demonstrate.

Posted on: 29 JAN 2010 | 10:50 PM NST

5. Sam
There is another politician in another part of the world who thinks that the media is the reason behind all their woes. Sarah Palin! Media must be the scapegoat for everyone that seeks to preach radicalism.

Posted on: 29 JAN 2010 | 11:11 PM NST

6. gangalal
In the time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act. He said that more than 50 years ago but have to wonder what Orwell would've thought of Prachanda. Palin a radical? It's true. Stupidity has no limits.

Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 6:46 AM NST

7. pashupati
Mr. Dixit- When can you can be critical of the Maoists in Nepal? Why they cannot be critical of your views? Are you playing a double standards game in the name of free press? If you have free press rights, so does Prachanda, so I do, you all Nepalis do! I donot think you have any higher standard than Maoists in Nepal, your press has printed nonsense against the Maoists, I have the proof, if you want I can e-mail you. In order to safeguard the free press rights for all of us, we must be accountable for what we say, how we say, and why we print non- sense ; an example you had printed 4000 homes were destoryed when Maoist minister was in charge of Local and development Ministry in Nepal. Since then you are just bad as any one political figures in Nepal. Do not try to show Nepalis, us, that Nepali press, and Journalists are honest , all other all muders, cheaters, and anti-free presser! The moists and other parties in Nepal have the same right as you Mr. Dixit in terms of free press! Do not think owning publisher give you an extra rights! Your readers know whats your views are, to whom you represent, one does not need to be a nepali maoists to figure out your intention, when you gave the Title of the article , like NEPAL IN INDIA.. You are just as bad as any political leaders in Nepal! Donot try to cover up your face in the Name of Free Presss! Pashupati

Posted on: 30 JAN 2010 | 11:36 PM NST

8. jange
Mr. Pashupati. There is not much that one needs to know about the Maoists. Just that they are murderers, looters and extortionists. You ar right- NT gives them too much print space, far moran they deserve or need.

Posted on: 31 JAN 2010 | 2:30 PM NST

9. Harka
Well the Fearsome one PKD, tounge seems to have a mind of its own. It seems to speak faster than his Brains. God help us all with leaders like this who cannot even coordinate their own body parts functioning trying to coordinate and lead this country. Well with guys like him who needs enemies.

Posted on: 01 FEB 2010 | 4:12 PM NST