Excerpts of an Interview with R.K. Mainali, Politburo Member, CPN (ML)

Q. Is the left parties' agitation leaderless?

A. To be frank, there is no leader that can understand the desire of the people to be able to carry the Left movement forward, someone who can bring all the communists together. Today's movement cannot be carried forward with a mode of operation that dates back to the 1960s.

Q. That's how the Maoists are fiunctioning, isn't it?

A. There has been some change in the thinking of the Maoists in these four years. In spite of difficulties being created by their violent means, some change has taken place in the past few days. They have started talking about competition. They still kill people who do not agree with their politics, but have also realised that is wrong. They say different things about starting a dialogue, but have realised that a dialogue could be held with the King even while they remain underground. For a political party to realise and accept that a dialogue with anyone is for the benefit of the party and people is an achievement in itself.

Q. The dialogue between the Maoists and the government is in limbo. What effect will this have on the country?

A. Both the government and the Maoists are dishonest. They have made dialogue a medium for politicking. Various factions in the Congress are opposing each other and have made the issue of dialogue a means of carrying further their own political agendas. The UML leaders have been stating that they can be mediators, but the truth is that no political party can be a medium for such a dialogue. If the Maoists are honest, then they should work through a human rights activist. The Maoists do not want a solution through dialogue, because if you hold a dialogue then you must reach a conclusion and also lay down arms. The Maoists are not prepared to give up their weapons. On the other hand the Congress wants to finish off the Maoists through dialogue.

Q. You have raised the issue about the need for direct elections of the PM.

A. Our general secretary raised the issue. Actually this will prove detrimental for the country. If direct elections are held for a PM, it is bound to create problems-influencing 11.5 million people is not a small issue. Even during elections to parlia-ment, foreign forces are active. Think about how active they will be when direct elections are held to elect a PM.