Purna Basnet
Republica
January 6, 2014
Despite the yawning gap between the UCPN (Maoist) and its break away faction CPN -Maoist, the leaders from both the parties are, nevertheless, pining their hope on China to bring them together.
Both parties are optimistic about the possible unification after Chinese Vice Minister of International Department Ai Ping, on a 3-day visit to Nepal in mid-December 2013, suggested senior leaders from both parties to work together for the sake of constitution drafting as well as the unification of their parties.
In its reading of Nepali politics, the northern neighbor which is getting increasingly assertive seems to believe that an unified and powerful Maoist party in Kathmandu will be favorable for its security concern.
According to experts on Nepal-China relations, the northern neighbor has taken the Maoist force in Nepal as an ally to check anti-China activities in Nepal soil.
The emerging economic giant wants to increase its influence in the Himalayan country to counter the dominant Indian and American presence.
For the purpose, China wants the Maoist party to be strong for the Chinese benefit.
Concluding that a weak Maoist party will tantamount to weak Chinese influence in Nepal, the northern neighbor has actively initiated unification processes after the second Constituent Assembly election, sources from both the parties informed.
Vice Minister Ai, who visited Nepal to take the stock of the situation after the election in the capacity of a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, had spent most of his time with the Maoist leaders while he was in Kathmandu.
Ai, who is old friend of UCPN (Maoist) Chair Puspa Kamal Dahal, said to have held a meeting at Lazimpat with the top Maoist leaders from both parties, focusing on the issue of unification of the parties.
“This time, Ai not only suggested for the unification, rather he pressed the CPN-Maoist leaders to work for party unification,” said a Maoist leader on the condition of anonymity.
During his visit in June last year, Chinese state councilor, Yang Jiechi, had also continued the Chinese effort to bring the both Maoist faction together.
Stating that the UCPN (Maoist) is facing huge external and internal challenges after the defeat in the election, Ma Jiali, Executive Deputy Director of Center for Strategic Studies of China hinted that unification with the breakaway faction would be beneficial for both the parties.
“It would be easier for them to recoup public support if they unite with their other faction,” he said.
Hinting at the Chinese desire to see a stable Nepal, Vice Minister Ai, in his meeting with CPN-Maoist leaders, who have been opposing recently held CA election, had pressed them to stay in the peaceful political course to bail the country out of the political deadlock.
He had told the Maoist party led by Mohan Bahidya that ´Chinese good will remain with them provided they remain in the peaceful politics and help in drafting constitution.
“The unification between the Maoist parties is not possible immediately. However, the possibility of the two parties coming together before the next general election can to be ruled out,” another expert in South Asian stated.
Nepali Maoist parties leader are said to be in constant touch with the Chinese community party leaders asking them to help in the unification process.
“We have been approached by the leaders from both the parties to help for the unification. However, it is not an easy task for China,” said one of the Chinese communist leaders, who also did not forget to say that it is internal issue of Nepal.
