Hemanta Prakash Oli Discusses Decline of Leftist Parties and Future

Kathmandu. After the recent elections, leftist parties in Nepal have reached a very weak state. There is also debate from various angles on whether these parties will be re-established or not. 

Hemanta Prakash Oli is the spokesperson for the Revolutionary Communist Party. He admits that although there was a people's war for change, going into the old structure of power did not yield the expected results. 'Leaders at that time became greedy for power and position, which caused the revolution to become directionless,' he said in an interview with Rato Pati's 'War-Par'.  

He concludes that although there have been quantitative achievements after the establishment of the federal democratic republic, qualitative achievements have not been achieved. 'Qualitative achievement should have been the establishment of a people's republic,' he feels.  

Where, why, and how did the leftist parties fail? Edited excerpts of a conversation focused on this very topic with leftist leader Oli (detailed video can be watched):  

You are 60 years old and have spent 45 years actively in the leftist movement. Looking at the current state of Nepal's leftist movement, did your role strengthen or weaken the leftist movement?

The long journey of 45 years has not been in vain. We fought against the Panchayat system and succeeded in overthrowing it. After that, a multi-party system came, but the monarchy remained in it. We plunged into the people's war to end it.

After 10 years of people's war, the king was overthrown, and a federal democratic republic was established in the country. Important achievements like secularism, proportional inclusion, and federalism were achieved. However, our goal was not limited to this.  

Our goal was scientific socialism and a new people's democratic revolution. On the path to completing the revolution, we made some mistakes, our leaders took the path of compromise. Therefore, the movement could not achieve the full momentum it sought.

You said - the revolution did not take the right path. But the 10-year people's war and the subsequent long period of leftist politics brought the country to this stage, didn't it?

There have been quantitative achievements, but no qualitative achievements. Qualitative achievement should have been the establishment of a people's republic. Marx said that the objectives of the proletariat cannot be fulfilled without shattering the old power. We could not dismantle the old army, judiciary, and bureaucracy. Instead, we accepted the machinery and structure of the old state power. We sought change, but by going into the old structure of power, the movement could not yield the expected results. Leaders at that time became greedy for power and position, which caused the revolution to become directionless.

You said the leaders betrayed. But you yourself have changed parties time and again. You have changed parties seven times. Was this for convenience or in search of revolution?

Rather than changing parties, I have been in search of revolution. When Prachanda and Baburam left the path of revolution, to fulfill the dreams of martyrs and the objectives of the oppressed people, we searched for a revolutionary line. We are certainly not in seven parties, but in the process of unity and in search of revolutionary groups, many ups and downs were experienced. Currently, through the Revolutionary Communist Party Nepal, we have united three revolutionary streams and are moving forward.

You yourselves cannot unite, so how will the people believe you?  

It's not that the people won't believe. Some things are confirmed with time. When the mistakes of Prachanda and Oli become apparent to the public, the people will again seek a revolutionary alternative. The current government, the way it has come, is not the true mandate of the people; it is 'manipulation'. The people are looking for alternatives in anger.

What we need to do is unite the revolutionary streams and form an independent coalition government.
 
What is your comment on the current government? Has this government respected the mandate of the people?

This government has come in a dramatic fashion, at the behest of unseen forces, and through the manipulation of external powers. It is a puppet government, flawed from its foundation. It is the result of 16 years of diplomatic and political practice. It represents the interests of foreign powers more than the mandate of the people. Therefore, this government will not last long.

What did the leftist movement give to society?

The leftist movement has given consciousness to Nepali society. The main credit for today's people being politically aware and capable of fighting goes to the leftist movement. It ended the monarchy and brought the republic. Reform processes have started to some extent.

However, the movement could not bring about fundamental change. The task now is to embark on the journey towards real socialism by utilizing the consciousness it brought.

What do you see as the future of Nepal's leftist movement?

The future of the movement is not over. As long as there is oppression, the movement will exist. Communists may appear weak now, but this is temporary. If all of us revolutionary forces, who believe in Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, come together and move forward through a national political conference, we can seek an alternative to this system. We must make the country self-reliant and independent again. Our struggle will continue because it is the need of the country and the people.