Nepal rebels admit leaders rift (Maoists in trouble)

Maoist rebels in Nepal, who have been fighting for a communist republic for the past 10 years, have admitted to a rift in their ranks.

Rebel leader Prachanda has said that he had serious differences with Baburam Bhattarai, the second most powerful person in the rebel movement.

Nepal's state-owned media had reported recently that Mr Bhattarai and his wife, Hisila Yami, had been expelled.

But in an e-mail statement, Prachanda has listed a number of serious differences with Mr Bhattarai.

He also appeared to confirm that Mr Bhattarai had been stripped of key positions he held in the party.

Mr Bhattarai headed the Maoist community's party political wing and led the rebels in failed peace talks with the government in 2003.

Since then there have been frequent newspaper reports alleging a rift between him and Prachanda - apparently over Mr Bhattarai's wish to resume peace talks.

Without elaborating, Prachanda said in a statement that Mr Bhattarai was carrying out his responsibilities assigned by the party.

Correspondents say that the personality clash between the two leaders had never been a secret, but this is the first time that their differences have been made public.

Analysts say such public airing of differences could affect the morale of the rebels.

Violence has escalated in Nepal following the rebels' withdrawal from negotiations in August 2003. About 11,000 people have now died in the 10 years since the rebels began their fight for a communist republic, the army says.

In February, with the security situation worsening, King Gyanendra sacked the multi-party government, seized direct powers and declared a state of emergency.

During the state of emergency, the army said it had inflicted some heavy defeats on the rebels.

On Saturday, King Gyanendra lifted the state of emergency evoking a mixed reaction from opposition parties and legal experts.

The royal takeover and the subsequent military actions have seriously weakened the Maoists from their base. They used to control most of the countryside, but now the official Army's position is that they control none. Of course, the Maoists do control some districts, but even in their stronghold, the Army has let its presence felt. The internal division among the Maoist leadership has widened, too. The allowing leadership is a conglomeration of criminals, failed politicians, landless peasants, upper-caste intellectuals, minority and ethnic groups.

Also, India has resumed its military assistance and the King is not in the same precarious position he used to be a month ago. That can only be encouraging for the military and devastating for the Maoists.

Expelled Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai

Baburam Bhattarai was one of the top Maoist leaders, but has been stripped from his position, because of his "moderate"(i.e., his hesitation to kill civilians is considered moderation in Maoist circles) stance.

FYI, Baburam was an architect by profession, topped the school board exam. and has doctorate. He is not a dumb guy by any means. But, like most of the Maoist leadership, he is a borderline necrophiliac.

Communism in Nepal started back in the 40's when the self-proclaimed commies(mostly from rich upper-caste background) hacked their own parents to death. They drew the inspiration from the Bolsheviks, of course. To them, their parents represented the old, fascistic, feudal way, and were on the way to the glorious workers' paradise.

"Maoist rebels in Nepal, who have been fighting for a communist REPUBLIC for the past 10 years, have admitted to a rift in their ranks."

Excuse me?????????? Communists fighting for a government chosen by the voters????? NOT!!!!!!!!
Blatant BBC pro-communist bias. The Maoist rebels are fighting for a dictatorship in which the governed do NOT choose their own leaders.

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