Nepal - I

The priorities of Prachanda, the Nepalese Maoist Leader
Ultimately, we will have to fight with the Indian Army. That is the situation. Therefore, we have to take into account the Indian Army. When the Indian Army comes in with thousands and thousands of soldiers, it will be a very big thing. But we are not afraid of the Indian Army because, in one way, it will be a very good thing. They will give us lots of guns. And lots of people will fight them. This will be a national war. And it will be a very big thing. They will have many difficulties intervening. It will not be so easy for them. But if they stupidly dare... they will dare, they will be compelled. They will do that stupidity. We have to prepare for that. And for that reason we are saying we will also need a particular international situation. And for us this has to do mainly with India, Indian expansionism. When there is an unstable situation in India and a strong mass base there in support of People's War in Nepal and there are contradictions within the Indian ruling class -- at that point we can seize, we can establish and declare that we have base areas, that we have a Government."
-- Prachanda, the Nepalese Maoist leader, in an interview to a Latin American journalist
In his statements and interviews before the election, Prachanda has given clear indications of his priorities if the Maoists came to power. First, abolish the monarchy and proclaim Nepal as a republic with a presidential form of Government. Second, himself assume office as the President of Nepal. Third, abrogate all existing agreements with India and re-negotiate those of them, which are considered to be in Nepal's interests. Finally, merge the armed cadre of the Maoists into the RNA to convert a royalist Army into a people's Army.
Maoists led by Prachanda coming to power, and sticking to it, is in the interest of neither Nepal nor India. Sooner or later, they will export their 'revolution' to India. This must be prevented at all cost: If it means an Army takeover of Nepal, so be it
B Raman, The Pioneer, 29/04/2008