Rival Maoist factions preparing own May Day celebrations

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: The rival factions of Unified CPN-Maoist have been preparing separately for May Day celebrations to show their own strengths.

Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya, General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘and Secretary C P Gajurel formed various parallel rival organisations, including All Nepal Trade Union Federation headed by former student leader Ramdip Acharya. They are also working to create a separate student wing, All Nepal National Independent Student Union-Revolutionary.

Both factions have initiated preparations for the May Day for several weeks by collecting donations through various means claiming this year’s celebration was more important other years because the country is in a crucial phase of drafting the new constitution.

According to Ramdip Acharya, Vice-chairman Baidhya, General Secretary Badal and other senior leaders will address the May Day function to be organised at Basantapur on May 1. Rallies will begin from six different parts of the Valley and converge at Basantapur. The faction has been organising publicity campaigns using its popular cultural troupe — Samana Pariwar.

On the other hand, the establishment faction is scheduled to hold a grand mass meeting at Khula Manch on the same day which party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the two vice-chairmen of the party, among others, will address.

Workers close to the establishment faction will march from three different parts of the Valley—Lagankhel, Balaju and Chabahil to reach Khulamanch.

Former office bearers of All Nepal Trade Union Federation have already reached more than a dozen cities to lead mass rallies and meetings. Workers are expected to create pressure for inclusion of their rights in the upcoming constitution such as at least 10 per cent of their representation in all organs of the government.

Convener of ANTUF close to the Baidhya faction Ramdip Acharya claimed that they represent the true Maoists who have been fighting for the rights of workers in the real sense as some of the so-called Maoist leaders have stood against the people in the guise of revolutionary Maoists.

Both Acharya and Regmi, however, ruled out any confrontation between the two factions.

Badal to inaugurate ANNISU-R national gathering

KATHMANDU: The radical faction of UCPN-M is scheduled to hold a national gathering of its supporters in the student wing in the presence of party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa at Kirtipur on Monday. Central leader of All Nepal National Independent Students-Revolutionary Suresh Gautam said some 500 representatives of ANNISU-R are participating. He claimed that more than 72 of the 204 strong central committee of the students’ wing are close to them while their strength is more than 45 per cent in the ANNISU-R as a whole. Gautam said they were forced to organise the gathering after the establishment groups began organising separate gatherings at lower levels.