Nepalese Revolutionary Leader to speak in LondonChandra Prakash Gajurel (Comrade Gaurav), a senior Politburo Member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), and Head of the CPN (M)'s 'International Command', recently released from an Indian prison after three years without trial, will be speaking at Goldsmiths...
Comrade Gaurav - CPN (Maoist) will speak at Goldsmiths on 12th March 2007 in the Ben Pimlott Lecture Theatre at 6.30 PM. A great opportunity to welcome this Comrade back to active political struggle after his time in an Indian jail. This event adds to our growing interest in issues relevant to the history and development of struggles against imperialism, and is open to all (and not just MA Postcolonial Studies, of course). More details will be posted here soon (including other London talks), but for now please mark Monday 12th March (6.30) in your diary now. below, some info on the reason we are able to have Comrade Gaurav here - his release from jail at the end of November (from WPRM):
"1 Dec 2006The pic is from a German campaign rally - showing international support retains its relevance. Lal Salaam.
To All Chapters and Supporters:
Dear Comrades and Friends,
We have received the following additional information about the release of Comrades Gaurav and Kiran.
According to press reports they were released from the Jalpaiguri Central Jail in India at 7.45 pm on Thursday (30 Nov.). In addition it is being reported that 13 other people who were arrested along with them were also released. Press reports further state that they were met by "jubilant crowd" of "hundreds of people" (Reuters) "shouting 'Down with Nepal's monarchy'" as they left the jail.
It is being reported that "The West Bengal State Government had Tuesday ordered the local authorities to expedite the release. Following the order, police withdrew the cases filed at three different police stations in Jalpaiguri and Matigarha police station of Siliguri against them." This once again showing that the cases against them were politically motivated from the start and not based on any "violation of the law".
After leaving the jail they traveled to Kakarvitta, on the Nepalese side of the border with India. According to the Hindustan Times, "hundreds of people waited for their 'national heroes'" as they arrived in the town. Upon arriving in Kathmandu on Friday they were greeted by CPN(M) Chairman Prachanda at a public gathering and received "extended applause" from a crowd of "2,000 people" (AFP News) in attendence.
Both comrades have stated their intentions of returning to active revolutionary politics and thanked those who supported them during their period of imprisonment.
- Welcome Back Comrades Gaurav and Kiran!
- Free All Nepali Political Prisoners Still Held in India and China!
- Imperialists and Reactionaries: Hands Off Nepal!"
Public Meetings:REVOLUTION IN NEPALat a Crucial JunctureThe Current Situation and Perspectives for the People's Struggle in Nepal and Around the WorldWith Comrade Gaurav a Senior Leader of the Revolution in NepalSince 1996 the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), CPN (M), has been leading a massive revolution that has been sweeping through Nepal. On August 20, 2003, a senior leader of the CPN(M), and a member of its political bureau, Chandra Prakash Gajurel, known to millions of people in Nepal, South Asia and around the world as Comrade Gaurav, was arrested by the Indian authorities as he attempted to travel from India to Europe.Nearly one year ago, in April 2006, the struggle of the Nepali masses against the feudal monarchy and its imperialist backers was raised to a crescendo, and people poured onto the streets of Nepal for a continuous 19 day shutdown of the entire country. King Gyanendra, after much discussion with his backers (mainly US and India), was eventually forced to concede defeat and reinstate the parliament which he had previously dissolved. The backdrop for these momentous events was of course the 10 year revolution under the leadership of the CPN(M). Since this April Movement the Nepali masses have been anticipating elections to a Constituent Assembly which would decide the fate of the monarchy. The CPN(M) has been pushing forward towards these elections and various agreements with the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) to isolate the monarchy have been made. The SPA however - and the current prime minister, Koirala, of the Nepali Congress Party - has been vacilating and looking for excuses to delay elections at all costs, with the open support of the US imperialists and Indian expansionists. The people's struggle in Nepal is thus at a crucial juncture, with the ruling classes and imperialists desperately looking for an opportunity to drown the aspirations of the Nepali masses.
Since his release from prison in India in December 2006 Comrade Gaurav has become head of the CPN(M) International Department. Nepali Samaj and the World People's Resistance Movement (Britain) invite you to participate in our public meetings to talk to comrade Gaurav directly about advances of the revolution in Nepal and the world situation:3:00pm, Saturday 10 March at 100 Flowers Cultural Centre, first floor, 24 Stoke Newington High street, Dalston, N16. Nearest train station Dalston Kingsland (North London Line). Buses 67, 76, 149, 2432:00pm, Sunday 11 March at Oceanic club, first floor 158 Station Road, Edgware Middlesex HA8 7AW. Nearest underground station: Edgware (Northern Line). Buses 16, 32, 142, 192, 204, 288, 303.6:30pm, Monday 12 March at Goldsmiths College. Nearest station: New Cross. Near to New Cross Road/Laurie Grove. See http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/find-us/ for exact location.5:00pm, Tuesday 13 March at Junior Common Room, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Nearest underground station: Russell Square.Supported by: 100 Flowers Cultural Centre, Indian Workers Association, Fight Racism Fight Imperialism, Communist Workers and Peasants Party of Pakistan, Friends of Africa, Revolutionary Practice.World People Resistance Movement(Britain)BM Box 7970 London WC1N 3XXwprm_britain@yahoo.co.uk
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5:12 am (6 hours ago)
On 12th March 2007 about 50 people squeezed into the lecture theatre at Goldsmiths College, University of London, to listen to Comrade Gaurav. The event was organised by Dr. John Hutnyk, head of the Centre for Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths in cooperation with the World Peoples Resistance Movement (Britain) and the Nepali Society. Most of those who came to listen to Comrade Gaurav were student youth but others came from around London to attend the event.
John Hutnyk opened the event with a brief introduction, and a member of WPRM(Britain) gave further information before Comrade Gaurav took to the stage. Gaurav gave a stirring speech that was provocative and inspirational, especially for students in Britain who rarely have the chance to listen to a revolutionary so steeped in the theory and practice of revolutionary struggle.
Gaurav’s speech concentrated on the historical development of the Nepalese revolution, incorporating a wide viewpoint of the main underlying factors as well as the particularities of the struggle. Especially interesting was the description of the launch of People’s War in 1996, when Nepal was in the strange situation of having a “communist” party in government (CPN-UML) and another one fighting armed struggle. Students were also interested in hearing about the “open secret” of King Gyanendra’s role in the royal massacre in 2001, and the CPN(Maoist)’s proposition for elections to a Constituent Assembly that were first put forward in 2002. Gaurav convincingly explained how this proposal was first met with disdain by the parliamentary parties, who thought a democratic republic was just a “pipe dream”. However, after Gyanendra’s seizure of power these very same parties were propelled towards alliance with CPN(Maoist). The 19-day uprising in 2006 took place with this alliance at the forefront, but with the background of 10 years of People’s War. Now the Nepalese revolution is at a crossroads, with 2 possibilities open, that of free and fair elections leading to the abolition of the monarchy, or that of intervention in that process which would lead the CPN(Maoist) to support the masses in declaring a republic from the streets in general insurrection.
Gaurav’s speech was met with great applause and there followed a period of questions and answers. Issues explored included the role of urban insurrection, the future of the PLA after elections, law and order in the red bases, and the link between the CPI(M) and the Nepalese revolution. Lastly one member of the audience asked about the role of international solidarity and in particular support for revolutionaries imprisoned by reactionary states or even so-called democracies like India. Gaurav gave a stirring account of his time in prison in Chennai and West Bengal that exposed for all present the government of India, but which also emphasised the positive role of proletarian internationalist solidarity, which in Gaurav’s case, played some role in him not being extradited to Nepal where his safety would have been far from certain. All those present were inspired by this account which will help WPRM(Britain) to attract more supporters and indeed to win over more people in support of the Nepalese masses in their struggle against feudalism and imperialism.
WPRM(Britain)
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