The Promise of Communism in Nepal...can it succeed?

I've been trying to figure out why the people of Nepal voted for and
sup****t
Communists.  I've read many online news re****ts on Nepal, with notes
(below)
and I'll summarize the notes here.  (reasonable discussion is solicited,
the
usual rabid anti-communists may **** off) ;-)

(Mind you, I don't yet see how communism can work, I'm just stating what
it is.)

   -- SUMMARY ---------------------------------------------------------
Communist candidates have won a "huge mandate" in Nepal's April 10th
elections
for these reasons:

I. The Problems:
   1. Nepal is steeped in extreme poverty.
     (e.g. in one part of Nepal the average annual income is $100, and
life
      expectancy is 52 due to this poverty)

   2. Nepal has been ruled by an extremely rich monarchy which has done
little
      to solve the extreme poverty.

   3. Nepal's monarchy has ruled with an iron fist, with the security
forces
      guilty of numerous summary executions, disappearances, and torture.

   4. Most of Nepal's people have no representation in political power,
either
      ignored due to poverty or due to an unjust caste system.

II. The Solutions:
   1. The essence of Communism is elimination of exploitation poverty,
      guaranteeing that all workers, especially the lowest, have
representation.

   2. The essence of Communism is democracy, with every part of society
      participating.

   3. Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda is a hero, who
      has given a voice to millions of downtrodden people in one of the
      poorest countries in the world.

   4. So far, 10 years of armed fighting (ended in 2006) against the
monarchy,
      demonstrating a commitment to solving the country's problem of
extreme poverty.

III. Problems:
   1. Since Communism is a threat to exploitative Capitalists, Capitalists
      will probably not give Communism a fair chance to succeed and will
      try to subvert Nepal's new leaders through propaganda lies and
      violent warfare.

   --------------------------------------------------------------------

   These are verbatim unorganized cut-and-paste notes from various news
articles,
   used for the above summary.


the only genuine alternative to the old, repressive social order.

and their anger at the plight of the rural poor

the security forces are guilty of numerous summary executions and cases
of torture.

Another key grievance of the rebels was the resentment felt by lower
caste people against the authority wielded by the higher castes.

The Maoists say that the reason they have so much sup****t is because most
of their sup****ters have traditionally been treated as second-class
citizens or worse.

the only genuine alternative to the old, repressive social order.

Until there is substantial social and economic development in the areas
of the countryside where the Maoists hold sway, the insurgency will
continue.
   ------------------------------------

A message of "land to the tiller", already tried out in some remote
places, has huge appeal in a country of subsistence farmers and labourers.

So too do the promise of deliverance from caste or gender discrimination,
or the financially crippling dowry system - changes the Maoists really
have set about introducing.

The 10-year insurgency brought issues of deprivation and poverty to
prominence.

Maoist trade union mobilisation has in some cases doubled people's
pitiful wages.

In their own leader****p and parliamentary appointees the Maoists have
introduced more women and more people from disadvantaged castes and
ethnic groups, something they promise to continue.

Ideologically, the Maoists remain textbook communists [WTF does this
mean?]
   ------------------------------------

want a new kind of parliament where "oppressed cl***** can compete".

in the Terai, the southern plains, where an ethnic community known as the
Madhesis - roughly a third of Nepal's population - is now demanding
rights after years of neglect.

People of hill origin, loosely known as Pahadis, have always ruled Nepal.
The Madhesis complain there is no sign of this changing.

In all the structure of Nepal, the police structure, army structure, any
wing of the government, the representation of Madhesis is almost nil."

Many groups voicing such grievances have formed.

"Our liberation army punishes anyone who sup****ts the absolute rule of
the hill people. We want to destroy those Pahadi people who have absolute
power and those sup****ting them."

Madhesi campaigners say the authorities ignore their grievances.

Nepal consists of dozens of minorities now demanding a voice.
   ------------------------------------

The king - an extraordinarily rich monarch in an exceptionally poor
country

Nepal's indigenous ethnic groups, who constitute some 40% of the
population but have always been excluded from political power.

Also marginalised in Nepal are two million stateless people living in
areas bordering India: the new declaration says they will get citizen****p.

Nepal's cru****ng poverty

Nepal has one most pressing problem: poverty.
   ------------------------------------

Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda is a hero, who has
given a voice to millions of downtrodden people in one of the poorest
countries in the world.

his 40-point demands submitted to the government in 1996,
   ------------------------------------

cursed with two things - terrible poverty and even worse politicians.
   ------------------------------------

The elections are part of the peace deal signed in 2006 between the
interim coalition government and the former Maoist rebels.
   ------------------------------------

anger at the plight of the rural poor
   ------------------------------------


   ------------------------------------------------------
   ------------------------------------------------------
   The Violence of The Government

the security forces are guilty of numerous summary executions and cases
of torture.

Atrocities during the Maoist insurgency were committed by both sides, but
in terms of numbers the state killed more people than the Maoists.

"Disappearances" and torture in army barracks, the military bombardment
of Maoist gatherings - these and more have swung many behind the
ex-guerrillas.

People aggrieved by almost anything will put up road blockades. "They
feel that is the only way they can get their voices heard,"

King Gyanendra sacked the democratic government and took over power in
February 2005.

They also demanded that a commission should be established to investigate
the disappearances of their sup****ters during Nepal's decade-long civil
war

Observers say with international pressure mounting on him and the mood
among his opponents at home hardening, particularly after the deaths of a
number of protesters at the hands of the security forces, the king had
few other options.

large numbers of opposition protesters, including leading politicians,
and journalists were detained or placed under house arrest in the
campaign against the king.

Strict media curbs were enforced after the coup

   ------------------------------------
It required an act of insanity to put King Gyanendra on the throne of
Nepal.

If reason had prevailed "Prince" Gyanendra would still be living in the
shadow of his widely respected brother King Birendra.

King Gyanendra's son, Paras, would still be the object of derisive gossip
among Kathmandu's intellectuals who, then at least, were confident that
the playboy prince would never get his hands on the reins of power. And
none of the recent protests would have happened.

But on 1 June 2001 reason stepped aside for madness.

King Birendra's son Prince Dipendra staggered down the stairs of the
royal palace in a drunken stu****, walked into the drawing room where most
of his family were spending the evening and opened fire with an M-16
assault rifle.  [killing 7 people, including the king and queen]

King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and seven other members of the royal
household were cut to pieces.

At a stroke Gyanendra, who at that stage in his life must have resigned
himself to a bit part in Nepalese history, was shuffled up the pack to
assume the kingdom.
--------------------

  Carter says US should recognize Maoist poll victory
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/apr/apr12/news13.php#1
Carter said during election 7 people killed, all unarmed Maoist,
assassinated.