24 March, Kathmandu. National Youth Association of Nepal, an organization of youths affiliated to CPN-UML, held a functionary meeting on Sunday. The meeting demanded the release of detained UML workers including party president KP Sharma Oli.

The chairman of the party has been arrested. When they protested and demanded his release, other activists were also arrested,’ says Maharaj Gurung, President of Yuva Sangh.

The speech issued after the meeting is not limited to the demand for the release of leaders including Oli. Demands such as controlling the price increase in fuel, release of those arrested on charges of gangsterism, stopping the cyber bullying of their supporters have also been raised. “The home minister’s land case has been made public, there are many irregularities, we have objection to that,” says Gurung.

According to him, the meeting also decided to prepare for the protest meeting to be held on 12 Baisakh. ‘Now the psychology of the Nepali people is that no one should be hurt. Therefore, no public demonstration program has been planned for now,’ he says.

After Oli was arrested from his residence in Gundu on the morning of 14th March, UML activists including Yuva Sangh protested for three days. On the morning of Oli’s arrest, party secretary Mahesh Basnet announced that the UML had started a movement. Basnet, being Oli’s confidant, his expression was viewed with interest.

But the movement did not go as Basnet warned. On 14th and 15th of Chait, a general demonstration was held by the people’s organizations, and on 16th of Chait, a street demonstration was held under the banner of the Bagmati Province Committee. After this, rather than demanding Oli’s release, it seems that the UML leaders are more inclined to object to the decisions taken by the government and to resolve the internal conflict.

From the circular issued by General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel today (on 24th of March) it can be understood what agendas UML is scattered on. Pokharel addressed all the provincial and district presidents and directed them to pay attention to updating the voter list.

Even looking at the decisions of the party, UML does not hide its confusion. The secretariat meeting held on March 20 decided to correct the speech of the leader of the parliamentary party, Ram Bahadur Thapa, and raise objections to various decisions of the government. The meeting made a decision to object to the government’s decision to abolish student organizations from the university and to give government advertisements only to government media.

In particular, the secretariat meeting was focused on correcting the statement made by party leader Thapa in the first meeting of the House of Representatives held on 19 March. Thapa expressed that Nepali army, personnel, government led by Sushila Karki and even foreign power centers are trying to defeat UML in the February 21 election. An emergency secretariat meeting was held because Thapa’s irresponsible expression would harm the image of the UML towards the democratic system and state organs.

The emergency secretariat meeting not only tried to resolve the crisis caused by Thapa’s statement but also had to discuss the questions raised about the parliamentary party election. Suhang Nemwang, who is popular inside and outside the party, was also blocked from becoming a candidate for the leader of the parliamentary party.

In particular, the youth wing has been protesting demanding the resignation of General Secretary Pokharel and demanding the reorganization of the leadership. It can be understood that the secretariat had to address this issue as the message that UML is being indifferent to the young generation is being sent.

The appeal made to the general public to protest against Oli’s arrest has not been effective. Without the support of the people, UML leaders-activists are limited to rhetoric and writing statuses.

“It calls on all the party ranks to respect this decision made by the democratic method and not to publicly comment or act otherwise,” the statement issued after the meeting said, “The party has taken seriously the positive suggestions received from the party ranks, especially the youth ranks, in relation to this election.”

Thus, while the attention of the Maoist party is being scattered, the activity of the student organization Aneraswaviyu also seems to be weak. On the 19th of March, a message was issued from the letterpad of Aneraswawiu, wishing good luck to the candidates of SEE. Apart from this, another statement signed by Deepak Dharmi, president of ANERASWAVIU, has also been released. Dhami signed the joint statement of student organizations against the government’s decision to abolish the student organization from the university.

In other words, only the leaders accept that the UML line has not been circulated according to the level of ripples that have been generated in the society by the arrest of party president Oli. We warned that the country would be brought to a standstill even if he touched KP Oli. But when he was arrested, we could not create as much pressure as we should have,’ says a leader.

However, UML campaign coordinator Meen Bahadur Shahi says that the activities are going on according to the announced schedule of the party. ‘We are not silent. Programs are going on according to the circular,’ says Shahi, ‘there is a case in the court, meetings are also being held within the party.’

Loud expression, soft program

Looking at the three secretariat meetings held after Oli’s arrest, UML leaders’ faith is not in street demonstrations, but in the legal process and the Supreme Court. Such an indication was made from the decision of the first meeting held on 14 Chait.

While some leaders were warning to bring the country to a standstill, the UML secretariat meeting decided to submit a memorandum through the district administration and give the responsibility of the demonstration to the mass organizations. According to the decision of the secretariat meeting, the next day, on 15th Chait, the memorandum was submitted across the country through the district administration office.

Apart from submission of memorandum and demonstration of mass organizations, it was also decided to take proposal of cooperation with other parties, protest from parliament and go to legal battle. It was decided to assign responsibility to Bishnu Prasad Poudel to coordinate with other political parties, Ram Bahadur Thapa to respond from Parliament and Gokarn Bista to coordinate legal remedies.

But the results of none of these works have been seen. The Supreme Court has not given an order on the writ of detention. The deadline for statements has been extended. The proposal to block the front with the parties is stalled when the Congress, which is caught in internal strife, does not make an institutional response against the arrest of Ramesh Akhtar. On the contrary, Thapa’s statement, who has taken the responsibility of retaliating from Parliament, has added to the crisis.

The appeal made to the general public to protest against Oli’s arrest has not been effective. Without the support of the people, UML leaders-activists are limited to rhetoric and writing statuses.

Looking at the institutional decision of the UML regarding the street struggle, it can be assumed that its faith in the public demonstration is weak. The secretariat meeting held on March 17 has decided to hold a show of strength on May 12.

According to the decision, there will be a meeting and training of district level workers on 25th March. Municipal level meeting will be held on March 28th and Ward level meeting will be held on May 3rd. The UML has decided to concentrate on the capital after holding a state-level demonstration on 7 Baisakh. This means that after a month of Oli’s arrest, UML’s power will be demonstrated.

‘We are in the biggest crisis in history. The result of the election has confirmed that the people are very angry with us,’ says one of the leaders of the UML. Political parties have no other option to win the trust of the people.’

The inconsistency of the decisions also confirms the fact that Oli’s arrest has increased the crisis in the UML, which had the weakest result in parliamentary history in the February 21 election. At the same time, a signature campaign has started with the demand for a special convention.

Campaigners argue that UML cannot solve the crisis by the secretariat or the central committee alone, a special convention should be called.