Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist)
Encyclopedia
The Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist–Maoist) is a banned political party in Bhutan
. The CPB (MLM) calls for a New Democratic Revolution
and the overthrow of the Bhutanese monarchy and the House of Wangchuck
. Its armed wing is the Bhutan Tiger Force
and United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan
. It is currently estimated to have 600 to 1000 cadres.
protested against the Bhutan government for democratization and language reforms. The government forcibly evicted the protesters, where they were put into refugee camps in eastern Nepal. Those who stayed have faced widespread discrimination. Inside the refugee camps, insurgent groups have sprung up, including the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist–Leninist–Maoist).
. They call for the start of a People’s War and a New Democratic Revolution
The group seeks repatriation for the Nepali refugees and the declaration of Bhutan as a ‘sovereign democracy’. The CPB also wants to turn Bhutan into a republic.
. They also declared the beginning of a 'People's War'.
In March 2008, the Bhutanese police killed five alleged Maoists and arrested seventeen more in various operations in the south. On December 30, 2008 the Maoists ambushed and killed four forest rangers and took their weapons in Singye village, 155 miles away from the capital.
The CPB have also formed links with the Indian North-East rebels such as the ULFA and NDFB and receive training, including bomb-making.
They've formed links with the Naxalites of India.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. The CPB (MLM) calls for a New Democratic Revolution
New Democracy
New Democracy or the New Democratic Revolution is a Maoist concept based on Mao Zedong's "Bloc of Four Social Classes" theory during post-revolutionary China which argues that democracy in China will take a decisively distinct path from either the liberal capitalist and/or parliamentary democratic...
and the overthrow of the Bhutanese monarchy and the House of Wangchuck
House of Wangchuck
The House of Wangchuck has ruled Bhutan since it was reunified in 1907. Prior to reunification, the Wangchuck family had governed the district of Trongsa as descendants of Dungkar Choji. They eventually overpowered other regional lords and earned the favour of the British Empire...
. Its armed wing is the Bhutan Tiger Force
Bhutan Tiger Force
The Bhutan Tiger Force is allegedly the armed wing of the Bhutan Communist Party .-Sources:* South Asian Terrorism Portal* BBC News* Kuensel Online . 18 Feb 2008....
and United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan
United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan
The United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan was a previously unknown group who claimed credit for a series of coordinated bombings in southwestern Bhutan on 20 January 2008. Nobody was killed in any of the bombings, though one woman was injured. The United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan claimed...
. It is currently estimated to have 600 to 1000 cadres.
Background
In the 1990s, Nepali-speaking Bhutanese peoplesLhotshampa
Lhotshampa, or Lhotsampa, means "southerners" in Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan. The term refers to the heterogeneous ethnic Nepalese population of Bhutan.-History:...
protested against the Bhutan government for democratization and language reforms. The government forcibly evicted the protesters, where they were put into refugee camps in eastern Nepal. Those who stayed have faced widespread discrimination. Inside the refugee camps, insurgent groups have sprung up, including the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist–Leninist–Maoist).
Ideology
The CPB (MLM) was formed on April 22, 2003. It was announced on the website of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Its first act was a Ten-Point Program which it demanded from the government. Its ideology derives from Mao ZedongMao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. They call for the start of a People’s War and a New Democratic Revolution
New Democracy
New Democracy or the New Democratic Revolution is a Maoist concept based on Mao Zedong's "Bloc of Four Social Classes" theory during post-revolutionary China which argues that democracy in China will take a decisively distinct path from either the liberal capitalist and/or parliamentary democratic...
The group seeks repatriation for the Nepali refugees and the declaration of Bhutan as a ‘sovereign democracy’. The CPB also wants to turn Bhutan into a republic.
2007
The Royal Bhutan Army defused a bomb planted by the CPB (MLM) in Phuentsholing village, close to the Indian border.2008
During the transition to constitutional monarchy in 2008, the Maoists rocked Bhutan with five explosions across the country, including one in the capital ThimphuThimphu
Thimphu also spelt Thimpu, is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961...
. They also declared the beginning of a 'People's War'.
In March 2008, the Bhutanese police killed five alleged Maoists and arrested seventeen more in various operations in the south. On December 30, 2008 the Maoists ambushed and killed four forest rangers and took their weapons in Singye village, 155 miles away from the capital.
2010
During the 16th South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation, security was tightened after threats by the Maoists.International connections
The Bhutanese Maoists have connections with the Nepalese Maoists, who they consider to be their inspiration.The CPB have also formed links with the Indian North-East rebels such as the ULFA and NDFB and receive training, including bomb-making.
They've formed links with the Naxalites of India.
See also
- List of political parties in Bhutan
- Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
- Communist Party of India (Maoist)Communist Party of India (Maoist)The Communist Party of India is a Maoist political party in India which aims to overthrow the government of India through violent means. It was founded on 21 September 2004, through the merger of the People's War, and the Maoist Communist Centre . The merger was announced to the public on October...
- Nepalese Civil War
- Insurgency in Northeast India