ML Update
A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol.-5; No.-45; 6-12 Nov 2002
Remembering the Leninist Legacy of November
Eighty-five years ago, the world had witnessed the best way of resisting an
imperialist war. The first socialist revolution had demonstrated with
stunning clarity that the imperialist chain could well be snapped at its
weakest link. The immediate product of that revolution, the Soviet Union, of
course did not survive beyond a period. But today as imperialism wages yet
another global war, the lesson of November 1917 has acquired renewed
relevance. All over the world, the working classes and oppressed peoples are
once again seething in anger against imperialism's global offensive.
Two recent electoral verdicts from South America bear strong testimony to
this surge of popular anger. The enormous victory of Lula in Brazil has
attracted the attention of the whole world. Of course, it has been in the
making for a long time. The PT or Workers' Party has been a growing
political force in Brazil's political landscape. The party has been
controlling several cities and even provinces of this most populous country
of Latin America. This was Lula's fourth attempt at winning the presidential
sweepstakes and he has really romped home with an unprecedented majority. Of
course, over the years Lula's stance has been considerably watered down. But
there can be no mistaking the popular aspiration for freeing Brazil from the
US-controlled Fund-Bank dictated economic stranglehold.
Around the same time, the results of the first round of presidential
elections in Ecuador have also revealed a leftward trend. The presidential
candidate of the Left, Lucio Gutierrez has emerged as the frontrunner with
nearly 20% of the popular vote. The results reflect a growing anger against
US-led infringement of Ecuador's sovereignty and the elitist economic
policies that are pauperising the working people. The trend is also expected
to be reflected in an enhanced presence of the left parties in the
parliamentary arena as well as in provincial and cantonal councils.
Earlier in Europe, the German elections too became a platform for recording
a powerful European voice against US unilateralism. Almost all European
capitals have witnessed massive demonstrations against Washington's campaign
for war on Iraq. Anti-war sentiment is growing in the US as well. It now
remains to be seen how far this sentiment can find reflection in the
forthcoming US elections.
Officially, India remains cut off from the growing global opposition to the
economic and military offensive of US imperialism. In fact, India is
increasingly being bracketed with Israel and looked upon as a blind
supporter of the US-led war. The responsibility of giving an effective voice
to the anti-war anti-imperialist mood of the Indian people lies primarily
with the communist movement in India. When the domestic and foreign policies
of the Indian ruling classes serve as a vehicle for the economic and
military offensive of US imperialism, the communist movement will have to
serve as the spearhead of a resolute resistance to both saffron subversion
and imperialist offensive.
CPI(ML)'s 7th All India Party Congress in Patna
For the CPI(ML) and its thousands and thousands of members and supporters,
it is the time of the Party's Seventh All India Congress which is going to
be held at Vinod Mishra Nagar in Patna from 25 to 30 November. Patna is set
to witness a surge of rippling red crowd on 30 November at the closing
ceremony of this Congress.
More than seven hundred delegates from all over the country and
representatives from international Left and anti-imperialist movement and
also the progressive sections of the Indian diaspora from abroad will
participate in this assembly of the CPI(ML).
While assessing the current international and national situation and
reviewing the progress made by the party since the last Congress held at
Varanasi in October 1997, the Congress will address itself to the crucial
question of giving a fitting rebuff to the growing offensive of communal
fascist forces in the country and imperialism's ongoing war on the world.
The discussion on the draft document which was circulated by the central
committee of the Party to all its committees and members has been completed.
The opinions and suggestions of members and committees on these documents
have reached to the Party headquarter. The Polit Bureau and the Central
Committee of the Party will meet from 5 to 8 Nov to update the draft
documents on the basis of these suggestions. This updated draft will then,
finally, be placed before the Congress.
Meanwhile, all electoral colleges have completed process of electing
delegates to the Congress and extensive propaganda has begun in this last
phase.
Stop Imperialism's War on the World !
Foil the Fascist Conspiracy in India !
Intensify the Communist Movement !
Agrarian Labourers Protest in UP
The Uttar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Sabha (UPKMS) organised protests in many
districts in the state on 28 October against UP govt.'s anti-labour and
ant-poor policies highlighting various issues severely affecting livelihood
and lives of agricultural labourers in the state. Demonstrations were held
at district headquarters in Chandauli, Gazipur, Ballia, Deoria, Kushinagar,
Ambedkar Nagar, Gonda, Sitapur, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Pilibhit, Jalaun and
Varanasi districts raising the demands for issuance of red ration cards to
all agrarian labourers and to all families living below poverty line in the
state, implementation of Minimum Wages Act, guarantee of work throughout the
year, revamping of public distribution system (PDS), to distribute surplus
land to agricultural labourers and ensure possession over land to those who
have already been allotted land pattas, and to withdraw cases falsely put on
many Party leaders in Lakhimpur-Kheri district.
The CPI(ML) and UPKMS, in Uttar Pradesh, are demanding to the UP govt. to
issue red cards (BPL cards) to everyone below poverty line, but the latter
is continuously trying to evade this issue. It is a well-known fact that
millions of people who deserve red cards are being deprived of their basic
rights due to govt's increasing apathy which is cutting subsidies and job
opportunities in the name of new economic policy of liberalisation and
globalisation. The onslaught on Indian agriculture after the WTO agreement
has further intensified the sufferings of the poor, which is nakedly evident
by the recent starvation deaths in few districts of eastern UP. The CPI(ML)
and UPKMS are voicing the growing resentment among rural poor, particularly
agricultural labourers, against these anti-people policies. Although the
govt. was forced to distribute red cards after long and protracted
successful struggles at a few places as in Pilibhit, it remains a half won
battle due to the corruption prevalent in PDS system and govt's policy to
cut subsidy in PDS and not to distribute food grains which were lying in
abundance till last season in its godowns and even going waste.
In this backdrop, while CPI(ML) is organising rural poor and agricultural
labourers on these issues and on the question of distribution of land, the
state has increased its repression in the form of more and more growing
organised attacks by police-criminal-bureaucrat nexus and many cadres and
leaders have been implicated in false cases by the police. Recently in
Lakhimpur-Kheri district where Party has mobilised masses in a militant
struggle for occupation of a piece of land in favour of landless poor, the
police and local administration has come openly to protect mafia-landlords
and arrest warrants have been issued against almost all Party leaders in
that district by falsely implicating them under many sections of Cr.P.C.
Thousands of agricultural labourers have participated in these protest
demonstrations in over a dozen districts and pledged to intensify their
struggle till the demands are fulfilled.
CPI(ML)'s Exposure Campaign in Chhatisgarh
The CPI(ML) held an exposure sit-in (Bhandaphor Mahadharna) at Raipur in
Chhatisgarh on 1 November on the occasion of the completion of two years of
formation of this new state which is currently being ruled by Ajit Jogi
govt. of the Congress. Hundreds of people from Bhilai, Raipur and Bilaspur
districts participated in this protest-cum-exposure programme.
Representatives of the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party and the Bharat Jan Andolan
also joined the programme. A memorandum was also submitted to the
Chhatisgarh Chief Minister through district magistrate of Raipur, demanding
special package for the development of the state, halt on the privatisation
move of natural resources and of industries being pursued by the government,
effective launching of 'food for work' programme, a complete package to
check increasing migration, emphasis on irrigation programme on a priority
basis, guarantee of fixing the support-price for paddy at Rs. 700 per
quintal, seizure of land which is under illegal occupation of rich and
influential farmers and its distribution to the landless people, withdrawal
of the decision to retrench workers in Mandir-Hasaud FCI depot, etc.
Speakers at the dharna criticised NDA ruled central government which is
trying to take credit of formation of the new state but evading from the
responsibility of providing a comprehensive package for its development.
Simultaneously, the Congress ruled state govt. also came under attack as it
has shown a complete lack of vision and seriousness required for the
development of a backward state like Chhatisgarh and its people.
A resolution was also passed at the dharna supporting the ongoing movement
for bonus by the workers of the Bhilai Steel Plant. The dharna also demanded
withdrawal of cases against CPI(ML) leaders who have been falsely implicated
while protesting against unauthorised occupation of land by mafia. The
protest programme was addressed by CPI(ML) central committee member Rajaram
and other leaders including Narottam Sharma, Lalan Ram and Ashok Miri.
'Committee Against War on Iraq' to hold Anti-War Demo on 14 Nov.
('The Committee Against War on Iraq' which was formed after a meeting of
various Left and democratic parties and organisations on 26 October, has
decided to hold a big protest demonstration opposing the US war on Iraq at
New Delhi on 14 November. Here we are reproducing the statement adopted by
the Committee in that meeting. -Ed.)
The United States is going ahead with its plans for a military attack on
Iraq. There are no grounds whatsoever for this flagrant violation of
international law and the national sovereignty of Iraq. Since 1991, Iraq has
been subjected to severe sanctions which has caused great damage to the
country's economy. Tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens particularly children
have lost their lives due to malnutrition and lack of medicines and
essential medical equipment. Till 1998, United Nations weapons inspectors
had gone through all installations to dismantle any potential for production
of weapons of mass destruction.
President Bush has declared that America's aim is for a "regime change" in
Iraq. The Bush administration is prepared to accept nothing less than the
removal of President Saddam Hussein. This is totally unacceptable and smacks
of imperial arrogance. Such a stand poses a danger to the sovereignty of all
countries.
The US government is pressurising the United Nations and the Security
Council to adopt a resolution which can provide the pretext for a military
attack on Iraq. The Bush administration has made it clear that even if the
United Nations does not go along with its untenable stand, it is prepared to
go ahead with its unilateral act of aggression.
A war on Iraq will cause unimaginable destruction. Thousands of lives will
be lost and the country devastated. It will create new tensions which will
threaten world peace. Already the stand of the United States has led to a
wave of anger among the people in all Arab countries. Use of brute military
force will only strengthen the forces of terrorism. India's interests will
be seriously harmed by such a war.
All over the world people are coming out into the streets to protest against
the threat of war against Iraq. The Indian people cherish the close ties
that our country with Iraq and its people. We demand that the Vajpayee
government, not remain silent. It must take a firm stand opposing the US
moves for war. It must rally international opinion against such a blatant
act of aggression against a friendly country.
The reflect the views of the people we are setting up a committee to say "No
War On Iraq". The committee Against War on Iraq will work to mobilise all
sections of the people to oppose the US plans for war and express solidarity
with Iraq.
NO
WAR
ON
IRAQ !
CPI(ML)
CALLS UPON
TO JOIN NOV 14
ANTI-US ANTI-WAR
JOINT DEMO
IN DELHI
CPI(ML) Condemns EU's Move to List Professor Sison as 'terrorist'
CPI(ML) unequivocally condemns European Union (EU) declaration of demonising
Jose Maria Sison, as 'terrorist'. By this act, EU imposed a serious setback
on the ongoing peace negotiations between National Democratic Front and
Philippine government.
Bowing to the US arm-twisting EU listed Sison, the chief political
consultant of National Democratic Front in its peace negotiation with
Philippine government, New Peoples Army and Communist Party of Philippine
and many other popular revolutionary leaders and organisations of several
third world countries as 'terrorist', EU acted in desperation in a most
arbitrary manner. It disregarded the widest European popular representations
against such declaration and the broader interests of Philippine people. Not
even a word in the declaration about the American Puppet Arroyo ruling
clique of Philippine resorting to state terrorism on daily basis and
accelerating its bloody repression on the popular democratic forces of
Philippine grievously violating the peace agreements.
EU blatantly violated the civil and democratic rights of Sison. He has been
branded as a terrorist without showing even a single act of terror, He has
been branded as a criminal without citing any crime there by inflicting
untold suffering to him and his family.
It is irony that European states feel that it is in their domain to decide
who is terrorist and who is not in an Asian sovereign country like
Philippine. People knew that it is a part of much more broader strategy of
Imperialist Powers to destroy the popular revolutionary movements all over
the world. But such counter revolutionary imperialist schemes are bound to
be defeated by the peoples as they did time and again in the past.
Elections in Ecuador:
The left wins the first round
The left and popular sections of Ecuador represented by the presidential
candidacy of Lucio Gutiérrez won an important victory in the first round of
elections. The massive vote for Colonel Gutiérrez in all provinces of the
country is a clear proof of growing popularity of the left. It is being
expected by the Ecuadorian media that when the votes of the small provinces
and the countryside come in, the vote for Gutiérrez will increase further,
and he should get some three percent more than the second place candidate,
the multimillionaire Álvaro Noboa, richest man in Ecuador and the 14th
richest in Latin America.
Gutiérrez's victory is the defeat of the traditional right of the Social
Christian Party (Neira) and also that of social democracy of the Democratic
Left (Borja) and Roldós.
On the other hand, the vote for Gutiérrez shows that there is an important
popular base in the poorest parishes, cantons and provinces of Ecuador. The
organisations of the left played a vital role, as Gutiérrez recognised in
his speech an hour after the polls closed, when he pointed out the valor of
the MPD as a party that fights for the interests of the country.
- Courtesy: En Marcha, Ecuador
Make the
CPI(ML)'s 7th Congress
a Great Success !!
25-30 Nov 2002
Vinod Mishra Nagar (Patna)
All are Cordially Invited to the
Closing
Ceremony
of the
7th All India Party Congress
of the
CPI(ML)
on 30 Nov '02
at Gandhi Maidan, Patna.
CPI(ML) Liberation
Central Office
U-90, Shakarpur, Delhi - 110092
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.cpiml.org
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