CPI(ML) HOME Vol.6, No.13 March 26-Apr'1, 2003

 

In this Issue:

Editorial...

Stop the War!
Send Bush and Blair Packing from Iraq!

Never before in recent history has the world witnessed a war more unjust and barbaric than this Gulf War II. Through this war America is not only trying to get rid of Saddam Hussein or gain an iron grip over Iraq's fabled oil reserves, it is trying to create a world where the words of the American President will be international law. Like the absolutist French monarch who had once ordained himself to be the state, Bush is fighting this war to 'Americanise' the twenty-first century and chain the world to Washington's vision of Pax Americana.

Never before have we seen the President of one country ask another President to flee his country or face a war. When repeated rounds of weapons inspection revealed nothing and when even the UN Security Council refused to authorise the application of force, a desperate Bush was left with no pretext or excuse. The Emperor had truly been disrobed. He could only fall back on his military might and the support of a handful of Blairs. Senior Bush had a grand alliance to back him in Gulf War I. Little Bush has gone to war with a cracking 'coalition of the willing' which is a poor shadow of the former alliance. The UN has certainly not been effective in terms of stopping the war, but it has been relevant at least to the extent that it has mirrored the growing political isolation of the world's lonely superpower and has refused to lend its stamp of approval to Bush's ugly war of aggression.

The initial euphoria of the Bush brigade already appears a little restrained. The millions of leaflets showered with the bombs instigating the Iraqi Army and people to rebel against the dying regime of Saddam Hussein have had no impact. The propaganda of 'mass Iraqi surrenders' and 'rapid coalition advance' has already been exposed to be nothing but a bunch of Goebbelsian lies. The 'shock-and-awe' strategy of stunning Iraq into submission through a massive application of force seems to be producing little result. The so-called 'targets of opportunity' are proving to be more stubborn and resilient than the CIA's intelligence could ever imagine. On the other hand, reports of coalition casualties are becoming impossible to suppress even though the propagandists almost always attribute such casualties to 'accidents'.

Worldwide, the opposition to the war is growing. More and more people are coming out on the streets to condemn the brutalities of the war and demand an immediate halt. As the bombs light up the dark Baghdad sky and television commentators celebrate 'the extraordinary high quality pictures brought live from Baghdad', we realise it is a war not just on Saddam Hussein or Iraq, it is a total war on human senses and sensibilities. When Bush tells the world that his only ambition is to free the people of Iraq, the world shouts back in contempt and anger against the oil oligarchy. Even in America, more and more people see in Bush the rise of a twenty-first century Hitler or Mussolini. They are aware that the complete merger of state power and an oil cartel, the extraordinary concentration of all power in a corporate cabal, can only sound the death-knell of the kind of freedom and democracy that generations of American liberals have been taking for granted. After many many years, the US imperialism is faced with a growing domestic resistance. People are refusing to buy the bogey of Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction. They see it as a weapon of mass distraction from the real issues facing the American working people. Regime change, they insist, must begin at home.

This is a realisation that is also being shared by a growing number of Indians. Here in India we now have a regime which refuses to condemn the war because it would jeopardise India's strategic relationship with the US! Have we ever had a more alien regime since the British left? While we must do everything possible to stand by the brave people of Iraq and send Bush and Blair packing, we must also get rid of the American agents who are currently ruling India. As soon as possible.

CPI(ML) Appeals to You to Join

Anti-War Rally

On Mar 28, 2003

At Delhi

[The rallyists will assemble at Ramlila Maidan at 11 AM]

'Stop Butcher Bush -
No War on Iraq'

'Bush is the Biggest War Criminal - Hang Him'
'Disarm and Oust Bush'

CPI(ML) General Secretary's Appeal to Citizens

Dear friend,

The US-led war of aggression on Iraq is becoming more and more intense with every passing day. The Bush gang has however failed to "shock and awe" Iraq into an early surrender. The brave and fighting people of Iraq are putting up a much tougher resistance than what the Americans had expected. The desperate coalition forces are now perpetrating the worst kind of attacks on the civilian population accompanied by a vicious psychological warfare.

Under these circumstances, the worldwide anti-war movement is playing a crucial role in terms of exerting pressure on the US-led coalition for an immediate end to the war and withdrawal of Anglo-American troops and also as an expression of solidarity with the Iraqi people and their heroic resistance. It is indeed inspiring to note the kind of determined and intense mass opposition that is being extended by the working people and intelligentsia all over Europe and America. This popular resistance has also found a powerful echo in many parliaments across the world.

In India, the NDA government at the Centre has however refused to condemn the war on the plea that such a stand might jeopardise India's strategic friendship with the US. While the war is adversely affecting our immediate and long-term interests in several ways, this pro-US stance adopted by the Indian rulers can only invite greater isolation for India in the international political arena.

We must therefore do all we can to strengthen the Indian people's voice of protest against the US-led war. Delhi has already been witness to a series of anti-war actions. To impart a stronger momentum to this campaign, we in the CPI(ML) have planned a big anti-war mobilisation on March 28. Thousands of people from Delhi and surrounding states and also from Bihar will join this massive anti-war march. We are afraid we could not have prior consultation with many of you in the short time available, but considering the urgency of the situation we are sure you will not only participate in the march but extend all possible cooperation to ensure that the ani-war voice of the Indian people is heard across the country.

CPI(ML) Calls for Massive Anti-War Rally in Delhi on March 28

While condemning the unjust and barbaric attack on Iraq and demanding immediate withdrawal of the aggressor forces, the CPI(ML) has called for a massive Anti-War Rally in Delhi on March 28. Thousands of people from Delhi and surrounding states and also from Bihar will join this huge rally. On the same day, similar anti-war demonstrations will also be held before American centres in Kolkata and Chennai and also at Ranchi, Guwahati and many other state capitals and important centres. This mobilisation will also mark the culmination of the first phase of anti-war campaign launched on a nationwide scale by the Party. The Party has called upon all peace-loving people to join this rally.

On CPI(ML) Initiative Bihar Assembly Passes Anti-War Resolution

On 24 March Com. Ram Naresh Ram, leader of CPI(ML) legislature group in Bihar, demanded that an Anti-War Resolution strongly condemning the US aggression on Iraq be tabled, also demanding from the Central Government to pass an anti-war resolution condemning the US aggression. The CPI(ML) legislators vigorously pursued their demand and made the Assembly speaker table such a resolution. They also staged a demonstration before the Assembly Hall to press the issue shouting slogans "Bush-Blair, Come to Senses! Retreat from Iraq Immediately!" and "Shame Shame Atal Bihari, Stop Appeasing Bush!" Ultimately the anti-war resolution was unanimously passed by Bihar Legislative Assembly.

In the Assembly the CPI(ML) legislators said that the US-led war was a completely unjust affair but some governments including the BJP-led Central Govt. in India are still shying away from opposing the Bush-Blair misadventure.

Join Anti-War Demonstration on 28 March

Bush-Blair, the gang heading imperialist monsters has intensified attack on Iraq. The whole world is witnessing the havoc wrecked by this unjust and barbaric war. US-UK warmongers are busy in destroying Iraq, undoing its people and establishing their hold on Iraq. Apart from occupying Iraq oil-fields the real aim of the war is to impose US supremacy over the world. Rampage, massacres and open terrorist acts have forever been the hallmarks of imperialist forces.

The war is being opposed to the hilt throughout the world. People of different countries of Europe, a victim of two world wars, have come out on the streets to oppose the continuing war. Even within America the anti-war movement has been unprecedented. In all other parts of the globe the public opinion has taken the form of anti-war protests.

Whereas the anti-war atmosphere has taken the whole world in its fold, the Vajpayee government of India is cunningly continuing its appeasement of Bush. Broad masses of the country have demanded from the government to firmly oppose this war in unequivocal terms because it would bring in its wake calamitous situation in India too. Oil prices have skyrocketed with the outbreak of war and Indians working in the Gulf are coming back. But this Sanghi government is not even condemning the war, let alone oppose it.

A historic moment has come when we must sharpen the movement in India against war for peace, justice and freedom, and stand resolutely by the existence and independence of Third World countries against the bloodthirsty attacks of imperialism. Voices of the people on the streets in different countries throughout the world have acted to put a decisive pressure on their respective governments. In Britain, the anti-war public opinion and resignation by a number of parliametarians have thrown Blair in a fix. The parliament of Turkey has rejected the US pressure to let them use their soil. While vigorously opposing this war, we too must put pressure on our Central and State governments and ask them to honour the anti-war sentiments of the Indian people and pass resolutions in their respective legislatures against the war.

War on Iraq must stop immediately!

CPI(ML) Condemns Massacre in Kashmir

The CPI(ML) strongly condemned the cowardly killing of 24 people including women and children in Pulwama, Kashmir on 23 March. While expressing sincere condolence to the bereaved families, Party criticised the failure of the government to protect the people. The Party demanded a judicial enquiry into the matter immediately.

CPI(ML) Intensifies Protest Programmes Against US Aggression on Iraq, Holds Marches in Delhi

Just after the news of US-led attack on Iraq came, CPI(ML) units in various states organised protest programmes. The Party strongly condemned this war and described it as 'Operation Disaster'. Anti-war protest demonstrations were taken out instantly at all important centres of the country including Patna, Kolkata, Ranchi, Lucknow, Gwalior, Chennai and Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar and in several districts of Andhra Pradesh.

In Guwahati on March 20, a joint protest was organised the very day the America started bombing on Iraq. CPI(ML), CPI, CPI(M), SUCI and RSP activists shouted slogans against US imperialism and burnt down effigy of US President Bush. A brief meeting was also held at the spot which resolved to hold and intensify protest in other places of the state. CPI (ML) Jorhat District committee organised a protest cycle rally on March 24 against US war on Iraq and BJP "Rath Yatra" in Assam. The rally and march covered a stretch of more than 30 kms over NH 37.

In Delhi on March 21, hundreds of CPI(ML) activists and sympathisers led by General Secretary Com. Dipankar Bhattacharya held a protest demonstration at Parliament Street. Displaying a huge banner which read "Stop Butcher Bush! Stand by Iraq!" and waving placards reading "Disarm and Oust Butcher Bush", "Prosecute Bush for International Crime Against Humanity", etc. and chanting slogans against US imperialism, the demonstrators also held a brief meeting before burning an effigy of George Bush.

Addressing the anti-war activists CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said that the war on Iraq was a direct onslaught on the whole of Asia and the third world. He said Bush and Blair knew it very well that the world did not believe a word of their audacious arguments for war and hence they withdrew the resolution from the UN Security Council. He also said that the present war was singularly detrimental to India's own economic and strategic interests, yet the pro-US Vajpayee government had refused to oppose the war. He called upon the peace-loving people of India to mount pressure on the Vajpayee government by organising a powerful anti-war campaign in keeping with India's glorious anti-imperialist legacy. Several leaders of the Party and its mass organisations as well as a number of democratic personalities, social and cultural activists and intellectuals joined this anti-war protest programme.

In Bhilai, a demonstration was held and effigy of Bush was burnt, which was also joined by the Samajwadi Party workers.

On the next day, 22 March, a 'March to US Embassy' was organised by the "Committee Against War on Iraq". The march to US Embassy was stopped by the police near Teen Murti Round-about.

CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI(M) General Secretary HKS Surjit, CPI National Secretary D Raja, Former Prime Minister I K Gujaral, eminent Marxist intellectual Aizaz Ahmad, noted writer Arundhati Roy and several other leaders and cultural personalities addressed the marchers at Teen Murti Round-about. The speakers demanded that the Vajpayee government stop appeasing the US masters and come out in strong condemnation of the war.

On March 23, the martyrdom day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, more than one thousand activists from All India Students Association (AISA) and Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) staged a march in Lucknow against the US aggression on Iraq. They held a militant anti-war demonstration before the Vidhan Sabha and later held a mass meeting there. The march that started from Charbagh railway station was led by CPI(ML) State Secretary Akhilendra Pratap Singh, RYA General Secretary Lal Bahadur Singh and AISA General Secretary Sunil Yadav. Addressing the mass meeting held in front of state Assembly, speakers exposed the collaborationist role of BJP and Sangh Parivar in not condemning US for its attack on Iraq and criticised Congress for not condemning America by name in its resolution.They also condemned Togadia for fomenting communal trouble by Trishul Diksha programmes and criticised Mayawati for taking no action against Mahant Adityanath of Gorakhpur who had instigated communal riot there. CPI leader Premnath Rai and CPM leader Md. Khalid also addressed this gathering.

In Jaipur, on 23 March remembering the revolutionary anti-imperialist legacy of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, a huge meeting of democratic, progressve, human rights and many Muslim organisations was held and US flags and effigies of Blair and Bush were burnt. The meeting was addressed by Srilata Swaminathan along with other leaders. While on next day CPI(ML), CPI, CPI(M) and other Left parties and organisations jointly took out a rally condemning the imperialist aggression by the US and burnt an effigy of Bush.

In Udaipur a torchlight anti-war procession was taken out by CPI(ML) and AISA which had a great impact on the areas it passed through. After that a mass meeting was held.

An impressive anti-war march was also taken out in Gharaunda by the Haryana unit of the Party commemorating Shahee-E-Azam Bhagat Singh's Martyrdom day.

In Patna, on March 24, thousands of activists belonging to AISA and RYA held a militant demonstration in front of Assembly condemning pro-imperialist stance adopted by Vajpayee government in the name of pursuing middle path. Paying homage to Shahee-e-Azam Bhagat Singh on his martyrdom day and pledging to carry forward his anti-imperialist legacy, students and youth demanded a unanimous Parliamentary resolution condemning the attack by Bush gang on independence and sovereignty of Iraq and expressed solidarity with the global opinion against war. Bihar Pradesh Kisan Sabha activists also joined the march. The demonstrators called upon the students and youth of Bihar to march to Delhi on 28 March to join the massive "Anti-War Rally" called by the CPI(ML).

Govt. teachers and semi-Govt. employees also brought out an anti-war procession in Patna.

The growing anger of the Indian people against the thoroughly unjust US-led war pierced the otherwise sedate surroundings of the US Embassy as slogans like 'Stop Butcher Bush - No War on Iraq', 'Bush is the Biggest War Criminal - Try Him', 'Disarm and Oust Bush', etc. rent the air.

As always, the marchers heading towards the US Embassy were stopped by the police. However, a contingent of CPI(ML) and CPI(M) activists gave police cordon a slip and managed to reach the highly fortified US Embassy gates and chained and locked themselves with the fences just outside the Embassy and started chanting slogans and waved placards leaving the entire security cordon in a state of confusion and discomfort. In a few minutes, large number of policemen arrived at and arrested all 22 protesters. Though, it took a little time for the police to cut the chains off the fences and send all bravely protesting comrades to the Mandir Marg police station. The police also assaulted and manhandled the protesters before detaining them.

Millions Join Antiwar Protests

The unprecedented international outpouring of opposition to the US-British attack on Iraq continues, as millions marched and rallied around the world. Marches and rallies were held in scores of cities, embracing every continent. Protests had been occurring daily since the US launched its first missile salvo on Baghdad, despite being called on short notice, and in some cases in the teeth of growing police repression and mounting arrests.

In America, some 250,000 marched through the heart of Manhattan on 22 March in one of the most powerful political processions in that city's history, in face of the open hostility of the police department, which had denied demonstrators a permit to march on February 15 and had carried out over 100 pre-emptive arrests. Demonstrations were held in dozens of US cities, including San Francisco, where over 20,000 marched despite mass arrests (over 2,200) carried out by the police against protesters on 20-21March. In Los Angeles 20,000 picketed the studios of CNN to protest that network's round-the-clock dispensation of White House and Pentagon lies and propaganda in the guise of "news." Protests were also held outside CNN's headquarters in Atlanta. Montreal saw a turnout of 200,000 in perhaps the largest political demonstration in that city's history.

The biggest mobilizations took place in Europe. Over 2.50 lakh people marched in London, and tens of thousands more rallied in other cities in Britain and Scotland. Some 5,000 demonstrated outside the US air base in Fairford, England, used by B-52 bombers to air-raid Iraq. Ireland also saw rallies involving thousands. Close to 100,000 marched in Paris, and thousands more rallied elsewhere in France. In Spain, the turnout crossed a million, providing a massive popular repudiation of the pro-war stance of right-wing govt. Likewise in Italy, hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest the war and denounce the pro-war policy of the right-wing government. More than 150,000 marched in Milan and a similar number marched in Rome. Large demonstrations were also held in Florence, Naples and other cities. Protesters rallied outside the British consulate in Venice. Demonstrations were held throughout Germany, with 40,000 in Berlin and 10,000 in Frankfurt. Some 70,000 marched in Amsterdam. Helsinki, where 20,000 marched, saw the largest political demonstration in the modern history of Finland.

In Sydney, 50,000 rallied against the war and demonstrations were held other cities. Demonstrations also took place in South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and even US-occupied Afghanistan. Several thousands took to the street in the Middle East. A 19-year-old student was shot dead by Sudanese police at an antiwar protest in Khartoum.

AISA-RYA Convention in Lucknow

AISA and RYA held a convention in the memory of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his comrades at Trilokinath Hall of Lucknow on 23 March. It was inaugurated by Com. Akhilendra Pratap Singh.

Apart from the issue of naked US aggression on Iraq and prospects of developing a nationalist movement against the US aggressors, the issue of honouring the martyrs of 1857 dominated the convention. Com. Akhilendra said that a nationwide initiative is needed to honour the martyrs of 1857 in a befitting way. Pranay Krishna, ex-president of JNU Students Union said that the ruling class of India wants to disorient the national sentiments towards communalism, cricket and consumerism. Magasaysay Award winner Sandip Pandey also addressed the convention.

The convention passed a resolution to stage a "March to Residency" on 10 May if the government does not replace the symbols of British domination with columns of martyrs of 1857 by that time. The convention was also addressed by Mithilesh Yadav, Sunil Yadav, Ajay Singh, GS of JSM, Ajanta Lohit, Brij Bihari of PUHR and others.

STOP BUTCHER BUSH !

STOP WAR

 

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