"Keep Your Evil Away from the Mother of Civilisations"

Don't Attack Iraq!

No Blood for Oil!

Free Palestine!

On January 18, almost all capitals and major cities the world over reverberated with these simple and direct slogans. Few slogans have ever been chanted by so many million voices in so many languages on one single day. Twelve years ago, the US led by Bush Senior had invaded Iraq on January 17, 1991 under the pretext of freeing Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. Twelve years later, the US led by Chhota Bush is threatening to launch yet another war on beleaguered Iraq.

The American claim that the war is about weapons of mass destructions has long been exposed as a grand piece of lie and deception. After several resolutions and rounds and rounds of inspection all that the UN inspection team has been able to produce are eleven empty warheads. Iraq claims the warheads are old and had been reported to the United Nations. Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix, while disputing the claim, has nevertheless admitted that 'there are no chemical weapons inside them'.

America is of course not bothered about the 'evidence' it can muster. Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld have made it clear that they want war, evidence or no evidence, UN or no UN! The US has already started mobilising its troops for the impending war. The world has also made it clear that it does not believe an iota of the fiction dished out by the White House to explain the so-called inevitability of war. The world has every reason to suspect that the oil oligarchy which currently rules the US is interested in installing a puppet regime in Baghdad so it can control the fabled oil reserves of Iraq.

According to reliable estimates, once an American regime is installed in Baghdad, American oil companies will have access to 112 billion barrels of oil. With unproven reserves, the US might actually end up controlling almost a quarter of the world's total reserves. It must be remembered that Iraq's ratio of oil reserves to its current oil production is among the highest in the world 526:1. In comparison, America's own ratio is abysmally low: 10:1.

To avoid war, some so-called 'peace-loving' European powers have suggested that Saddam Hussein should go into exile. The people of Iraq can only have contempt for such a recipe for 'peace'. Saddam Hussein himself has rightly compared Chhota Bush to the Mongol General Hologu who had captured Baghdad in 1258 A.D. Baghdad's ruler at the time had surrendered in exchange for his life and that of his family - but Hologu had reneged on the deal and executed him. Saddam has ruled out the possibility of a second surrender of Baghdad, especially to today's Hologu. Instead, he has asked the Yankee Hologu to keep his evil away from the mother of civilization!

It is an encouraging sign that the anti-war movement has already gathered such a massive global momentum. What is most heartening is the spread of the campaign right inside the US. Defying sub-zero temperature, the whole of America has risen in protest against the war plans of Chhota Bush and his oil cabal. And the protests have already caused a modest drop in Chhota Bush's 'popularity' rating!

American troops stationed in Pakistan and Afghanistan have already had several occasions to taste the intensity of people's anger. January 18 has made it clear that like Bush's ugly war plan, this anger too is not confined to limits of either geography or history.

No Blood for Oil!

No US Troops on Foreign Soil!

Dharna Against Rising Crime in Bhagalpur

CPI(ML) held a big protest dharna in front of District Magistrate office in Bhagalpur in Bihar which witnessed a participation of more than a thousand poor peasants on Jan 18 against rise in police repression and crimes including incidents of murder, dacoity, robbery and kidnapping in the district. The powerful police-criminal nexus serving the vested interests of various ruling political formations and their leaders gets their political protection in return.

This nexus is so evident that three of the party activists coming to join this dharna along with hundreds of peasants were beaten up and kidnapped by criminals in the evening of Jan 17 at Tetari village of Naugachhia and later, one of them, Amol Paswan, was shown arrested by the police under framed up charges and sent to jail. This was strongly protested and condemned in the dharna and district unit resolved to intensify the struggle till culprits are punished.

Arrest of CPI(ML) Leaders in Kerala Condemned

The CPI(ML) condemned the arrest of Comrades John K. Erumeli, Joy Peter, Velayudhan Narayanan, O. P. Kunhippillai, O. A. Chako and Sebastian and many other activists who were arrested at Palakkad on Jan 17 while going to Cochin to take part in a protest. Around one thousand persons were taken into police custody from all over the state.

AIPWA Burns Effigy of Rabri to Protest Rape

The All India Progressive Women's Association is continuing its struggle to punish the culprits of gang rape of a pregnant women and her relatives in Dumri Gopalpur in Lakhisarai and an incident of misbehaviour with a handicapped women in Sripalpur in Punpun of Bihar. AIPWA burnt effigy of Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Jan 7 and held out a dharna on Jan 10 at Lakhisarai against this heinous crime demanding immediate arrest of the involved criminals. On Jan 18 Saroj Chaube led an investigation team to Dumri Gopalpur and met the victim. She also addressed a mass meeting in the village. While AIPWA leader Shashi Yadav led a people's march at Sripalpur.

AIPWA also organised dharna and marches against increasing incidents of women's repression in Rabri Devi's Bihar at Ara, Dumraon, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Massaurhi on Jan 18.

A protest march was organised in Patna against this gang rape on Jan 20.

Agitation against Burning of hutments of agriculture labourers

An unholy alliance between Trinmool Congress (TMC) and a section of CPM leadership disillusioned the ranks of the latter in the villages like Malancha, Itagarh, Mohipalpur under Balagarh PS of Hooghly Districts of WB. Scores of CPM activists especially from the landless and poor peasant families have recently joined CPI(ML). This has infuriated the jotdars. A group of miscreants backed by a TMC led jotedar attacked the hutment of two agrarian labourer supporters in the village Malancha on 16 January in broad daylight and burnt down two houses, molested women and injured a number of our people with lethal weapons. The pretext against this naked atrocity stemmed from a dispute over the ownership of a pond which is under the possession of Sankar Bauldas, who joined our party recently, for two decades. However, the jotedar and his men were so hostile that they even tried to prevent injured from getting medical treatment in the hospital. Local Panchayat, controlled by CPM, also lent a tacit support to the TMC led jotedars.

On the other hand, the district and block units of CPI(ML) took prompt initiative against this heinous act and an FIR was lodged with the Balagarh PS and tremendous mas pressure was created on police and administration to arrest the culprits. On 18 January a militant demonstration was held before the Balagarh PS. The Hooghly District Committee has decided to take a series of programmes in this context and an impressive rally will be held in the village on Jan 23. The Party will also launch a protest campaign against this brutalityof the jotedars.

BPKS Protests Against Anti-Peasant Agri. Policy

Bihar Pradesh Kisan Sabha organised dharnas and demonstrations at block headquarters throughout the state to protest the anti-peasant Agriculture Policy of the State Govt. The BPKS is demanding to open more paddy procurement centres and a better irrigation system through modernisation of canals, particularly Sone, Kosi and Gandak canal projects, with a curb on prevalent corruption in canal and irrigation departments besides other demands that also include an increase in price of milk being purchased by co-operative societies from Rs 7 to Rs. 12 per litre, to link every village of the state through a network of roads and construction of a railroad from Barun to Bihta.

Tea Workers Victory In Bihali

Tea Workers movement against lock-out of Borgaon Tea Estate of Sonitpur District in Assam has achieved victory after a relentless agitation that consisted BDO office blockade, road blockade, demonstrations, gharao andiIndefinite hunger strike by Bibek Das, General Secy of Asom Sangrami Chah Sramik Sangha and member of State Committee of CPIML. Comrades Boiragi Tanti and Jankanti Das also participated in Hunger strike. In these series wise programmes thousands of tea workers, poor peasants and prominent citizens of Biswanath and Gahpur Sub-Divisions took part. In the face of a militant movement Assam Govt. was compelled to lift the lock-out of Borgaon Tea Estate. On Jan 9, Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur District reached at the venue of Hunger Strike and publicly declared the Prohibitions of Continuing Lock-out of Borgaon T.E. and promised to setup an inquiry of illegal Lock-out and anti worker role of Assistant Labour Commissioner of Sonitpur. This followed the withdrawal of the hunger strike. When this news spread, hundreds of Tea Workers and general masses brought out a victory rally at Borgang and held out a massive mass meeting which was addressed by Bibek Das and other leaders of CPIML and Asom Sangrami Chah Sramik Sangha.

Reports From Jharkhand

CPI(ML) will hold a Jharkhand Nav-Nirman Mass Convention before the budget session of state Assembly to bring forth a genuine pro-people democratic agenda for the development of Jharkhand. This convention will also be a step towards building an Anti-Fascism joint front in the state. People engaged in broader democratic movements, political thinkers and intellectuals and activists of various democratic streams will be invited in this convention.

The CPI(ML) will also organise an Anti- Fascism March, alongwith five other Left parties, from Feb 10-16. This march will be a culmination of current phase of Anti- Communal Fascism campaign being launched in the state by six Left parties. A massive signature campaign is also going on in this regard.

A Jan-Adhikar rally was held in Giridih on Jan 7 against police repression, corruption and POTA with a large mass participation. The rally also highlighted demands related to land and power problems. This was addressed by CC member Mahendra Singh and other leaders. The rally was attended by more than 4000 people.

The Party, in Koeridih panchayat of Bagodar Block, received a good response in organising an armed lathi-march on Jan 13 which was intended to create mass pressure in order to counter terror by MCC and two criminals of the area who are getting active support from the police and local administration. A torch light procession was also held on Jan 7 in this regard.

A Jan-Adalat (People's Court) was organised against rising corruption and continuing smuggling of forest and fisheries produce at Dondlo Panchayat of Bagodar block on Jan 10. Here also smugglers are getting protection by Congress leader Dipak Maheshwari and Nagendra Singh, a panchayat pramukh. This Jan-Adalat has forced the ruling BJP Minister Ravindra Rai to order arrest of many smugglers.

Party also took initiative in reoccupying land of a poor peasant which was captured by powerful feudal elements of the area in Serua village of Giridih district.

Atrocities on Party Activists in Raiganj Protested

A mass meeting was organised by the Party on 30 December 2002 in Raiganj block of North Dinajpur district in West Bengal. The meeting was held to protest atrocities on CPI(ML) activists and sympathisers by local landlord-CPM-police nexus and police firing at Dhushmal. Despite the severe cold wave more than 800 people turned up in the meeting. After the meeting a 10-km march was conducted through the villages.

On Jan 1, a procession was taken out which turned into a demonstration before the Circle Office to protest corruption in panchayat and demand minimum need-based wages and appropriate supply of electricity.

Workers' Protest Against Narendra Modi Govt.

The workers staged a mass-hunger-strike in front of Gujarat Assembly to press upon the demands of regularisation of daily-wagers, implementation of Fifth Pay Commission report, filling of vacant posts, to remove irregularities in payment of wages, for pension to workers retired after 1996, to curb corruption prevailing in govt. deptts., etc on Jan 6 in Ahmedabad. Hundreds of workers from Forest, Water Supply, Village Panchayats, PWD, Agriculture, Irrigation and Education departments participated in the programme. This was the first big mass programme of this kind after Gujarat elections.

CPI(ML) Gujarat Incharge Ranjan Ganguly, Dasarath Singhali, Kantilal Dabhi, H. J. Pagare and many other leaders addressed the mass meeting in front of the Assembly. Speakers asserted that working class in India has to counter the threat of communal fascist forces of Hindutva as the same are the main carriers of anti-worker and anti-people policies of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation in the country. The workers also condemned Narendra Modi for leaving his office instead of facing the workers and listen to their grievances. Later his Chief Secretary met the delegation of the workers and received the memorandum.

AISA Activities

Defying this severe cold wave, Students and Youth in Bihar continues their struggle under the slogan "Rabri Hatao- Naya Bihar Banao" (Oust Rabri Govt. to Make a New Bihar). AISA held out an impressive Cycle Rally at all important district centres in the state on Jan 17 and in Capital Patna on Jan 18 followed by a state-wide programme of torch-light processions on Jan 19. Jan Adalats, on Jan 6 and Pledge meetings on Jan 8 were also organised throughout the state. These programmes and propaganda were undertaken in order to intensify the preparations for a massive student-youth march to be held in Patna on Jan 22. AISA and RYA have invited all Left and democratic students and youth organisations to take part in this march.

In UP, the All India Students' Association has launched a movement since Jan 10 on a ten point charter of demands that includes democratisation of Campus, restoration of Students' Union and to hold elections in Allahabad University. A Relay Hunger Strike is continuing in the campus for last ten days on these demands. While at Lucknow campus, AISA organised a Seminar on "Increasing attacks on women students and question of democracy". The Seminar passed a five-point resolution which included demand for a women's cell with judicial powers in the Lucknow University campus in accordance with Supreme Court's ruling and to hold Students' Union elections.

AISA is also continuing its agitation in Delhi University for the release of more than thirty blind students still languishing in jail. They were arrested while protesting against a crackdown on a dharna being held to press their demands. On Jan 17 AISA unit of DU held out a protest demonstration jointly with many Left and democratic students, teachers and Karmachari organisations to demand the immediate release of all arrested students. More than two thousands students and teachers and other staff members of DU signed on the memorandum which was handed over the Vice-Chancellor of the University asking for an unconditional release of students and withdrawal of false framed-up cases against them.

CPI(ML) condemns attack by RSS on US missionary in Kerala

The CPI(ML) strongly condemns the organised attack on US missionary, Joseph Cooper, and seven others by armed gang of RSS members at Kilimanoor in Kerala and terms this as the continuation of dangerous fascist agenda of Hindutva forces. Such a cowardly act is a part of RSS and its outfits' nefarious attempts to come out in a more brutal, opprobrious and outrageous way to create communal tension and terror on the lines of what it had done in Gujarat. While RSS has falsely denied its involvement in this incident in spite of identification and arrests of many involved RSS members, as they had done in past incidents of attacks including Graham Staines case to avoid legal action, their leaders continue to give statements threatening Christian minority community. The Sangh has also attempted to create communal violence in Gaya in Bihar and Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh after spreading rumours during last few weeks.

The CPI(ML) reiterates its demand for an immediate ban on VHP, Bajaranj Dal and other Sangh outfits in order to maintain harmony and create an atmosphere for peace and arrests of all those involved in such ghastly crimes including those issuing instigating statements and spreading rumours following their well known conspiratorial strategy.

Killer Modi's Participation in CII Meet Protested

Renowned Left intellectual and human rights activist Jayaras Banaji intervened in the Confederation of Indian Industry meeting and questioned the organisers' wisdom in inviting Narendra Modi who is responsible for thousands of killings in riots in Gujarat. As reported in The Hindu, during the interactive session, Mr. Banaji asked how economic development was possible without justice and rule of law. When organisers tried to calm him down Mr. Banaji asked them, "Why are you legitimising a person whose hand is tainted with blood?" Organisers tried to prevent him from shooting more questions and eventually forced him out with the help of police.

Tannery Workers' Rally at KolKata Leather Complex

Thousands of workers of Leather Tanning industry rallied on Jan 19 at Kariadanga in district South 24 Parganas to demand for proper rehabilitation facilities as they are being forcibly evicted from East Kolkata on the pretext of an SC judgement. The AICCTU has asked the state govt. not to evict the workers till proper infrastructure is developed at the new site as thousands of workers are being affected besides a loss of nearly Rs. 2000 crores to the exchequer from exports.

OBITUARIES

The Central Committee and the members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) express heartfelt condolences at the demise of Comrade Satyabrata Dutta and share the grief with his bereaved family and friends. Com. Satyabrata Dutta was one of the founding members of the CPI(ML) and also led the Party in its initial days in Delhi. The Party will always remember his contributions towards rekindling the Revolutionary Communist Movement in India that started from Naxalbari during late sixties along with our great leaders like Comrades Charu Mazumdar, Saroj Dutta, Jauhar (Subrat Dutta) and others. Comrade Dutta expired on Jan 16 at 87 years of age. He was the father of Com. Jauhar, the second General Secretary of our Party.

Party condoles the death of Comrade Bhadani Das of Sarvarpur village of Arwal in Bihar who succumbed to his injuries at Patna Medical College and Hospital on Jan 16. Comrade Das, aged 50, was shot at by criminals.

Renowned Freedom Fighter Batukeshwar Dutt's wife, Anjali, departed on Jan 14 at Patna. She not only participated in the freedom struggle but also played an active role in various movements against government's anti-people policies even after the independence. The CPI(ML) leaders took part in her funeral at Patna and paid their homage.

Marxist Co-ordination Committee leader Comrade Uma Shankar Shukla died on Jan 15 at Patna. He was 86. Com. Shukla associated himself with the Communist Party in his very youth and remained active till his last breath. He also took part in the peasant movement led by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati. His main area of work was Sikta in West Champaran district of Bihar. He was elected an MLA in 1967 on a CPI(M) ticket and was an MLC in 1994. He remained a leading figure in MCC (A. K. Roy) since its inception. CPI(ML) pays homage to the departed leader.