Bush Slips on Babylonian Quicksand

The prayers of Ramadan began last week in Baghdad amidst a series of heavy bombings targeting the US occupiers and their puppet establishment. Paul Wolfowitz, US Deputy Secretary of Defense and one of the most notorious theorists of American Empire, had a nightmarish visit to Baghdad, narrowly escaping a volley of rockets on the most heavily fortified Rashid Hotel. The hotel is part of a compound on the west bank of the Tigris river used by the U.S.-led administration and is a symbol of the U.S. occupation to Iraqis. While Wolfowitz escaped unhurt but visibly shaken, an American colonel died and several soldiers suffered serious injuries.

Wolfowitz’s boss, Donald Rumsfeld had warned a few days ago of a ‘long, hard slog’ facing the US in Iraq. “We did not expect it (the resistance in Iraq) would be quite this intense this long,” admitted Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State on the American television. L. Paul Bremer, the chief American administrator in Iraq too accepted that the US was faced with a “major terrorist problem in Iraq.” While American televisions reported these cautionary remarks, al-Jazeera broadcast two new Osama tapes just when George Bush was winding his way through his hectic Asia tour provoking strong protests in the Philippines and Thailand.

As the resistance intensifies in Iraq, the Bush administration is having a tough time trying to convince the American public that Iraq is not quite another Vietnam, at least not yet. More than 100 US soldiers and army officials have died so far since May 1 when Bush arrogantly declared that the major combat in Iraq had been over. Attacks on US-led coalition forces have roughly doubled in recent months, averaging 25 or more a day between October 8 and 22.

But the American people are just not convinced. On October 25, key US cities on both coasts witnessed a significant revival of anti-war protests as tens of thousands of marchers called for an immediate end to US occupation of Iraq. While the march was not as big yet as the pre-war demonstartions, the voice calling for ‘bringing the troops back home’ and ‘saving America from another Vietnam’ is clearly getting louder with every passing day.

The mood could not be suppressed even by the dominant US media. The Washington Post, for example, mentioned one Bill Perry, 56, a construction worker who had served in Vietnam, who had this to say: “About six blocks up the street, there’s a beautiful memorial for 58,000 of our brothers and sisters who died in Vietnam … Already, we’ve lost about 350 of our own brothers and sisters in this war. One can’t help but wonder how big the memorial for this war is going to have to be.”

The anger of US war veterans and the American people at large is shared no less by the 1,50,000 US troops now trapped in Iraq. A broad survey of U.S. troops in Iraq by a Pentagon-funded newspaper recently reported that half of those questioned described their unit’s morale as low and their training as insufficient, and said they did not plan to reenlist. The survey, conducted by the Stars and Stripes newspaper, through 1,935 questionnaires presented to U.S. service members throughout Iraq, also recorded 40 per cent complaining that the jobs they were doing had little or nothing to do with their training.

While the US sinks deeper into the Iraqi quagmire, more and more Americans also feel the economic pinch of Pentagon’s military misadventure. Nearly 2.6 million jobs are estimated to have been ‘lost’ or destroyed since George Bush took office in January 2001. Budget deficit has also surpassed the previous 1992 high of $ 290 billion, the latest estimate being of the order of $ 374 billion. The US war economy is of course soaring high – the US has more than 40% share of world arms sales followed by Britain (18.5%) and the investment of $ 87 billion as America’s ‘war and reconstruction’ budget for Iraq is expected to generate enormous profits. But this is little consolation for those Americans who are acknowledged to be living in poverty whose number has increased by three million in the past two years.

The tide therefore continues to turn against the Bush administration both at home and abroad. As the wrath of the American and world people grows, giving sleepless nights to Bush and his men, can his Indian lackeys remain any more ‘assured’?

Mithilanchal Vikas Mahasammelan in Darbhanga

CPI(ML) organised a Mithilanchal Vikaas Maha Sammelan in Darbhanga raising many issues which are seriously affecting the lives of the people in the region on Oct 20. CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya was the main speaker in the convention who vehemently condemned and rejected policies and politics being pursued by Bihar's state govt. as well as centre's NDA govt. and said that both are trying to sidetrack basic issues of the people while fanning emotional sentiments at the same time.

He said it is time for the forces fighting for democracy to work along the slogan "Khali karo raaste, Loktantra ke vaaste" (Pave the way for the forces of Democracy) (rejecting the VHP's divisive slogan 'Khali karo raste, Ramlala ke vaaste') and intensify the struggle to defeat the politics of communal fascism and, simultaneously, to expose the hollowness of slogans being given by persons like Laloo Prasad Yadav who talks of defeating communal forces but, at the same time, sends those students behind bars who waves black flags at Advani in Darbhanga for protesting his involvement in Babri Masjid demolition and sends back 'biggest rioter' Pravin Togadia with all state honours by giving him air fare at the cost of the exchequer. Such a government in Bihar can never fight fascists and rioters and will never be able to oust BJP. RJD's politics has already given enough space to the RSS in Bihar and is the main factor behind BJP becoming the main party of opposition in the Assembly. There have been riots in Sitamarhi, Bihar Sharif, Gaya and Bhojpur under Laloo-raj. When Laloo was enjoying cultural evening on the occasion of Dussehra by spending 45 lakhs of hard earned public funds in a poor state like Bihar, rioters were setting Arrah town on fire and dalits were being killed by upper caste feudals in Kaimur, this is the sad face of Bihar under Laloo's regime, he added.

BJP is trying to reverse the gains nation has achieved through the martyrdom of great martyrs like Bhagat Singh by handing over nation's sovereignty in the hands of American imperialists.

Whatever be the decisions of courts, the court of the people has already held L. K. Advani main culprit in the Ayodhya case, he said.

Comrade Dipankar honoured, by garlanding, four AISA activists, Kesari Kumar Yadav, Ranjit Ram, Sonu Yadav and Santoshanand Yadav, who were arrested for showing black flags to Advani in Darbhanga and said voices of these four comrades are reverberating throughout the country. And whole of the nation saw a glimpse of this when on Oct 17 not more than five thousand people could assemble in Ayodhya despite nationwide massive propaganda by the VHP, while 10,000 people assembled at Lucknow in CPI(ML)'s rally, a day before, to condemn Sangh's communal politics.

The convention was presided over by R. K. Sahni. Central Committee members Dhirendra Jha and Mina Tiwary also spoke on the occasion.

The convention passed several resolutions and issued a nine-point declaration envisaging a comprehensive agenda for development and demanded to make and integrated plan to contain the perennial problem of floods with the cooperation of Nepal. It also demanded to solve the intense power crisis, lack of health services, educational opportunities for all, etc. The convention also appealed to make the forthcoming All India Conference of Agricultural Labourers as great success.

Bhojpur Gears Up for the National Conference of All India Khet Mazdoor Sabha

Revolutionary festive mood is visible even in the remotest villages of district Bhojpur, particularly in tolas (hutments) of the poor dalits and backwards who comprise agricultural and rural labour in Bihar. As of now, 13 martyrs memorials and 61 gates being constructed in memory of the martyrs in the villages of Bhojpur. The enthusiasm is evident as people participate in thousands in the memorial programmes which are being organised, where they sing revolutionary songs, take pledges to carry forward the mission of their heroes who came with downtrodden, illiterate and semi-bonded family backgrounds and embraced martyrdom as heroes of the people, vanguard fighters for a radical agrarian reforms and a people's democratic India braving against all barbarism let loose by feudal landlords/kulaks and the state. They fought under the banner of the CPI( ML).

Memorial of Dr. Nirmal (martyred on 29 Nov. 1975 at Babubandh) at Barhaura village of Garhahani block will be dedicated to the people on Nov 1, while inauguration ceremonies of memorials of martyred Comrades Butan Musahar (martyred on 2 July 1975 at Bahuara) will take place on Nov 2 in Varuna village of Agiaon block, of Ramanand of Sahar Block (martyred on 2 July 1975 in Bahuara) on Nov 4 at Ekwari Chhapra village of Sahar block, and of Jagdish Master (martyred on 10 Dec 1972 in Bihia), Rameshwar Yadav (14 Jan 1975 at Sona Tola) and Sheela (martyred on 10 Oct 76 at Ekbari) on Nov 4 at Ekbari village of Sahar block. Comrade Ramnaresh Ram, Polit Bureau Member of the Party and MLA from Sahar will preside over these ceremonies. He also inaugurated martyrs' memorial built in memory of Ramayan Ram (martyred on 10 Dec 1972 at Bihia) and Jawahar Ram (martyred on 31 Dec 1975 ar Pinjroi) on Sep 27 last month in Ayar village of Jagadishpur block.

Inauguration ceremonies will take place of memorials of Comrades Sonamati alias Agni, Gulpato Devi alias Lahari, Ramdayal Ram, Shankardayal Ram and Harishankar Ram (martyred on 31 Dec 1975 at Pinjroi of Sandesh block) on Nov 2 at Sandesh and Pinjroi; of Suresh Singh (martyred on 3 June 1975 at Hadiabad) Narayan Kavi (martyred on 31 Mar 1976 at Ekbari Chhapra) and Hira Yadav (martyred on 10 Oct 1976 at Semraon) at Semraon village of Charpokhari block on Nov 3; of Ramesh Ram (martyred on 17 August 1989 at Amsari) on Nov 3 at Lahthan village of Piro block; of Kamala Devi (martyred on 5 Nov 1976 at Birampur) and Shami Dayal Ram (martyred on 5 May 1981 at Birampur) on Nov 4 at Kritpura of Koelvar block; and of Chandreshwar Singh (martyred on 22 Feb 1993) on Nov 5 at Ittari village of Garhahani block. These will be inaugurated by Comrade Ramjatan Sharma, Bihar State Secretary of the Party.

Memorial of Comrades Alagu Ram and Shivnarayan Ram (martyred on 3 April 1975 at Chhapra) was inaugurated on Oct 28 by Rameshwar Prasad, Convenor of All India Khet Mazdoor Sabha at Chhapra village of Piro. He will also inaugurate on Nov 5 memorial of Sant Ram, Jawahar Ram, Bhuntu Ram, Jhamlal Ram, Chunta Ram and Suman Ram- who were martyred in a massacre perpetrated by Ranvir Sena on 25 July 1996 at Sarathua village of Udvantnagar block. Memorial of 14 martyrs killed by Jwala Singh gang on 22 June 1991 in Dev-Sahiara village of Tarari block will also be dedicated to the people before the National Conference of AIALA.

Veteran communist leader, freedom fighter and poet Ramakant Dwivedi 'Ramta' will inaugurate memorial of Ram Prakash Sharma at Ghangar village. This campaign will end with the dedication of memorial of Comrades Jiut and Sahato at Kunai village of Jagadishpur block on Nov 13, a day before the Conference which is being organised at the 18th anniversary of their martyrdom, i.e. on Nov 14.

Conf. of Agri Labourers' Association in WB

West Bengal Agricultural Labourers Association held its second State Conference on 21-22 Oct in Krishnanagar of Nadia district which was preceded by a colourful rally amidst chanting of slogans "No Legislations banning rallies/protests - Bring in Legislations for Agri. -Rural labourers" and "Redistribute Land, Ensure Work - Equal Wages for men and women".

Speakers in the conference criticized the Left Front govt.'s attitude towards agri. labourers and the rural poor. In spite of the fact that LF in West Bengal has ruled for the longest ever time span, it has not shown any interest in bringing in any notable change to the fate of the agri.-rural labour. Ironically, the fact that the newly emerged kulak-mafia-criminal-ruling politician-administration nexus dominates as much in rural Bengal as in any other state ruled by a non-left party is reflective of CPI(M)'s apathy towards plight of agri. labourers in the state. And CPI(M) has not yet formed, as an exception, it's unit of Agri. Labourers' Union in West Bengal unlike other states and has virtually left them under the leadership of rich peasants/kulaks. This amply manifest attitude of the CPI(M) and the LF towards rural proletariat and semi-proletariat, the speakers noted.

The Conference, attended by 319 delegates from various districts, resolved to undertake an extensive campaign in selected blocks and organise them to develop a powerful movement for the assertion of agri. labourers and rural poor as an independent political force and to establish command of the rural poor, the majority, over their own village. On Nov 14, the day of All India Khet Mazdoor Sabha Conference in Arrah, Bhojpur, the agri. labourers and rural poor in West Bengal will hold rallies and other programmes in their respective villages. The Conference elected a 15 member Executive Committee with Sajal Pal as President and Srikanta Rana as General Secretary.

Massive Participation in Rallies by Jhamkis

Jharkhand Mazdoor Kisan Sabha organised 'Mazdoor-Kisan Adhikar' rallies in nine blocks of Giridih district on Oct 20 highlighting various people's demands including redistribution of gair-mazarua land to landless and agri. labourers, implimentation of minimum wages, listing of all persons below poverty line, issue of BPL card, Indira Awas, etc. Nearly 50,000 people took part in these rallies. It was quite encouraging to see that more than half of the ralliests were women agri. workers. Large number of agri. labourers also came playing with their traditional musical instruments singing revolutionary songs, this was an added attraction for the participants.

While coming for the rally, a tractor trolley carrying villagers was attacked by feudal goons near Devari. Although a brave resistance was put up by comrades, eight women participants were seriously injured in this incident who are now being treated at block hospital.

Withdraw Army from Tea Gardens in Assam

 Assam State Committee of AICCTU staged a dharna before DC office in Kamrup, Guwahati on Oct 23 demanding withdrawal of Army form tea gardens under Hindustan Liver Ltd. After deployment of the army in these gardens news of harassment of tea workers by the army personnel are a regular feature. The army has started terrorising not only the tea workers but also suppressing any voice of dissent, democratic individuals and organizations in general and trade unions in particular and is forcing workers to accept 14.5% bonus against their demand of  20%. Democracy in Assam is always under constant threat of the state as well as of insurgent and communal forces of different hues. The deployment of army in the tea estate is being treated as another step directed towards snatching away the little of democracy that still remains. Therefore ACCTU sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Assam demanding withdrawal of army from the tea estates of Assam forthwith to bring back a situation free of horror and terror.

Rally in Katihar

CPI(ML) organised a massive 'Resistance Rally' on Oct 23 at Katihar in protest of imposition of false cases on party MLA from Barsoi Comrade Mahboob Alam and an arrest warrant issued agaisnt him on concocted charges. The rally was addressed by Party General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and other leaders from Katihar-Purnea region. Many developmental issues on which Party has been launching struggles in that region were also raised on the occasion.

District Conference in Champaran

Sixth West Champaran district conference of the party was held on Oct 20-21 in Comrade Lorik Sah Hall, Comrade Mukhlal Mukhia Nagar in Gaunaha. The conference resolved to intensify struggle of agricultural labourers in the district along with the struggles being targetted against the corrupt politician-police-mafia-feudal nexus. Party Central Committee member Saroj Chaube was the main speaker in the conference while flag hoisting was done by veteran comrade Shankar Sah.

AISA Holds District Conference in Mansa

Mansa district unit of AISA resolved to intensify its struggle against privatisation of education and fee hike in its fifth district conference held in Mansa on Oct 15, inaugurated by AISA National Councillor Uma Gupta. The Conference elected a 19 member District Committee.