Rotten Lies, Stale Illusions and Fresh HopesHeading
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The year 2003 would surely be remembered for long for some
of the most rotten lies of modern times. First Iraq was ravaged
in the name of destroying weapons of mass destruction. Then
Iraq was occupied in the name of establishing democracy and
transferring power to the Iraqis. And now when Saddam Hussein
has been traced without any hint yet of those dreaded weapons
of mass destruction, we are told he would be prosecuted for
human rights violations! Meanwhile, we have been told that
the informant who ratted on Saddam's movements was not eligible
for the promised $25 million reward for he did not 'pinpoint
the exact location'!
But for all their tireless dishing out of lies, Bush and Blair
know very well that they have been caught lying. Each of their
lies has been detected and exposed. The huge anti-war marches
that shook every corner of the world made it amply clear that
the emperor had no clothes on. With the lie machine failing
to deliver, the emperor had to fall back on his ultimate war
machine, and having bulldozed its way to Baghdad now the war
machine too is reported to be developing snags. The smart
war is turning messier with every passing day.
Indeed, the guerrilla resistance in Iraq has been the best
news for the anti-imperialist camp in years. And with Saddam
in their custody, the Americans will now learn that the resistance
in Iraq is no handiwork of a group of fugitive Saddam loyalists.
In invading and occupying Iraq, the US has actually managed
to ignite a sleeping volcano and invite all-out resistance.
If the developments since May are any indication, America's
mischievous attempts to provoke a Shia backlash against Saddam's
'Sunni dictatorship' may only end up stoking the fire of Iraqi
nationalism and Arab resistance.
Cornered by a growing resistance which has already claimed
more than five hundred American and allied lives, the Bush
administration now hopes to seek vindication and solace in
the surprising arrest of Saddam Hussein. But a Saddam in US
custody is liable to prove a much bigger burden for the US
than a fugitive Saddam in an Iraqi bunker. By humiliating
and victimizing Saddam Hussein the US will only ensure that
he becomes a hallowed martyr in Arab memory. Even the Iraqi
compradors may now feel emboldened to ask their American 'guests'
not to 'overstay' in Iraq!
If Saddam's arrest is the big prize for Bush to end his last
pre-election year, back in India, the Sangh parivar too is
basking in the glory of some very comforting election victories
won in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The year
had given the Parivar many anxious moments with internal bickerings
coming to the fore, the UP applecart being upset with the
alliance with the BSP turning sour, and the legal system at
times threatening to penalize at least some of the Parivar
people for some of their accumulated sins. But now the Sangh
expects a change in the situation with these smart victories.
Fresh coats of paint are being applied on the grand deception
called the NDA and its so-called National Agenda of Governance.
The illusion of the BJP doling out development from its promised
temple in Ayodhya is being sought to be marketed with renewed
fanfare.
But all over the world, the rotten lies and stale illusions
of yesteryear have begun to get exposed. Hope is marching
again in a million steps. In many third world countries, the
advancing contingents of the people have successfully put
repressive regimes on notice. Some have already been overthrown.
How long can India remain safe for the American imperialists
and their trusted 'swadeshi' collaborators?
Let us welcome 2004 with new hopes and a renewed resolve to
teach our enemies a lasting lesson.
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Comrade VM's Fifth Memorial Day Observed
Various programmes were held at different centers throughout
the country on the Fifth Memorial Day of Comrade Vinod Mishra
which was commemorated as Pledge Taking Day on Dec 18.
Seminar in Delhi
In Delhi, a seminar was organised at the Gandhi Peace Foundation
by the State Committee of the CPI(ML) on 'The present political
situation and the challenges of strengthening the Left'. The
seminar was addressed by CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar
Bhattacharya, veteran Marxist thinker Prof. Randhir Singh,
eminent journalists Sukumar Muralidharan and Praful Bidwai
and Prof. Jayati Ghosh.
Addressing the seminar, Comrade Dipankar said that while the
Congress had relied on soft Hindutva in the recent polls,
the BJP had beaten them by posing as champions of 'development'.
But any speculation of a rift between the Hindutva line and
that of 'development' within the BJP was sheer naivete. Not
only was the BJP committed to communalising the three states
where it has won, its so-called 'development' only means implementing
the agenda of the elite rather than of the common people.
Praful Bidwai spoke about the need to view issues of communalism,
nuclearisation and imperialism in tandem rather than in isolation.
He said that in comparison with the consolidation of the right-wing
forces, the efforts of the Left for unity still left much
to be desired. Jayati Ghosh said that a significant section
of people had come to accept the fact that there would be
a price on water, electricity and health; there was a need
to sensitise society to the fact that these are basic rights,
not commodities. Randhir Singh said that the assault of capitalism
called for a renewed assertion of the Left in favour of socialism.
Those present at the meeting pledged to carry forward Comrade
VM's legacy of strengthening the movement against imperialism
and communal fascism.
Pledge-taking Meetings and Cadre Conventions in Bihar
AISA and RYA jointly organised a massive Pledge-taking meeting
at Gandhi Maidan in Patna in the memory of Comrade Vinod Mishra.
Comrade Ramnaresh Ram, Polit Bureau member of the Party and
leader of CPI(ML) legislature group in Bihar, addressed the
meeting as the main speaker and said that a new Bihar can
only be built by going forward on the path shown by Comrade
VM to intensify the movement for democracy and social transformation.
Neither the RJD nor the NDA-allies is capable of creating
a new Bihar. Ramjatan Sharma, CPI(ML) State Secretary said
today's students and youth must learn from the experiences
of 1974 movement and must now combine their struggles with
those of rural poor and toiling masses. He also recalled the
mass protests held against fake police encounters in Ashiana
Nagar in Patna exactly a year back and called for an exemplary
movement against corrupt politician-police-criminal nexus
in Bihar. The meeting was also addressed by Saroj Chaube,
KD Yadav, Kamlesh Sharma, Abhyuday and Paramhans Kumar among
others.
Cadre conventions were organised at all block headquarters
of Bhojpur and Paliganj, Masaurhi, Dhanarua and Lakhana in
Patna, while district level cadre meets were held in Jehanabad,
Aurangabad, Rohtas and Bhagalpur. A pledge-taking meet was
held in Kachna of Katihar. Programmes were also held in other
districts.
In UP, Party classes and cadre meets were organised
at all the places including Lucknow.
'Mazdoor Adhikar Divas' Observed in Assam
'Mazdoor Adhikar Divas' was observed in Assam on 18 December
during which a procession was held in Guwahati from the Railway
Station covering major areas of the city. Nearly 1500 workers
and rural labourers from different districts of Assam participated
in it. Thereafter a mass meeting was held. The meeting took
an oath to further intensify the struggle of tea workers,
rural poor, women, youth and students and thus to strengthen
the Party. Two memoranda, one each from Sodou Asom Gramin
Shramik Santha and Asom Sangrami Chah Shramik Sangha, were
also sent to the Chief Minister, Assam. The meeting also demanded
a ban Togadia's proposed Assam visit and called upon the people
to make success the Nagaon bandh called by the party to oppose
his Nagaon visit. Subhas Sen, Kanaklata Dutta, Loknath Goswami
(Jan Sanskritik Parishad), Bibek Das (ASCSS), Rabin Goswami
(Gramin Shramik Santha) and CPI(ML) State Secretary Rubul
Sarma addressed the gathering.
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AISA National Conference Concluded
December 15-16, Kolkata. For two days, students from all over
the country relived the memory of the glorious student movement
of the 70s in the National Conference of AISA and declared-
We Are Not Fodder For Divisive Fascists, We Are The Makers
Of A Better Tomorrow And A New India!
They marched from Howrah and Sealdah stations to College Square,
scene of many historic student actions of the 70s, where a
rally was held as inaugural ceremony. The mass meeting was
followed by a seminar at the Derozio Hall, Presidency College,
on the 'Role of Students in the Struggle Against Fascism'.
On the 16th, around 450 delegates, from UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar,
Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, Orissa as well
as districts of West Bengal, gathered at the 'Chandrashekhar
Hall' at the Salt Lake Stadium, where the dais was named after
Rachel Corrie, the 23 year-old American woman who had been
killed by the Israeli army while defending the Palestinian
cause. The delegate session was preceded by a ceremony honouring
the martyrs of the student movement. At a memorial to the
martyrs, a flag was hoisted by Comrade Partha Ghosh, founder
of the All Bengal Students Association and CC Member, CPI(ML),
while students raised slogans promising to carry forward the
struggles of Bhagat Singh, Ashu Majumdar and Chandrashekhar.
The conference was marked by the participation of women delegates,
whose number was significantly higher than in previous conferences.
The Conference was also enlivened by energetic revolutionary
songs in many languages by activists from various states,
in particular cultural teams from Delhi and Hirawal from Patna,
which presented a play - 'Ram Ram Gol Gol'.
The Conference elected a National Council of 61 members and
an Executive of 21. Kavita Krishnan and Sunil Yadav were re-elected
as President and General Secretary, Indiresh Maikhuri, Balindra
Saikia and Rajesh Sachan as Vice-Presidents, Ravi Rai, Abhyuday
and Manish as Secretaries and Srikant as Propaganda Secretary.
Resolving to launch a nationwide movement against the policies
of privatisation and saffronisation of education, the Conference
called upon people to expose the Sangh's gameplan of getting
a mandate in 3 states in the name of development, only to
impose its saffron agenda surreptitiously appealed to students
to defeat the forces of imperialism and communal fascism,
and build a united struggle for a new and better India.
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Impressive March to the Secretariat
in Kolkata
They came in thousands, they came from all parts of the state.
The rural poor, urban toilers and industrial workers marched
together with students, housewives and other sections of the
population under the banner of CPI(ML) on 22 December to press
for their long standing demands. Well-decorated processions
accompanied by tableaus started out from Howrah and Sealdah
stations and converged at Rani Rashmoni Road in Esplanade.
Addressing the mass meeting, State Secretary and Politbureau
member Kartick Pal called upon the rallyists and the masses
of West Bengal to carry the movement to newer heights. The
meeting was also addressed by Party Central Committee member
and AICCTU Gen Sec Swapan Mukherjee, senior State Committee
members Ajit Das, Biman Biswas and Shankar Das. Comrade Partha
Ghosh, Central Committee member, presided over the meeting.
The rally demanded the immediately removal of health minister
of West Bengal Suryakanta Mishra who was responsible for collapse
of the health system, reopening of closed factories and tea
estates, release of revised BPL list and issue of cards without
delay, withdrawal of enhanced electricity tariffs, hospital
charges and fees in educational institutions, revoking of
restrictions on processions and mass meetings, no imposition
of fresh taxes through panchayat bodies, and enacting and
enforcement of comprehensive welfare legislation for agricultural
labourers in the state.
The Secretariat March was organised at the head of a continuing
campaign highlighting the grievances and demands of the masses.
Thus on 10 December mass deputations were organised at block
offices by members of All India Agrarian Labour Organisation.
Nearly 40 such demonstrations were held throughout West Bengal
on the same day. A militant programme of action was declared
at the meeting including : Sit in demonstration in Esplanade
demanding removal of health minister on 15 January, gherao
of North Bengal Development Council on 16 February to press
for the tea plantation workers' rights, gherao of DM offices
and BDO offices in every district on 25 February 2004 to demand
the release of revised BPL list and issuing of cards, and
a 24 hour Bengal Bandh in March 2004 if the demands raised
in the meeting are not met.
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"Samajik Nyay Abhiyan" Launched in UP
Convened by Adivasi Vanvasi Mahasabha, a
"Social Justice Conference" was held in Lucknow on 14 December.
Several dalit intellectuals, political leaders, representatives
of minority and backward social organisations, senior administrative
and police officials and social activists participated in
it. The convention demanded that the Mulayam government of
UP constitute a "Social Justice Commission", award the benefits
of reservation to the extremely backward and tribal communities
who are deprived of it till date, and introduce reservations
in the private sector. The conference was addressed by Comrade
Akhilendra Pratap Singh, UP State Secretary of CPI(ML), Ashok
Kumar, Assistant Editor of Samkalin Lokyuddha, SR Darapuri,
IG of police, writer Shivmurti, Prof. JP Mishra of Giri Institute,
Naimullah Ansari of Momin Conference, administrative officials
JP Arya and RD Pal, Adivasi Vanvasi Mahasabha leader Rajendra
Vanvasi, Kharwar Mahasabha leader Ravindra Kharwar, Gore Mahasabha
leader Ramlakhan Singh Gore, Eklavya Sena leader Ashok Nishadh
and others. The conference was conducted by Dr. Brij Bihari,
editor of Dalit Asia Today. Speakers said that the BSP experiment
of capturing political power without a social movement to
liberate dalits has failed. New experiments are necessary
and for this Marxists, Lohiaites and true Ambedkarites must
unite and bring the dalit discourse out of the confines of
the Poona Pact. While the policies of UP govt. continued to
undermine poor and dalits during Mayawati's tenure, nothing
better is expected from the current regime of Mulayam Singh.
It was felt that all dalit, adivasi, extremely backward and
other toiling sections of society must come forward on a common
platform and unite their stuggles with the ongoing movement
for the democratisation of the society. The conference launched
a Samajik Nyay Abhiyan (Social Justice Campaign), forming
a convening body of 31 members from various social organisations.
SR Darapuri was elected Convener. It was decided to submit
a charter to the chief minister, of which the main demands
would include awarding ST status to Vanvasis, Koles, Gores,
Kharwar and others and SC status to Bengali-speaking Namoshudras
in the Terai region.
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2nd Assam State Conference of AICCTU
The two-day 2nd Assam State Conference of AICCTU was held
in Guwahati on Dec 19-20. The open Session of the conference
was addressed by Rubul Sarma, State Secy of CPI(ML), RN Thakur,
National Secy of AICCTU, Kanaklata Dutta from AIPWA as well
as representatives from AITUC, UTUC (LS), Oil India Workers
Union, Assam State Fertilizer Workers Union. The Conference
elected a 15-member State Executive with Biren Kalita as President,
Phanindra K Barman as Working President and Subhas Sen as
Secretary.
The conference adopted several resolutions that included demands
to take immediate steps to stop starvation deaths of tea workers,
ensure security of leaders of office bearers of Sadou Asom
Gramin Santha of Barpeta district and immediate arrest of
the goons who threatened to kill them., condemnation of the
repression of school teachers at Dispur, to revoke the Electricity
Act, 2003, to condemn the central govt.'s decision to abolish
51,000 posts of central govt employees, and to intensify the
movement of rural workers and all unorganised sector workers.
The conference considered the steps taken by the Bhutan Govt.
as an internal affair to protect its sovereignty and apprehended
that the entry of Indian Army into that country will threaten
anew the sovereignty of Bhutan.
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B R I E F Report
On Dec 18, hundreds of agricultural labourers and poor peasants
in Mainatand block of Champaran burnt the kachehari of an
absentee landlord Markandey Pandey who lives in UP and illegally
holds nearly 600 acres of land in Champaran. Earlier landless
agri. workers had seized a piece of land under his possession
braving many incidents of killings and police firing.
Ghazipur unit of the Party held a protest march and mass meeting
at Banjaripur on Dec 12 against a local strongman Mahendra
Yadav who gets protection from many ruling politicians. He
had engineered an attack on a CPI(ML) team on Nov 25 which
went there to investigate an incident of attack on adivasis
by him.
RYA burnt the effigy of Prime Minister in Gwalior on Dec 15
to protest the increasing unemployment. A cadre meet, addressed
by CCM Prabhat Kumar, was held by local Party unit on Dec
22 which resolved to launch struggle for employment and basic
amenities.
People's Ire against Murder and Police Firing
The police opened indiscriminate firing on a massive demonstration
at Bhurkunda thana on Dec 11 resulting in one dead and dozens
injured. An innocent child was murdered after kidnapping in
Bhurkunda thana area of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand on Dec 5.
His mutilated body was found four days later. Despite repeated
requests police remained idle and insensitive to this ghastly
crime and none of the murderers was arrested. Nearly 10,000
people held a gherao of the thana in protest hoping for some
action. But the DSP, present in the thana, ordered firing.
Rampravesh Rajbhar died on the spot while many are undergoing
treatment in Ranchi and other places. As far as child's murder
is concerned police still remained idle.
CPI(ML) unit in Hazaribagh immediately acted against both
the incidents and held a protest blockading two stretches
of roads, at Ramgarh-Bhurkunda and at Soson near Ramgarh.
The DC of Hazaribag, whose cavalcade was stranded in the resulting
traffic jam, was allowed to go by the protesters in the hope
of immediate action by the administration, but nothing was
done from his side.
Next day Party called for a total bandh in Ramgarh region
that received an overwhelming response and all the towns in
the region including Ramgarh, Bhurkunda, Soso, Kuju, and Girhi
etc. witnessed a complete halt of all traffic and closure
of all commercial establishments. People spontaneously came
on the roads in protest and burnt effigies of Madan Mohan
Lal, the DSP who ordered for firing. The CPI(ML) also held
a meeting with all other left parties and decided to hold
a joint mass meeting right in front of Bhurkunda thana the
next day, on Dec 13. This was a huge success and further boosted
the morale of local people. Speakers in the meeting resolved
to expose every effort by state's BJP govt. and it's NDA allies
to save the killers and responsible police persons. The meeting
was addressed by CPI(ML) State Secretary Subhendu Sen, District
Secretary Devki Nandan Bedia and CPI MLA Bhubaneshwar Mehta
among others.
Party has demanded immediate suspension and arrest of all
police personnels involved in police firing under charges
of murder, compensation to the bereaved family members with
job to one dependent and treatment of all injured on government
expenses.
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Dharna Before Assam Assembly
CPI(ML), ASDC(P), KSA and KNCA jointly staged a dharna at
Dispur on 18 December, 2003 to demand : (1) To adopt a resolution
in Assam Assembly for creation of Autonomous State, (2) To
scrap Clause 8 of the BLT accord signed on 10th February,
2003, (3) To reject ASDC-Kuki agreement signed on 4th Dec.,
2000, and to ban KRA and KNA organisations (4) To recover
Khanduli-Saisima area of Karbi Anglong from illegal occupation
of Meghalaya Govt. and restore the territorial integrity of
Karbi Anglong as per 1951 boundary demarcation and (5) To
withdraw the proposed wild-life sanctuary project and to stop
eviction of Karbi Villagers.
The failure of both state and Central Govt. in creating Autonomous
State for Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills marked utter negligence
of the Govt. towards the 18-year long democratic and popular
movement. Even the recent spate of violence in Karbi Anglong
between the Karbis and Kukis has proved the total failure
of ruling Congress both in the state as well as in Karbi Anglong
Autonomous Council. It is an irony that the authorities have
failed to take appropriate steps to flush 'Kuki Revolutionary
Army' (KRA) extremists out from Singhasan Hills.
Moreover, the foul play by Holiram Terang led ASDC, a BJP
ally, is responsible for the present tension in the district.
The agreement between Kuki leaders with ASDC on 4th Dec, 2000
for Kuki Hills regional Council has encouraged Kuki extremism
in Karbi Anglong. ASDC has also joined hands with the Govt.
in the conspiracy for granting ST(Hills) status to the Bodos
in the hill district of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills. Further,
lured by the rich forest produce in Jerikinding, Mukru, Umkhirmi,
Khanduli areas, a section of forest traders from Meghalaya
tried to occupy the so-called Block-I and Block-II areas,
which are now in the territory of Karbi Anglong district.
Though this was settled long back in 1951-52 with the inception
of the then Mikir Hills district. But, now the reactionary
group has tried to bring alive the issue again which has now
become the root cause of tension in the boundary area. CPI(ML),
ASDC(P), KSA and KNCA have demanded to settle the issue as
per boundary demarcated in 1951-52 and to restore Khanduli
and Saisima areas back to Karbi Anglong immediately. Moreover,
the present Congress Govt's plan to evict many Karbi habited
areas for proposed wildlife sanctuary project has exposed
their inhuman approach of governance towards the people of
the areas.
The massive dharna was addressed by CPI(ML) MP Dr. Jayanta
Rongpi, Party's Karbi Anglong Secretary Selawar Bey and CPI(ML)
leaders Robi Kr. Phangcho, Mujari Hanse, Denial Teron, Semual
Ronghang, Among Engti and Kajek Tokbipi among others.
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