Anti-Imperialist Meet, 1997 |
The historic Anti-Imperialist Convention at Calcutta in 1995 was a milestone in the endeavour to forge the unity of the freedom and peace-loving people of the world in a broad based platform to counter the growing menace of imperialist onslaught and to foster militant peace movement. People from all the States of India flocked to the Convention which was attended by delegates from Russia, Cuba, Belgium, Germany, UK, The Netherlands, Zaire, Iran, Turkey, North Kurdistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Nearly a hundred and twenty thousand people gathered at the Open Session at the Sahid Minar to listen to the speakers and more than a thousand delegates participated in the three-day long Delegate Session. At the end of the Delegate Session it was resolved that an All India Anti-Imperialist Forum would be formed to conduct militant anti-imperialist movement in the country and to maintain international liaison with anti-imperialist organizations from different countries. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, was elected the President and Professor Sushil Kumar Mukherjee, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, the General Secretary. Since its inception, the Forum organized the people in anti-imperialist movements and staged protest demonstrations in different parts of India against imperialist war manoeuvres and aggression.
On November 16 - 17, 1997, the Forum organized a Discussion Meet at Calcutta. The theme of the Delegate Session held at the University Institute Auditorium was, "Necessity to develop anti-imperialist movement in the present global context." More than a thousand delegates from different States of India were present. 15 delegates from abroad — from Germany, The Nether-lands, Belgium, Russia, USA, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh — were participants.
The Meet generated widespread enthusiasm among the people from all walks of life, as the organizers and volunteers reached out to them during the preparation. Calcutta, after its glorious success with the 1995 Convention, was once again ready to hold aloft the banner of anti-imperialist struggle.
Delegate session university institute auditorium, November 16, 1997
The meeting
presided over by Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer
began with the international song of solidarity, "We shall overcome". A
condolence resolution mourning the passing away of Justice Jyotirmoyee Nag,
one of the Vice-Presidents, Professor Subir Basu Roy, one of the Assistant
Secretaries and M. R. Manackalath, a member of the All India
Anti-Imperialist Forum was moved by Assistant Secretary Ratanlal and was
adopted. After Dr. V. Venugopal, an Assistant Secretary, introduced the
delegates from abroad and the Committee members to the audience, messages of
solidarity received from different organizations and individuals were read
out by Prof. D. Mukherjee, one of the Assistant Secretaries.
Chen Chimutengwende, Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications of Zimbabwe and President of New Africa International Network, Zimbabwe wrote, "We are very interested in your organization. It very well corresponds to our own New Africa International Network. We certainly would like to establish permanent relations with you."
Nicco Varkevisser of Global Reflexion Foundation for International Cooperation, The Netherlands, wrote, "We highly appreciate your initiative. ... We wish you a fruitful and spiritful meeting. Remain to express our feelings of solidarity."
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine wrote, "...due to certain circumstances, mainly financial difficulties, we will not be able to share with you the event that will cover big issues shaping the world today."
The National Democratic Front of South Korea sent the message, "We, struggling for regaining the deprived territory and reunification of the country pay a great significance and deep concern to the Forum".
The Japan Communist League, in its message, said, "We should strengthen our solidarity relation much more and should organize our own and joint anti-imperialist struggle all over the world. It should be organized especially in Asia, because US and Japanese Imperialism are targeting to invade Asian countries not only economically but militarily and exploit Asian people more and more. And Asian workers and people will have no choice but struggle against imperialism."
Asian Wide Campaign Against The US And Japanese Aggression And Domination Of Asia from Japan wrote, "It is our great pleasure that we learned your active commitment and anti-imperialist conference. It is very timely and great inspiration for us. We all hope you will have successful conference and are looking forward to hearing the fruitful result soon."
The People’s Campaign Against Imperialist Globalization and BAYAN of Philippines wrote, "We fully support your initiative. Be assured that notwithstanding our physical absence from your two day meeting and discussion, we continue to advance the anti-imperialist struggle in Philippines in close collaboration with your initiative. By maintaining our links we shall be able to pick up lessons from each other that shall enhance our capacities to push forward the anti-imperialist movement in our countries and worldwide."
The International Nino Pasti Foundation of Italy wrote, "We regret very much for having missed the possibility of participating in the events in Calcutta. The more so because we are convinced of the necessity to cooperate closely with you in the anti-imperialist work."
Dr. Ali Ghudban of the Revolutionary Committees Movement of Libya said, "On behalf of the R.C.M I would like to thank the organizers of this important meeting. ... I would like to underline the importance of this gathering which includes serious international forces who are inspired by the true cause of humanity and work for the revival of hope among the oppressed and exploited people."
The Communist Party of Sweden (KPML-r) sent the message, "The All India Anti-Imperialist Forum is a major event for all revolutionaries, all progressive and democratic forces in the world, fighting imperialist and capitalist exploitation and oppression of man. The fact that representatives of parties and anti-imperialist movements from all corners can come together like this and through serious discussions and decisions take new steps to develop the struggle of an anti-imperialist world-wide movement cannot be underestimated."
R. Nunes, Chairman, The Workers’ Party of New Zealand wrote, "On behalf of the Workers’ Party of New Zealand I extend to the Congress our warm, comradely greetings and our best wishes for its success. We agree on the necessity of developing a broad anti-imperialist movement and, in fact, our own party grew out of such a movement in New Zealand initiated by us. However, we feel obliged to add that, while anti-imperialism has great value, the main thing as we see it is the formation in all countries of a strong Marxist-Leninist party capable of organizing the working class and masses in the task of overthrowing the capitalist order and replacing it with a revolutionary socialist order."
Professor Pao-yu Ching of USA wrote, "I want to congratulate you for holding this important forum. This is a crucial time for all of us to unite and fight against the imperialist globalization. .... I hope you will achieve your goal of building up a strong anti-imperialist alliance."
Messages of solidarity and good wishes were also received from National Democratic Front of Philippines, A/Synechia of Greece, KKE of Greece, Workers’ Communist Party (AKP) of Norway, New Communist Party of Britain, British Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, Margarita Papandreou, Global Coordinator, Women for Mutual Security and former First Lady of Greece, Philip Agee of Germany and Mrs. Heather Cottin Gervasi, on behalf of Sean Gervasi Memorial Conference Group.
Justice Iyer in his inaugural address pointed out that everywhere people are facing the same imperialist menace that has grown in dimension from Hiroshima to Globoshima. He said that imperialism enslaves people and countries through three forms of control : through infiltration in the economic sphere by corporate houses and MNCs, by cultural control through electronic and print media and finally through political control by United States and other superpowers. Stressing on the clear link between American corporations and arms manufacturers, he said, that they create tension and conflicts on local and regional scales through CIA agents, leading to local wars. Civil wars and local wars serve as a market for arms. Through GATT, IMF, World Bank etc., they are recolonizing the third world. In the developing countries, it is the ruling governments and the creamy layer who are colluding with the imperialist powers to loot their own national resources. Pointing to the growing gap between enrichment of the privileged section and the mounting impoverishment, suffering and oppression of the people all over the world, he said that there is a fourth world in the first world. He commented that it is the imperialist powers, especially the USA, which either directly back terrorism or create terrorism through political suppression. The same USA that day in and day out preaches human rights to other countries has not even signed the UN International Covenant on Human Rights. Justice Iyer called for international unity and solidarity in the important task of organizing global anti-imperialist movement and expressed his firm belief that we shall march ahead, and we the people of the world shall overcome.
Thereafter Professor Sushil Kumar Mukherje, General Secretary, placed his Report.
General Secretary's Report
As you all know the All India Anti-Imperialist Forum was formed at the Anti-imperialist Convention held at Calcutta on November 14 - 17, 1995. Its objective is to build up people’s struggle against military, political, economic and cultural onslaught of imperialism, to develop militant peace movement against imperialist war mongering. It is a broad based platform encompassing all who agree with the above anti-imperialist objectives.
Any well-meaning person cannot but note with deep concern how freedom, peace and democracy are put in great peril throughout the world, because of the growing aggressiveness of imperialism, especially US imperialism. While USA is leading the pack, possessing the mightiest military power, other superpowers too, Germany, France, Britain, Japan etc., have been reaching out to different parts of the globe to grab as large a share as possible of the world market.
With the dismantling of socialism in the erstwhile USSR and the East European countries in the recent past and the resultant weakening of the non-aligned movement, as also of the anti-imperialist struggle and the militant peace movement, US imperialism has been resorting to even more reckless economic, political, cultural and military onslaughts. It has unleashed a most brutal attack on Iraq ; the role of the UNO is reduced to that of mere rubber stamp ; economic blockade of Cuba, Libya and other countries is continuing ; expansion of NATO portends a great danger for world peace.
Facing intense crisis of market, imperialism has entangled all the countries in the shackles of GATT and WTO by raising the slogan of ‘free and open trade’. As a result, unfettered plunder, all out domination and control by indigenous monopoly capital in league with international corporations have been established not only in industry and agriculture but also in the spheres of education, health services, culture and scientific research in these countries. Inflation, retrenchment and unemployment have become more and more acute and alarming. Needless to say, the common people of India have been saddled with these maladies with great severity.
The Indian monopoly capital, allured by the possibility of entering into the global market and reaping harvests from it is joining hands with giant multinationals and at their behest the Government is opening our national economy to unhindered exploitation by foreign and national finance capital. In spite of domination by the major imperialist powers, this is a deal of collusion and collaboration between them and the Indian ruling class serving the interest of Indian capital. The capitalist way of development since independence has plunged the Indian economy into an all out crisis. The industrial-military-bureaucratic complex, the strongly centralized administration and economy — nothing could pull it out of the mire. In a frantic bid to overcome the crisis the Indian rulers have chosen to tread the path of privatization, globalization and liberalization. There is massive retrenchment and cutting back of the workforce, large scale closure of industries, withdrawal of subsidies to essential commodities, dismantling of the public distribution system, disinvestment of the public sector. No new industries are coming up ; only 10% of the workforce has a permanent job ; creation of new jobs lags abysmally behind the demand. Side by side, the Indian market is sought to be stimulated with loans from the IMF and World Bank and through direct foreign investment. Vital industries like petroleum, power, telecommunication are being opened to the exploitation of foreign and indigenous finance capital ; the contracts are being made on predatory, insidious terms, most often secretly. Valuable raw materials like oil and natural gas, minerals and ores, infrastructural facilities, means of subsistence, like fishing, vast resources of national wealth in forests, fields and oceans are being placed at the disposal of imperialists and their multinationals. In spite of record production of food grains, the prices still soar up and huge stocks are left rotting in godowns. Unbridled price rise is putting the essential commodities, medicines, health care beyond the reach of the common people.
At the same time the imperialists are using India and other developing countries as the dumping ground for their toxic waste products jeopardizing the safety of the present and future generations.
Combined with this is the cultural onslaught through electronic and print media, fostering the obnoxious culture of sex, violence and self-centredness with total indifference and apathy towards society and its problems, propagating obscurantist thoughts, religious fundamentalism and mechanical thinking bereft of rationality and scientific reasoning. All these are done with a design to break the moral backbone of the deprived people, so that they cannot rise up to protest and fight.
The political field also presents a
dismal picture with shameless and rampant corruption at the topmost levels,
unstable governments and the parliamentary
democratic system being on the verge of breaking down. Greed and
desperateness of the Indian capitalists and their henchmen have grown to
such an extent that they are entering even into defense treaty with US
imperialists at the cost of national security itself. There have already
been several joint Indo-US military and naval exercises. The imperialists
are emboldened to interfere with the internal affairs of the country as
clearly indicated by the pronouncement of British and US administrators on
the Kashmir issue. At the same time the Indian Government is not averse to
putting political pressure on weaker nations endangering their sovereign
democratic functioning.
The Indian people cannot afford to forget nor allow themselves to be confused that this all out crisis is imposed on them by the capitalist rulers of the state. Nor can they overlook that this capitalism today works in collusion and collaboration with world imperialism. Hence, anti-imperialist struggle cannot attain its goal without a fight against capitalism in its own country. The Indian people cannot fight imperialism without fighting Indian capitalism.
So the need of the hour is to organize united people’s struggle against imperialist machinations, to build up militant peace movements conducive to the struggle for emancipation of the people and to form organizations at the grassroot level to carry forward the movement. The All India Anti-Imperialist Forum is formed to fulfil these objectives.
The first meeting of the Forum was held on February 21, 1996 at the Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. A manifesto for anti-imperialist movement was drafted for circulation among people from different strata and was sent to all political parties on the eve of the General Election urging them to take a strong anti-imperialist stand. The people were called upon to put effective pressure on the political parties seeking mandate from them, so that they take such a stand. On March 21, 1996 the Forum held a demonstration in front of the American Centre, New Delhi to protest against additional sanctions imposed by United States on Cuba after shooting of US aircrafts trespassing into the Cuban airspace. A meeting on this issue was convened at New Delhi on March 13, 1996, which was addressed by the Cuban Ambassador to India.
A signature campaign was organized in different states of India protesting against the refusal by the Dutch Government to grant political asylum to Jose Maria Sison, anti-imperialist activist from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
On September 5, 1996 protest demonstration was organized before the American Centre, Calcutta against the barbaric missile attack by USA against Iraq. A memorandum addresse to the President. USA was handed over to the representative from the American Consulate. Similar demonstrations were organized at Bhubaneshwar and several other state capitals.
Protest demonstration was organized in Calcutta against US and British interference in the internal affairs of India, notably on the Kashmir issue, and broadcasting policy. Memoranda addressed to the President, USA, and Prime Minister, UK were handed over to the respective consular representatives. A letter was also sent to the Indian Prime Minister expressing concern at such imperialist interference and urging him not to bow down at foreign pressure.
On July 6, 1997 a demonstration was held in front of the American Centre, New Delhi to protest against the latest round of nuclear weapons testing by the United States. A statement on this issue was released by the Forum.
In different states local chapters of the All India Anti-Imperialist Forum were formed and discussions, seminars were organized to develop public awareness.
Contacts have been established with anti-imperialist organizations in several countries and our delegates have attended international seminars in several countries and exchanged experiences with anti-imperialist fighters from other countries.
In future we envisage taking the organization to grassroot level through local, district and state level conferences in different states of India. A vigorous campaign will be launched to enrol members for the Forum from amongst people from different sections of the society.
We record with appreciation that as a follow up of the ‘Calcutta Initiative, 1995’, Anti-Imperialist Forums have been formed at several cities in Germany, and a number of meetings were held in Hannover, Cologne, Trier, Bremen, Magdeburg, Berlin. Similar initiatives are also taken in The Netherlands and Luxembourg’’.
Excerpts from Speeches of the Delegate Session
Professor A. P. Barychev, representing the All Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Russia, pointed out the historic significance underlying the unveiling of the statue of Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, the departed Founder General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Centre of India, and an outstanding leader of the international communist movement, at the time of this anti-imperialist meet. He highlighted the fact that in Soviet Union, Nina Andreeva, General Secretary, AUCPB, was the first to expose the revisionism of Gorbachev, to raise the banner of struggle of the Soviet people against counter-revolution in the Soviet Union and for the restoration of USSR. Prof Barychev said that his party had greeted the Calcutta initiative of 1995 and reiterated his Party’s complete unity with the purposes and principles of the Calcutta Declaration. He appealed to existing socialist countries to unify their efforts to fight energetically against imperialism-capitalism and to strengthen international peace and solidarity. He said that terrible crisis has engulfed his country with unemployment, corruption and organized crime reaching alarming proportions. Child homelessness that was liquidated already during the first years of Soviet power has become a national disaster. Bloody wars and conflicts are continuing to flourish in vast areas of once a great country. In Chechen Republic alone more than 100,000 of peaceful population were exterminated as a result of a flagrant genocide. Separatist tendencies are growing, ethnic and nationality tensions are increasing. US imperialism with its policy of splitting and destroying CIS and Russia is making deeper inroads in the region. Within Russia, CPRF, the largest so-called Communist Party has turned into an integral part of Yeltsin’s bourgeois regime and has became a social democratic party. But they do not want to change the present name of their party so that they might further confuse the trustful people who sincerely believe in communism. Russia is in danger of becoming the direct tool of imperialism of the West in its anti-China thrust, that would entail disastrous consequence for Russia and CIS. Drawing attention to the growing social unrest and at the same time organized people’s protest, Professor Barychev stressed the need for bolshevization of the communist movement in Russia and directing it along the road of socialist revolution. Reiterating Lenin’s word that the struggle against imperialism that is not connected with the struggle against opportunism is either empty words or a deception, he said that the most important lesson to be drawn from the collapse of the Soviet Union and socialist movement is that only by fighting opportunism, revisionism and national chauvinism in the communist movement can one seriously count to win victory over capitalism and imperialism. The temporary, though grave defeats of socialism will not stop the march of history.
Sara Flounders of Inter-national Action Centre, USA emphasized the importance of this anti-imperialist meet at a time when capitalist crisis is sweeping Asia and US imperialism may be preparing for a new military assault on Iraq. She said that today US imperialism has troops and bases in 100 countries around the globe. A great economic crash is sweeping Asia. New restructuring demands by IMF and World Bank mean brutal austerity measures, cuts in social services, increasing taxes. US corporations are totally dependent on the military profits that are impoverishing American population and are looting the world. Pointing to the racism and political repression within the USA, she said, that today the US is the country with the largest prison population in the world and the largest gap between classes, between rich and poor. Capitalism is a system permanently in crisis. Imperialism, that always seeks military solutions to this economic crisis, is now unrestrained. This means a dangerous new escalation, new weapons, greater militarization. Imperialism is incapable of solving social problems in any country of the world, To the imperialists’ slogan of globalization, the only response possible is internationalism. Our enemy is a global system of imperialism. In the face of this octopus, we need more than ever international solidarity.
Michael Opperskalski, Deputy Chairman of the Anti-Imperialist Forum of Germany said that the political upheaval at Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo) is a victory of the anti-imperialist movement. Comrade Kinkela who was a delegate at the Anti-Imperialist Convention at Calcutta in 1995 is now a Minister in the regime there after the ouster of Mobutu. So there is not only the struggle against imperialism, but also the possibility of victory. But there has been fresh onslaughts of imperialism also. In Afghanistan and Congo the rivalry between the imperialist powers over the control of their natural resources is manifested through internal strifes and conflicts. Rivalry between the imperialist powers is increasing day by day, between USA, Japan and European imperialism headed by Germany. Since the annexation of GDR, the aggressiveness of German militarism has increased manyfold. This is reflected on the one hand in increasing military engagements abroad and on the other in growing political repression within ; anti-imperialist forces are under attack, former GDR ministers have been arrested. But the struggle within Germany is continuing. On the basis of the Calcutta Declaration of 1995 many discussions and meetings have been held and in June, this year, a national Anti-Imperialist Forum has been formed ; branches are to be formed in major cities this year. He said that from the very beginning the Forum has regarded itself as part of a coordinated anti-imperialist struggle. Anti-imperialist initiatives are taken in different parts of the globe, in Latin America, Africa, Europe, USA and Asia. He stressed the need to take concrete steps for common activity and exchange of information on an international level in a more organized form. Our enemies talk of joint ventures. Let us have more joint ventures for defeating them.
Professor D. N. Pathak, former Vice-Chancellor of Saurashtra University, Gujarat, India, said that we are meeting at a critical time for the world as the governments all over the world are being controlled by fewer and fewer people under the policy of globalization. Disparity is increasing ; top 20% of the world control the wealth. More and more money is being spent on militarization. Violence is on the increase. Militarization is the surest weapon of imperialist countries. Imperialism is producing four major processes : exploitation, penetration of different countries, fragmentation and division of countries and marginalization. MNCs are gaining power, controlling governments and dictating policies. Markets rule the world. People’s needs are being sidetracked ; artificial wants are created and consumerism is increasing. The only hope for the people is to organize themselves in movements and to unite for fighting imperialism and all forms of oppression and exploitation.
Professor Yashwant Shukla, former Vice-Chancellor of Saurashtra University, Gujarat, India, drew attention to the fact that imperialism is sustained by our tolerance of imperialism and its misdeeds. Imperialist attitudes have not left us. Those who are responsible for the poverty and illiteracy in our country are imperialists in action. Those who do not care for the poor and the illiterate and rule over the country deriving their power from the ignorance of the people have perpetuated imperialism. We have to fight against illiteracy and poverty so that our people would come into their own and solve their own problems with their inner strength.
Professor H. N. Prasad of Bihar, India, said that our enemies are few in number but they are powerful because we are not united. Highlighting the need for interaction and understanding among the people, overcoming the barriers of language, race, caste and religion, he said that our fight should not be on petty problems of religion, caste and identity. We are human beings first ; that is our basic identity. The enemy makes us fight on petty things. Let us identify and fight the real enemy. Unemployment is a major problem. Let us fight against unemployment and the governmental policy which is engendering it. Imperialism is being invited in the country by the government. Let us join hands and force the government to withdraw its policy of inviting imperialists and multinationals.
Schrader Heike, representing Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party - Front (DHKP-C) of Turkey pointed out that after World War II the colonies could no longer be ruled in the old way under the imperialists’ flag, they could only be ruled under their own flag. The nationality of the rulers is only a title to blind the people. She said that Turkey is a neo-colony and the main booty of exploitation goes to the imperialists. The character of the Turkish revolution is anti-imperialist, anti-oligarchy and the economic relations in the country are not feudal but capitalist. Presenting an analysis of the Turkish political situation she cited examples of state terrorism in league with mafia and criminals and said that they are hand-in-gloves with imperialism. She emphasized the need for the unification of democratic opposition, the trade unions, the legally operating left wing people’s groups and the people’s councils. The necessity is to broaden the revolutionary front and narrow down the enemy’s. The alliance of the left and anti-fascist forces will not be created in paper but by organizing the people on all fronts. She emphasized that it is the strategy of people’s war that can defeat imperialism.
Lenora Foerstel of USA, North American Representative of Women for Mutual Security, said that the US media spread the lie that you cannot have democracy unless you have capitalism. Today about twenty corporations own the world media and they are imposing their own cultural imperialism and are brainwashing the people. It is the very people who control the media who are the corporations. They control the nuclear weapons, they control vast resources, they work hand in hand with NATO. The American people are told that NATO is out there to protect democracy and human rights, but we destroyed Yugoslavia, we are on the borders of Russia to go into the Caspean Sea to establish control over the natural resources. 18 million people are unemployed in Europe ; women are forced into prostitution to feed the children. The post-Cold War depression unleashed by the gush of macroeconomic reforms which swept Soviet Union and Eastern Europe since the eighties is the most catastrophic economic lapse of all time. The reforms have uprooted the economic system, impoverished the people and destroyed the support system. The new international financial order has not only affected Europe but also the people from the North, the South and the East. It generates social apartheid, encourages racism and ethnic strife, undermines women’s rights, imposes undemocratic conditions that require backing of the military. She emphasized the need for developing an alternative media through Web, and e-mail that would go round the world to counter the lies being spread by the western media.
Eliyathamby Thambiah of the New Democratic Party of Sri Lanka drew attention to the design of the imperialists to preserve the socio-economic inequities as these help neocolonial exploitation. Imperialist exploitation under the slogan of globalization in collusion with the government is ruining the local industry in Sri Lanka ; human resources are being sacrificed, consumerism and vulgar culture are fostered leading to moral degradation. He said that imperialism exploits the national contradictions, further complicating the national situation. Tamils, Sinhalas and Muslims are set against each other, so that the common enemy cannot be identified and to ensure that Sri Lanka provides a ready market for arms, especially for the US imperialists who are using this opportunity to strengthen their military and political position in Sri Lanka. Under this brutal process 60,000 people have been butchered and many more are missing. The Indian ruling class which had fed the Tamil militancy used the LTTE to establish their domination and to safeguard their interests through the Accord, in tune with their hegemonistic designs. The Indian ruling class has assured US imperialism that it will not take any steps that go against US interests in the Sri Lankan affairs and extracted a similar promise from the USA. He stressed that the only solution lies in taking up immediate programmes against all types of imperialist exploitation and recolonization, with a view to uniting all the people of Sri Lanka. The industrial workers, the plantation workers, the peasants have already taken up the struggle against imperialism. He appealed to the Indian people and all left and democratic forces to help establish peace in Sri Lanka and to unite for wiping out US imperialism, the main enemy of the people.
Shyam Shrestha, General Secretary of the Anti-imperialist National Front of Nepal expressed the solidarity of the Anti-imperialist National Front of Nepal with anti-imperialist forces in different parts of the globe. He highlighted the role of MNCs and TNCs in controlling and exploiting the whole world and said that the disappearance of the socialist camp has put the anti-imperialist movement in a defensive position. The IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank are trying to subjugate the countries through the debt trap. By capturing the mass media they are manoeuvring and moulding the public mind, as a result of which consumerism, individualism and indifference to social problems are growing. The IMF-WB-ADB and media are very powerful weapons by which imperialism exploits the people and establishes its control on weaker nations. Through military machineries like NATO the imperialists are trying to subjugate the nations. Export of finance capital in the form of direct foreign investment is another weapon in the hands of the imperialists. He stressed the need for a mechanism to coordinate the anti-imperialist movements all over the world, to promote united action and to exchange information. There is necessity for regional mechanisms, for example at South Asian level. Exchange of information is also necessary to formulate a comprehensive analysis of imperialism in the present day. This would provide a powerful theoretical weapon for anti-imperialist movement. Finally, he stressed the importance of developing alternative media tools to counter the imperialist offensive. He outlined the organization of anti-imperialist movements in Nepal. He said that the government of Nepal has concluded unequal treaties with India cedeing its fundamental sovereign rights. He called for the solidarity of the Indian people and the people all over the world with anti-imperialist struggle of the Nepalese people.
Dirk de Bloch of the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB) said that the anti-imperialist struggle is the most important struggle for everyone who wants to defend the rights of the masses all over the world. The struggle for a new society cannot be fought without fighting imperialism. Since 1991, the imperialists are breaking open the Indian market under the pretext of "free market". But this is a fraud, because they protect their own interests through social clauses and GATT, and force through the IMF and the World Bank their own conditions upon foreign countries. The public sector is being sold to MNCs. Education is being destroyed and transformed to elite education. Health care is becoming so expensive that people cannot pay for it anymore. New and old diseases are spreading fast. But the state power is not weakening. Only that secondary aspect of the state that was used to keep up the illusion of a social capitalism is being destroyed. The primary aspect of state power as Lenin analyzed, i.e., the repressive machinery is not withering away. Repression is being stepped up as class struggle develops. But the masses also organize themselves, they oppose and fight back. Contradictions between the imperialists are developing, dividing them and sometimes paralyzing them. In Congo, the French, American and Belgian imperialism do not agree. Under the leadership of Kabila the democratic alliance ousted Mobutu who was supported by France. The Americans wanted that Kabila would stop halfway in his struggle, but the people of Congo wanted to liberate entire Congo. Kabila’s victory was against the interest of imperialism, but they could not intervene because they were divided. Kabila is not a puppet of imperialism ; he fulfills a pro-people programme. Every democratic anti-imperialist or communist force has to support the new Republic of Congo, to defend it politically, ideologically, practically and financially. The communists have another task ; they have to think how they can help the Congolese communists and socialists to build up a communist party. In Belgium PTB fights the capitalists and imperialists both economically and politically. Last year there were three big strikes ; one was against atrocities on children who were kidnapped, raped or killed. The second struggle was against the closure of the steel factory, and the final one was against the closure of the car manufacturing plant of Renault. The only future of the working class is socialism, `our prescription is socialist revolution’, he concluded.
Wil van der Klift of the New Communist Party of The Netherlands (NCPN) stressed that this type of gathering is of great importance to exchange information and experience, and they are necessary because in this world every man, every party or group, every struggle needs international support. Imperialism today has intervened in the lives of the people of all countries. The answer of the working class in each country has to be also international. He maintained that we need to be informed about the struggle, experiences and knowledge of other progressive, socialist and communist parties and groups, to find effective and right answers to the questions we have to solve. Since we met two years ago imperialist attacks all over the world have increased. In The Netherlands the profits have increased enormously, still poverty is growing, social security is lowered, unemployment is increasing. The Prime Minister is a social democrat worse than even Tony Blair and his New Labour Party of Britain. The social democratic leaders in our trade unions have forgotten the word class-struggle. They try to tell the working class that a socialist future is nonsense, that capitalism will stay for ever and will develop into a society of justice and peace. Firstly, the working class has to understand that capitalism will ruin the world ; it is unable to find answers to the increasing social problems. Only under socialist circumstances there can be justice, peace, human rights and human dignity. So our Marxist-Leninist knowledge has to grow and become a part of the thought of the working class. We have to fight all the misunderstandings, all the misinformation from the bourgeois media. Secondly, only a united global class-struggle will defeat imperialism. The working classes of all countries have to unite. The working class worldwide will have to find ways to fight together, inform each other and learn together. Both study and action together are required. The approach of this anti-imperialist forum is a very good one, because both sides are integrated. In The Netherlands the Anti-Imperialist Forum is not yet born, but we are working out a programme for an anti-imperialist forum in our country seriously. We want to connect our movements in two ways with other developments. First, we want to work out our initiative in an European way and secondly we want the anti-imperialist movement connected to other international initiatives, for example, the Cuban initiative against neo-liberalism. An anti-imperialist movement in Europe cannot be a national movement only, although the movement has to be developed in every country in a specific way. We will continue our work for a worldwide network of anti-imperialist movements.
Professor M. K. N. Potti from Kerala, India, suggested a three point action plan to protect India from the onslaught of imperialism : (1) restriction of foreign loans ; (2) adoption of alternative development plans ; (3) fight for the people’s right to knowledge. We may start a mass signature campaign with a memorandum showing the different facets of imperialist attack in our country and demanding a white paper on foreign loans. Placing the three-line action formula as the manifesto we can even file candidates in parliamentary election of the country.
Professor Narendra Sharma of Delhi, India, said that joint exploitation of the world by imperialist powers is a temporary phenomenon. Rivalries in the imperialist camp will ultimately drive them to war with each other. The Leninist thesis of the inevitability of war stands. Imperialism has nothing to offer to the world. Unable to solve the problems, all imperialist countries are resorting to the militarization of economy and are hunting for arms market. This we have witnessed in Iraq, Yugoslavia. The USA wants to establish nuclear monopoly ; they want to silence the world by force, by their power. But they cannot silence people who are beginning to understand the meaning of globalization. Our initiative is small, but time is not far off when anti-imperialist fighters will go round the world and educate and organize people everywhere to prepare them ideologically. The power of the people is far greater than the military power. If we can develop this power we can defeat imperialist propaganda and finally defeat imperialism and establish socialism. If we take up programmes to educate and organize the people, nothing is impossible.
Mobinul Hyder Chowdhury of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (BASAD) pointed to the growing imperialist attacks after the debacle of socialism. He said that though his country was small, it was great in the tradition of anti-imperialist fight. The nation was founded on Bengali nationalism, but due to failures of the left forces, power was captured by the bourgeoisie. The Awami League first took recourse to nationalization for rapid capitalist development. Denationalization and privatisation were carried out by successive regimes. Since the Anti-imperialist Convention in 1995 the situation has changed. Today the confusion among the people is gradually clearing. The miserable condition of the people serves as an eye opener. With a view to shifting the burden of the crisis of imperialism on others, the World Bank and the IMF are being used to push pro-imperialist policies. In Bangladesh a process of de-industrialization has been set in motion. 6,000 industries have been closed making 1,50,000 people unemployed. The capitalist class in Bangladesh is inviting speculative investors. Side by side the infiltration of vulgar culture is disintegrating the moral fibre of the society. Hence our battle is now on two fronts.
Lilia S. Velasquez of USA (Women for Mutual Security) said that imperialism leads to economic destabilization, war and ill treatment of children. NAFTA allows USA to go into Mexico to establish sweatshops. There are no provisions for unions, no provisions for environmental policies in NAFTA. NAFTA makes exploitation legal. Imperialism causes wars and in its wake come the refugees. There are countless refugees from Central America whose family members are massacred by military officials trained by the US government. Refugees flee leaving their families and children behind who live a life of penury and deprivation. Consequence of imperialism are economic immigrants or economic refugees. Economic refugees are vulnerable. Despite a law prohibiting it, employers routinely hire ‘illegal’ immigrants. They are hardworking, loyal, do not complain, work for low wages without any right. Therefore we have sweatshops within the USA. The irony is that when caught, it is the aliens who are punished with deportation. A second illegal entry is punishable by jail sentences. Their only crime is crossing the border illegally. Imperialism is strong, but people’s will is stronger. Imperialism must be fought not only globally, but also locally.
Rainer Gross, Chairman of the Anti-Imperialist Forum of Germany remarked that Germany is an example of developing imperialism. The German Defense Minister has stated that in the next bombing attack on Iraq, Germany will take an active part. It is a declared policy that wherever German interests are jeopardized, the German military has a right to intervene. The German army is being trained for fight in different environments. More and more Germans are taking up key positions in NATO which is expanding eastwards. Present Germany is like two countries in one. In former GDR workers are living in semi-colonial conditions with no health care. In Germany, there are 4-5 million unemployed according to official figures ; the unofficial figure is 7 - 8 million. There is very strong political and social repression in Germany. There are many refugees from poorer countries. They are treated criminally. This forms the basis for the rise of neo-fascism. There is unbelievable inner repression. The government is taking recourse to dictatorial repression of former GDR officials, former ministers are imprisoned. (Gross placed a resolution asking for freeing the former GDR officials ; the House later unanimously adopted it.) Gross further told that the imperialists are destroying natural and human resources. The best organized unions are sold out to the government. The same is true of the political process. The Green Party is supporting German expansion in Yugoslavia, others are fighting each other opportunistically. In this situation the only recourse is to form groups of youth and old comrades from various trade unions and Marxist-Leninist parties. If we agree that fighting imperialism is a fight for survival, let us organize a permanent information exchange with its aim of worldwide common activity with the longer perspective of founding a world wide organization.
Dr. P. B. Sengupta of Madhya Pradesh, India, said that monopoly capitalism should not be allowed to destroy social structure. The need of the hour is to fight against the war designs of imperialism.
Aminder Pal Singh of Punjab, India, remarked that after 1947 the Indian capitalists were the main exploiters of the people. The present phase sees all out open imperialist attacks on the people. The most dangerous aspect of imperialist attack is the cultural one. The common people are lost in obscurantism and religious fundamentalism which is also fanned up by the media. The youth are getting immersed in degenerate western culture.
Professor Srikant of Assam, India, said that the activities of the Anti-Imperialist Forum have not lived upto the expectations. Most of the activities are confined to Calcutta, Delhi and a few cities. The activities should be taken to the grassroot level and the Forum should be built up as a broad based platform of all anti-imperialist people, even those who are non-political and non-party. Books and pamphlets are to be written in regional languages.
Rupayan Bhattacharya of West Bengal, India, proposed the publication of an international anti-imperialist journal with the suggested title ‘ISKRA - INTERNATIONAL’. Some slogans to be adopted were also suggested.
Professor B. N. Kakati of Assam, India stressed that it is the right moment to fight imperialist attack. This attack comes through the ruling capitalist class. It is necessary to fight them. He said that in Assam the capitalists-imperialists are fanning up chauvinist and separatist tendencies and are pitting people against people. We have to unite the people and organize them against the capitalist-imperialist attack.
Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer in his concluding speech said that we have witnessed the savagery and brutality of the imperialists in Vietnam, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Africa, and in many parts of the globe. If we do not resist this savagery we are not fit to be called human. The present conference is a historic one ; its participants are not the imperialists’ call girls but are raging radicals picturing anti-imperialist spirit of the world. We can beat them as we know from history. Vietnam and Iraq have shown this. On this footing we march forward ; anti-imperialism is our goal, a world free of imperialism. And we draw in our fold not just communists, socialists, but all humanists who love humanity and hate imperialism. Those who are at this conference are here for a cause, the liberation of mankind. Let us make this event at Calcutta a global phenomenon, a global campaign against imperialism. If we stand together there is no power, no imperialist power that can conquer us.
DEMONSTRATION
RESOLUTION
