http//:peoplesmarch.googlepages.com Vol :8 No:2,February 2007, Rs. 12 PEOPLE’S MARCH Voice of the Indian Revolution

A Boiling Cauldron Contents PEOPLE’S MARCH Vol :8, No2,February 2007, Rs. 12 Voice of the Indian Revolution

16Latin America: A Boiling Cauldron

3 28 Open Letter from The relevance of com. Sushil Roy Bhagat Singh’s to... Ideas...

International Political Science &Technology Conflict in Darfur 11Fact finding report on GE Technology 8 Encounter killing of Com Madhav 14

Women’s Empowerment 22

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EDITOR: P. Govindan Kutty E-mail: [email protected] Mobile No. : 99472 76692 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Owned, Edited, Printed & Published by P. Govindan Kutty, Peroor house, Tripunithura, N.F. Ernakulam, Kerala — 682 301, Printed at Chithira Printers, 63/321, Poruvelil, Kannachanthodu Road, Kochi — 18

2 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 Open Letter From Com Sushil Roy to Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal {We reproduce here an open letter from Com. Sushil Roy, a politburo member of the CPI(Maoist) to the CM of West Bengal, comrade Roy has been incarcerated in the jails of West Bengal and Jharkhand. In spite of his age and failing health he is being harassed by the CPM-led government of West Bengal and the Congress-backed government of Jharkhand. At present he is lodged in the jail hospital at Chaibasa with a fractured hip bone. We call on the people to demand his immediate release on humanitarian grounds…… Editor} Honourable Chief Minister, freedom loving Indian masses and assembly? I have deep interest to know My regards, patriotic revolutionaries, the British about all these things. The matter of my letter to you is very imperialists had made those clauses of The Brutish imperialists had given serious and very wide. But thinking of the I.P.C. and by these rules the death sentence to Netaji Subhas Chandra your valuable time I will try to draw your oppressive British imperialist rulers had Bose also on the ground of treason to attention towards a few points in short. termed the great patriotic revolutionaries the state. But the Indian people respect The matter of my letter is completely as ‘Terrorists’ and hanged hundreds of him and other great revolutionaries of the political, I don’t have any personal revolutionaries like Masterda Surya Sen, British era as great patriots. Hence, to grudge against you. Khudiram, Bhagat Singh, Dinesh Gupta decide the definition of a patriot and The Jhargram Session Court has etc. Hundreds of others were kept in treason is not the sole right of the ruling awarded me five years rigorous life imprisonment in Andaman Jail and classes and their parties. It is for the imprisonment for treason against the other frightening jails and lots were done people to decide the actual definition. state on the basis of the 35th Arms Act of to death in these jails. In the background As a ruling party, those whom you are the Indian Penal Code 121-A/122/124-B. of this historical perspective the branding as ‘treason’ and ‘terrorists’, My age is 68 years 6 months now. I had questions that naturally come to mind you are not speaking as a citizen of a a cataract operation of both the eyes in are - the present “Independent – ‘free and sovereign’ country. You are 1995. The operation was done by the sovereign” democratic Indian evaluating this as a servant ruling famous eye specialist Dr. Sunil Bagchi. government and the Left-democratic alliance bound by the system of foreign The left eye got completely damaged State government of West Bengal are neo-colonialism. In a Marxist evaluation, just after the operation. Even after the using the same laws made by the British ‘Communist’, ‘Social Democrat’ or operation there was blood hemorrhage Imperialists to suppress the movements ‘Leftists’ whatever name the ruling in the other eye due to blood pressure. of workers, peasants, intellectuals, parties take in a class divided society; So there are chances of complete students and other toiling masses and they all are keeping the interests of the blindness at any time. Along with that I branding them as ‘terrorists’ national or foreign exploiting classes. am suffering from Ischaemic heart ‘extremists’, putting them in life Has the left front government of West diseases, enlargement of the prostate, imprisonment for struggling against the Bengal taken any different stand from piles with regular bleeding, constipation exploitation – oppression and control of Congress, BJP and other right etc. Treatment is going on in the jail American Imperialists, the ring leader of reactionary parties in the policies of their hospital. neo-colonialism in India, and other practical politics and practice? Even I came to know from ‘Pratidin’dated imperialists and of the comprador Indian both the ‘Communist parties’ CPI and 29th May and through my lawyer that the big bourgeoisie and big landlords. Is CPI(M) never seem to take even the CPM led state Government has appealed our ‘Independence and sovereignty’ a minimum interest to take a different stand to the High Court demanding my life fake and a ceremonial declaration to fool in these matters. In the present imprisonment. I have some questions the Indian masses? Is the democratic circumstances I need to introduce myself and a statement regarding this role of the setup, laws, judiciary still a servant of in brief. state government, which I am informing the British colonial system? And is it In 1961 I got a permanent job in the you through this letter, kindly read this forced to follow the footsteps of the Usha Fan factory in Bansdroni of south patiently. British Imperialists as well as other Kolkata. I came in touch with the then As far as my knowledge goes, and imperialists for being contract-bound CPI party during the India-China border the lawyers also say, that the clauses of and faithful to the laws and judiciary clash. A strike was started in 1963 on the I.P.C. in ‘Independent’ and made by them? Are the Parliament, different demands in our factory. The ‘sovereingn’ India are following the Constitution and Judiciary, Nehru government proclaimed an colonial rules made by the British Administration, Jails of this ordinance banning all strikes in any Imperialists. The ‘Independent’ and ‘independent-sovereign’ country still organization and threatened, applying ‘sovereign’ Indian Government has not under the control of the foreign rulers? the Indian security act. But the framed any new clauses of I.P.C. My Has the MPs and MLAs of the Left- struggling workers ignored Nehru’s question is, in order to continue their democratic front of West Bengal ever threats and continued the strike for six colonial rule and ruthlessly suppress the opposed it in Parliament and the state months and untimatly won the struggle.

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 3 Noticing my advice and active Later, on the issue of the party’s On last 21st May, 2005 when I was partictpation during the strike the viewpoint on the Naxalbari peasant about to get into a rickshaw after coming workers elected me to the executive struggle I had disagreement in the union. out of a labour slum area (No.-4 Madrasi committee of the union. The president The party had strongly condemned the pet) a group of 4-5 plain cloths policemen of our union at that time was Indrajit Naxalbari struggle and termed it as forced me into a car and blindfolded me. Gupta of the CPI. In the meantime the extremism. Rather, in the background of They snatched my handkerchief, comb debate of two lines between the Soviet the International Communist Movement and purse. I did not have any thing else. and Chinese party in the International of that period, I did not observe the After driving the whole night in the same Communist Movement influenced our Naxalbari peasant struggle as a mere manner they took me to a two story union also. The Indrajit Guptas were peasant struggle. For me the great building in a jungle area on 22nd May early then in favour of the Soviet party line naxalbari movement was a political line, morning, which was basically a BSF camp led by Dange. We kept our confidence a target, a future for capturing state and about 150 BSF personnel was on Chinese party line led by our Vice- power. At that time I personally had present there. In that camp two police president Haridas Malakar and secretary debates on the organizational and officers continuously interrogated me on Bimal Chatterjee. Continuing the debate political line of the party with the leaders 22nd and 23rd May. Then on 24th May on different issues in the union we like then state secretary Com. Pramod morning at about 8 O’clock they brought cornered them and they became a Dasgupta, Kesto Ghosh, Niranjan Sen, me to Belpahari police station. On the minority. Indrajit Gupta was heckled in Satya Sen (Ranjan), Prasanto Sur, Bhola same day at about 10 O’clock they many ways. In a seminar of workers in Bose etc. In a G.B. meeting in the brought me to Jhargram court covering the Muslim Institute hall we even Thyagraj hall of Ballygange I had put up my face. Afterwards, in the FIR the attacked Indrajit Gupta throwing chairs. a question opposing the popular party police had shown that they have arrested In the seventh party congress in 1964 slogan “Peoples’ democratic revolution me on 23rd May at Tamajuri village in the when the CPI(M) was formed I joined that is our word of worship”, asking why it is Belpahari police station area while party. At the directions of the party we being said that peoples’ democratic engaged in a meeting and that they have have joined mass meetings in Dharamtala revolution is our word of worship? It is recovered a small torch and a handbag. with thousands of workers in procession only to recite; there is no practice in it. I was surprised because I have never from Hazra Park of south Kolkata against So should we always recite the hymns of gone to Belpahari and never heard of the bombings in Vietnam by the American revolution? Should we not put it into Tamajuri. But why did the police lie? One imperialists. I have seen you in those practice like China and Vietanm? Should of the DSP officers (who have processions then. I have shouted we not make any ideological, political, interrogated me most) when asked slogans ‘your name, my name – Vietnam, organizational and military preparations replied “This is our tactics.” Afterwards Vietnam’along with you. During the for that? the police some how came to know my three-day continuous strike programs in Comrade Dasgupta was so annoyed status in the party. The police officer the 1966 food movement I have taken a hearing my question that he asked me to told me “You are not telling anything, leading role in south Kolkata. At that get out of the G.B. That discussion and only stories. I will frame you in such a time I was beaten by the Congress many other meetings and debates before case that you have to be in jail for the hooligans and police and was also and after that, it was clear to me that the rest of your life and you will die in jail.” arrested. I also have given my labour CPI(M) party will never go for revolution. Here my assessment is that, discussing and sweat for the first left front to come Publicly for show, it was suppoting the with the state government, the police into power. In 1968 we have gheraoed Chinese Communist party but in reality conspired to put up a strong case the ‘Trailoko house’ of Dalhousie for it will follow the parliamentary line of the against me and according to that they three days and three nights so that renegade Khruscheve and Dange. presented a seizer list that they have foreign computers not to be installed The events of the Peasant struggles recovered explosives, bullets, computer, there. The owners could not enter and of Naxalbari, police firing on it and the cassettes, photos, money, ornaments, were unable to install the computers. At killing of eleven woman peasants Marxist literature and many other that time the party directed that the including two children and seeing the documents from a house in Hindmotor. CMDA is an imperialist organization. We real face of the social democratic and And on the basis of that they put up a will not allow imperialists to do any job revisionist character of the party case of treason under those clauses of in West Bengal. So we stopped the leadership, I cut off all relations with the the IPC. Once again I was suprpised to CMDA work by orgonizing workers for party in 1968 and for the sake of know, because I have never gone to that picketing in those areas where the CMDA revolutionary ideology I left my house of Hindmotors, but the police have was doing any digging work. At the permanant job, home, relatives to work framed a false case showing those seized directions of the party we even took up as a professional revolutionary in far materials. Afterwards I came to know that programs of arson in buses and trams away villages. Since 1990, I was only the Nepali Maoists that the police have during the movements. Such many doing ideological, theoretical and arrested before and after my arrest, the unlawful acts we have committed at the political work within the working class materials seized from them was used to directions of the party, all of which we in the industrial areas of Kolkata, Howrah make a seizure list to frame me. The need not say here. and Hoogly. 4 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 falsehood of the ‘democratic’ police of because, the intellectuals of West Bengal cadres, within the limits of their own peti- West Bengal has surprised me. had appealed to you for not doing any bourgeois middle-class mentality and I didn’t have any case against me in physical torture to me. Many times you peaceful lifestyle, fitted the the area of my political work. There is people have declared that you will deal organizational and political party line, no question of any case in the type of with the Maoist movements politically. and limited all struggles within a few work I am involved. The Special Police But you don’t have any political work in economic movements and within some Team of West Midnapur literally Maoist areas. People in the struggling demands which are acceptable to the kidnapped me and framed a false case areas are doning the Maoists and in ruling exploiting class. So, as soon as against me in Belpahari. Also few other the struggle against reactionaries, in the party came into power, due to cases are also lodged in different police huge numbers. When the earth is being unavoidable reasons of a peti-bourgeois stations in Midnapur. My arrest and removed beneath your feet, the leaders class character, the leaders and cadres those materials presented in court, and cadres of those areas are not able to made winning elections as the “Arjun’s showing, as seized from Hindmotor, the counter that with political-theoretical bird eye” and made a 1800 tunraround local police station and even the district debate but are creating terror with the from peoples’revolution mentally, SP knows nothing of it. They told me help of goonda, police and paramilitary politically and orgonizationally. They are that, when they were interrogating me. forces to break the struggle and now busy trying to sustain their power My question is, at whose interest orgasnizaiton as earlier done by the and to get back to power, busy in have the police framed up a false case reactionary feudal forces. The local capturing important wealthy ministries, against me? Who is being made glorious leadership and cadres have taken the role personal and group-wise corruption, with this – the police department, of social police and workers of the CPM mutual feuds and murders. In the local Judiciary or the State Government? Not are spying for the police. Can you think offices of the party there is no study of only that, the police are arresting Maoist that your party, being loyal to the great Marxism or discussions on Marxism- workers and supporters from different ideology of that party, hundreds of Leninism. There is a regular occurrence districts and putting them into jails with workers and common people have made of group feuds and murders to capture false charges. Whatever police was selfless sacrifices with glorious the powerful posts with an aim to get doing during the reactionary Congress examples, fearless of police bullets and contracts and promote businesses. regime, the CPM is doing the same mental jail, lost every thing to continue in Contradictions and debates in the local, and political torture (beating, burning struggle – the present leaders and cadres zonal or district party committees are not with cigarette buts, not providing water of that exemplary party are now engaged on the party line or on strategy and to drink, not allowing for latrine and in spying for the police of this tactics of revolution – it is about who urinal etc.). People in the struggling areas “Bourgeois-Landlord” state (as per the will rule in which area, like mafias. are being arrested and subjected to evaluation of Indian state by your party) In the party, you or Biman babu and barbaric tortures like severe beating, to keep alive their taste of power and a few other leaders may have an honest replacement arrest, breaking of roof tiles pleasures? - Alas Marx!! and clean image but as a whole the party with rifle buts, breaking of ovens, It is hard to listen but I am bound to line is reformist and opportunist, so the kitchen utensils and other household say that for this degradation of the corrupted, capitalist propagating and items, mixing kerosene or sand in cooked leaders and caders, they themselves are power mongers have captured the whole food, destroying rice and other food not responsible. The basic political line party. Whatever purification movements items, beating and kicking old men and of the CPI(M) is responsible for this. The you want to implement to come out of women and mothers, using filthy line in a communist party decides this pit must fail certainly. The reason language, molesting young women etc. everything. The seeds of this to this is that the seeds of the bitter fruits for the crime of being supporters of degradation was sown in the documents you have sown at the very birth of the Maoists. For these purposes, the local of the seventh party congress of CPI (M) party, how can the tree now bear sweet CPI(M) party leaders, cadres and the in 1964. It is clearly stated in the 111th fruits? outsider CRPF personnel are taking a clause of that document that the You can definitely remember the leading part. I think that the news of “Communist Party of India (Marxist) will teaching of great Stalin where he said – these crimes of the police and try for peaceful transformation to “In those countries where the old state paramilitary forces do not reach you. socialism”. machinery (i.e. military, police, I will not deny that after my arrest, It is needless to say that the bureaucracy, constitution, judiciary, and along with the West Midnapur police, revolutionaries of the International jail) is still existing, if social democrats top police officers of other states Communist Movement have hooted this of those countries participate in the (Andhra, Orissa, Jharkhand, Delhi and poisonous parasitic line of renegade ministry, then however honest and Kolkata) and the CID/IG/DIG/SP/DSP Khurshchev out long ago. In India the popular they may be, in reality they can etc. had interrogated me and made mental renegade Dange was the main not do any thing else other than serving tortures in many methods and I became spokesman of this line. imperialists and bourgeoisie against sick many times but none of them Your party is working along this line the interest of the oppressed people.” tortured me physically. It may be from its very birth. The leaders and Do you think Com. Stalin had said any

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 5 thing wrong after staying in power agents the big bourgeoisie and big inexperience they made some serious continuously for 30 years? In practical landlords. So revolution and a mistakes. They were in some hurry due politics do you not actually serve the revolutionary party may go to hell. After to devotion and zeal for revolition. They imperialists, capitalists and reactionary coming to power and to win elections had paid with their life for those mistakes. forces to be in power for the last 30 continuously they have to give people I must pay my homage to those great years? Com. Lenin had strongly something in their own interest and to revolutionaries. I also salute those condemned the French socialist Milera propitiate the imperialists, big mothers who have given birth to them. for joining the bourgeois ministry. bourgeoiseie and big landlords. So, As a result of those mistakes the party Though now on the pretext of the fall looking backward, in 1963 when American was divided into many groups and those of the Soviet Union and Globalization President Mr. Johnson (after the death reactionary revisionist agents of the you are trying to make others understand of Mr. Kennedy) came on an India tour, vested interests took advantage of this. the need to be pragmatic and keep the then Finance minister of the central Walking in that slippery blood soaked principles aside, actually it is your very ministry Mr.Morarji Desai (who was path of revolution, the revolutionaries old and only line, that is, to continue in actually a CIA agent, as was known later), have again learned newer style of work power. to please the American President, so that and are holding high the banner of We know, according to Marxist he invests American capital in India, revolution more strongly. theory, the policy and practice of a party ecstatically said that – “We are opening Still there are some mistakes in cases is determined according to the our (motherland) womb before the of application while fighting with the fundamental line of a party. Practical foreign capitalists”. It is needless to say powerful state machinery, with their small policies of a party are determined by that on the pretext of globalization you strength. Those are being corrected fundamental principles. The have got hold of that flag of Morarji. quickly. They are not doing anything, fundamental principle of a Marxist party Due to the reformist and ‘to give which is anti-people. If anything like that is “Capturing state power through something’ type thoroughly economistic comes to your sight, I am calling for revolution”. When the practical policy politics to stay in power, your party now strong political criticism. At the same is different from this universal policy, that has entangled itself into the web of time, give rights to the Maoists also for is nothing but pure revisionism. apathy to struggles, compromise, open political criticism for your wrong You may have to take lessons from corruption and opportunism. So with and anti-people policies. In the open field the disastrous results of the Communist your fascist mentality you are not ready of struggle let hundred flowers blossom Parties of Indonesia in 1965 and Chile in to tolreate protests or movements by – the hundred schools of thought 1973. There the leaders, Aijit of other parties or organizations. If contend. What’s the fear? Indonesia and Allende of Chile came to struggles are built up by other parties or The CPI (Maoist) is not banned in power through the parliamentary system. organizations other than under your flag, West Bengal. None of the mass On an experimental basis and to gain disturbance is created in your happy organizations supporting it or under its experience they brought a bill in the family, and due to your inability to leadership are banned. Still anyone parliament to nationalize the land and the counter them politically, you show your sticking posters supporting any oil companies owned by American highbrow and arrogant attitude like movement openly is termed as a Maoist- imperialism. Before the bills were made feudal landlords and term them as “anti- terrorist, arrested and sent to jail on false into law, American imperialism staged a social’, ‘separatists’ and ‘terrorists’ and charges of treason. Where are we, Mr. military coup-de-ta through the CIA, have embraced the anti-revolutionary Buddha, in Bengal or in a jungle? cruelly killed 50 million communists and and reactionary methods to barbarously We can understand this if the same thousands of progressive people suppress them with the police and Para- were done in states ruled by the including the two leaders of those two military forces of the ‘bourgeois-landlord reactionary Congress or BJP. But when countries. The reasons for failure in state’. You have forgotten that the a left and democratic government led by those countries was that they didn’t ideological basis of your party is the a ‘Communist party’ is doing such have any military of their own. They were great Marxism-Leninism. Certainly to run reactionary fascist acts behind their dependent upon the old military, police a ‘bourgeois-landlord state’ there is no leftist label, can it be called anything else and bureaucracy. The communist cadres importance of ideology and that can be other than adultery or hypocrisy? were also completely unarmed and the thrown out calling it as old-fashioned and You have opposed the barbaric benefit of that was utilized by American that is what you are doing. Then for what activities of the ‘Salwa jhudum’ which imperialism. reason do you hang the signboard of was started taking inspiration of Hitler’s Taking lessons from these fearful “Marxist”? Nazi Gestapo forces under the leadership results and failure, this much you would I am not denying that in the past, of Mahendra Karma, the opposition have understood is that if they want to Communist revolutionaries had made leader of the BJP ruled state of come to power through the parliamentary mistakes in the application while keeping Chattisgarh. It is a very correct step. system and want to stay in power, they faith in fundamentally correct political Both the BJP and Congress have have to die if they oppose the imperialists line. Due to the intense hatred towards unlawfully confined about 50 thousand including American imperialists and their revisionism, revolutionary zeal, and poor adivasi families in concentration camps through this program. The Police 6 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 is creating a spy network giving military to that area? Let them start political whether even the left-democratic training to selected people from them to debate there. Let them take up programs government of West Bengal would walk identify the Maoists or to kill them. This for the just demands of the people and in the same path as the other reactionary they are trying to divide the adivasi isolate people from the Maoists. At the governments serving the vested people influenced by the Maoists and same time stop arresting the Maoists and interests? Especially when the chief are creating a situation of civil war. The allow them to start political debate and minister himself is the nephew of the CPI(M) politburo has strongly movements on different issues openly in revolutionary poet Sukanto? condemned it and asked to ban it villages and cities. Are you talking about Once an old broken ship sinks then immediately. Certainly it can be the arms of the Maoists? Can you tell thousands of new ships will float in the congratulated. But what are we seeing about any single political party taking sea. Once an old banyan tree dies, in West Bengal? Here, at the initiative part in parliamentary elections in India immediately there will arise thousands of the police of West Midnapur, on the which doesn’t have deadly firearms? of new saplings. Revolitionaries can be pretext of increasing public relation they Every party has and they are using these killed. Confined in a jail. But revolution have taken programs like ‘Sankalp for killing also. cannot be killed, cannot be confined in a school’, ‘Medical booths’, ‘planting Actually your problem is that, you jail. trees’, ‘Football game’ etc. Here the first don’t have any political worker educated May the ministers of your‘left- question is – so the police is admitting in the ideology of Marxism-Leninism. In democratic’ government fight for wealthy that they are separated from the people these 30 long years, your party cadres ministries for a safe and happy life. To and people hate them? Second question- have become opportunist, greedy, safeguard the sacred “bourgeois- do these programs fall under the duty of selfish, arrogant, apathetic to landlord state”, you may do your the police department? Here the police revolutionary politics and getting mental ‘revolutionary’duty by inciting is also creating ‘Salwa jhudum’ on a satisfaction thinking that spying for the thousands of military forces on the small scale by alluring the poor adivasi police is the greatest revolutionary work. struggling masses to save the people in different ways. They are And at the same time are finishing their constitution and democracy. creating secret squads from the adivasi political work by shouting , “peoples’ I will finish my letter wishing you a people for spying on the Maoists and to democratic revolution is our word of healthy longh life to give leadership in identify and capture them. In this way worship” in meetings and processions. this job. But I will make one last request, adivasis are being made anti-adivasi (as Great Comrade Mao Tse tung said hope you will keep it. Till I am in jail and they are supporters of Maoists) and that “Revolution is not a banquet, before I go completely blind give me a dividing the nationalities. Why is the drawing a picture or needle work, - chance to continue political and CPI(M) politburo a silent spectator about revolution cannot be soft, modest or ideological debate. And according to that this? gentle. Revolution is a revolt, in which make arrangements to get papers, pen The West Bengal government has one class turns the other up-side down.” etc. and whatever Marxisst literature and stationed thousands of police and As a result of the political line of your documents that are available in the paramilitary forces armed with modern party, revolution is being confined into market. Don’t take away the right of weapons in the struggling areas of the the circle of a safe lifestyle of the middle continuing debate on the theoretical, Maoists. They have asked for 12 class, petti-bourgeois class. And to political and ideological front. Give the companies more of paramilitary forces cover up this opportunism and to journalists the right to publish my from the center. To strengthen the police deceive the cadres and people you are writings in Ganashakti and other force they are being trained by the shaking hands and posing for newspapers. military, spending lakhs of rupees. We photographs with the leaders of those At the end I can tell you, being a don’t know what political work will be countries like China, Vietnam and Cuba nephew of the great revolutionary martyr done by this oppressive force basically etc. who have captured power through Dinesh Gupta, as a heir of his blood, to created to suppress the just struggles of armed revolution, to show that your party take forward the incomplete work of the people. Nobody will definitely expect is still on the path of revolution. those great revolutionaries I am still that rifles of these forces will spread Comments not required! singing the song – flowers in place of bullets. Why the state The State Government under your Let the hundred flowers blossom government not admitting that it started leadership has demanded for my life The weeds be uprooted a civil war, failing to counter the Maoists imprisonment. If there was a Government We are the Sun of revolutionary politically and it has to take responsibility of the Congress or BJP in the state, they mornings for that. may also have demanded the same. Eight or nine o’clock If your intention is to counter the Because, the national and foreign We must bring a new spring on the earth. Maoists politically, then why are you reactionaries will be enthused. American Date: 10th July,2006 sending thousands of armed forces docoit leader Bush will be most happy. Sushil roy/4300A there? You claim that your party has He will be more enthusiastic in helping Prisoner on the charges of treason 2,50,000 workers in West Bengal alone. you with more capital for such a ‘good Presidency jail, Kolkata - 700027 Why don’t you send at least 250 workers boy’ government. I would like to know P M

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 7 GE Technology: Further Strengthens Imperilist-starngle Hold On Indian Agriculture Sujan than 1 lakh number of the peasant/farmers environment and external conditions – this nother green revolution is being community to suicide. Since 2003 to this has been the independent basis of our food Aintroduced. This time, as it is day many more thousands of farmers killed security. This independent basis is to be being claimed, it is for the development of themselves. This phenomenon is surrendered to the MNCs to follow the the dry land farming and to address the continuing and the number of suicide dictate of the imperialist forces. The very problems of small and marginal farmers/ deaths is increasing everyday. The green introduction of this system not only raises peasants. It is also claimed that this will has turned into dark grey. The green serious moral and ethical issues, but also help reduce hunger and malnutrition. On revolution is now so detested that 40 threatens the independent basis of the January 3rd of ‘06 inaugurating the 93rd percent of peasant/ farmers wants to quit country’s food security. Indian Science Congress, Prime Minister farming and go in search of other sources What is ge technology of UPA government,Mr. Manmohan Singh of income. Another 26 percent feel that The Department of Biotechnology requested the scientist community to play; agriculture is unviable. This success saga (DBT) defines genetic engineering as the an important role in bringing about a of green revolution technologies, which technique by which heritable material second green revolution for the above have run their course, is being which does not usually occur or will not purpose. He clearly stated that the modern complemented by second green revolution occur naturally in the organism or cell agricultural technologies should be sponsored by imperialist forces and concerned, is generated outside the introduced for further development of MNCs. organism or the cell and is inserted into agriculture and that of the peasant/farmer Ge Technology Ensures More the said cell or organism. According to community. He asserted ‘We must ensure Imperialist Control On DBT, it also means the formation of new that the second green revolution Agriculture combinations of genetic material by technologies have a special focus on dry The Prime Minister laid emphasis on incorporation of a cell into a host cell, land agriculture and do benefit small and introduction of new agriculture where they occur naturally (self-cloning) marginal farmers”. He also stated that the technology. It means more dependence as well as modification of an organism or technologies and strategies introduced by on imperialist global market. The in a cell by deletion and removal of parts the first green revolution have run their technology referred to is biotechnology of the heritable material. (Sahara Time, course and farmers utilized those and more specifically Genetically November 18,’06) technologies for their benefit during the engineered (GE) or Genetically modified Bt rice seed is also engineered last three decades. Now there is much need (GM) technology which is controlled by genetically. It has the property to resist for the introduction of the second green the US based MNCs. Obviously, it pests like stem borer and leaf folder. A revolution to serve the interest of the operates within a globalized market system. synthetic version of a gene (called cry farmers and the countrymen. The green Hither to, seed used to be considered as 1AC) is inserted within the seed. This revolution – technologies, of course, the basic right of the farmers. It is the synthetic version of a gene which is registered success in handing over Indian farmer who saved seed on his field and naturally occurred soil bacterium known agriculture to the imperialist forces (MNCs), was free to exchange it. Now they have to as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This Bt is leaving it open for their reckless plunder pay royalties for using these seeds as inserted into the plants (deoxyribonucleic and exploitation! The green revolution. Of these are not to be considered as public acid). So-engineered plant can; crate its course, has increased productivity; property. According to the trade-related own toxin and destroy the pests. enabling the achievement of self- intellectual property rights (TRIPs) regime No country in the world has approval sufficiency in food, but at an enormous these are private property of seed the proposal for commercial sale of Bt rice cost of soil heath and degradation of multinationals. As a consequence, developed by the USA based ecology. It has successfully ensured that farmers’ dependence on large MNCs agribusiness. The USA is an exception. Indian agriculture remains dependent and increase, and they are being compelled to But it is now facing problems. For the last under the firm control of MNCs . This operate within an international market. The two years, rice producers of the USA are success story also tells that farmers of the MNCs captivate the agriculture; deprive not prepared to grow GE rice due to country have to spend close to one trillion farmers/peasants of their right on seed and consumer’s resistance throughout the rupees a year on chemical fertilizers and free owner farmer become prey of ruthless world. The commercial sale of Bt cotton pesticides! Green revolution technologies exploitation of MNCs. Long traditional has already been approved by the have completed their course, devasting the farming practices of the countries farmers, government of India and the field trials of agrarian economy and the rural society! their rich and varied knowledge system, Bt brinjal are in the process of finalization. Despite self-sufficiency in food grain biodiverse and self-sustaining agriculture While in 25 countries of European Union production, hunger and malnutrition stalk is going to be lost. Over thousands of no biotech rice is allowed to be grown, sold across rural India and the country now years tens of thousands of varieties of rice or marketed, the Indian government has stands next to sub-Saharan countries! have been developed by subsistence allowed field trials of Bt rice in India Between ’98 and 2003, debt drove more peasants adopting them to local ignoring the danger of contamination. 8 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 Field trial without regulatory It is clearly revealed that the as a solution to on going agricultural crises. Mahyco–Monsanto has been “controlled field trials” of GE crops are a They were from Karnatake, Andhra conducting field trial on rice containing Bt myth. Allowing GE rice even in the field Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra and cry 1 Ac since 2003. In 1998 Bt cotton was trials means economic as well as called themselves South Against Genetic tested in open air trial. The bio safety environmental disaster. Once it is in the Engineering (Sage). Sage promised that it assessment did not precede field trials and field, it remains out of the knowledge will continue to struggle, for :GE’s deserved the promoter conducted these trials even whether the other plant varieties have been death”. Its representatives are from various keeping in dark the farmer, the local contaminated by the GE variety. If it is sectors-farmers, farmers’ organization, authorities and the state governments. contaminated it could cause the extinction NGOs, consumer groups, media persons, The field trials go on without any of other varieties. Another danger is also scientists, academicians and civil society monitoring. The regulators are there, but there i.e. the growth of insects having activists. They are terribly concerned about they do not think it necessary to regulate. resistance to the toxin which results in more the adversities of GE farming which is The irregularities in regulatory procedure pesticides to control those. being promoted by the Union govt. They are very much common. However, the Its effect on human health has not been are opposing GE farming and continuing union govt. recently regularized these tested fully. But a recent study in Madhya to propagate against the introduction of irregularities, incorporating rules to allow Pradesh reveals that farmers exposed to GE in agriculture. field trials even prior to completion of Bt cotton had allergic reactions like skin The Monitoring and Evaluation safety tests! It is natural for a govt. which eruptions, swollen face and so on. Further Committee (MEC) raised a protest in serves the interests of the MNCs, it is stated in Frontline December 1,2006 January ’06 against field trials of Ballgrod opposing that of farmers and the that “studies world wide have shown that II seed (patent company, Monsanto’s next countryman. The body of the Genetic eating GM food could result in wasteful generation Bt cotton in the country). They Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) growth of gut tissues, bacterial alleged, on the basis of their findings, that was formed to favor the bio-tech industries proliferation, intestinal tumors, immune there had been “blatant bio-safety and the seed developers. So it is nothing system suppression and interference with violations” and demanded that all those strange that most of the senior office the development of vital organs and trials should be banned. They also pointed bearers of GEAC belong to biotech reproduction”. High level toxin is out such bio-safety violations in various industries who promote GE or crop associated with this technology for states in the country – i.e. Andhra Pradesh, developers themselves. In response to a ensuring mortality of target pest as for as Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, petition in last September, the Supreme possible. So consumption of this rice Maharashtra and Panjab. Court temporarily stopped GEAC from means consumption of a lot of the toxin! Despite these protests and opposition granting permission for field trials of GE It is now a well established fact that the govt. has been continuing to introduce crops. The Supreme Court did not order allowing GE crop to grow, even in field trials GE /GM crops in agriculture at a hectic the Union govt. to stop all those field trials leads to economic and environmental speed. It does not pay attention to address which began without safety test and disaster. Here in India as untested GE the blatant irregularities, rather it turns def ignored the regulatory procedures. So the products are available in the open market ear to the voice of protest, oppositions to field trials continue affecting farmers, crops and the procedure of conducting field trials GE farming, the demand to ban field trials, and countrymen adversely. are unsound, genetic contamination is and expressed concern about GE crops Ignoring the danger of contamination unavoidable. Moreover the infamous contamination, while farmers, being Mahyco-Monsanto is allowed to continue episode of Navbharat seeds shows that cheated, deceived and misled by Malhyco- field trials on rice containing Bt cry IAc field trials of GE seeds are synonymous Monsanto, are getting more and more gene. It is revealed that the field trials of with large-scale cultivation. The recent dissatisfied. This is now getting expression Bt rice are taking place in Karnal in Haryana, Chinese rice contamination scandal also in direct action. On November 10, 2006, a in; Allahabad and Gorakhpur in UP.,Thane reveals that the GE crops cannot be 150 strong crowd led by Tamil Nadu and Bhandara in Maharashtra, Coimbattur regulated. Mexico is another example Farmers Association gathered in in; Tamil Nadu,Raipur in Chattisgarh and where Genetic contamination was Ramanathapuram village near Coimbatore in West Bengal. Two of these States – discovered in maize which affects it and and uprooted the Bt rice crop from the field Haryana and UP – are known as Basmati its diversity disastrously. The Genetic of a farmer’s family. In Haryana and growing states. The rice exporters there contamination scandals are found not only Uttarpradesh activists of Bhartiya Kissan have expressed their concern as in case in China and Mexico but also in all parts of Union (BKU) burned the harvest of Bt rice the nearby fields are contaminated by Bt the world. Consumers do not accept GE trials in two farms in last October, 2006. rice, the Basmati rice of the country will be products and their number is increasing The activists also burned a field in unacceptable to other countries. In the along with worldwide protest against the Rampura village in Karnal district in last financial year i.e. 2005-06 India exported GE crops farming. Haryana to prevent contamination. The thousands of tones of Basmati rice earning Worldwide peoples opposition BKU activists compelled the police to seize 673 million dollars (30.3 billion; rupees). Bt GE crops the grain which was found in a plot in rice contamination will devastate rice On January 7-8 2006 more than 50 Rudrapur village in; Gorakhpur district of exports. representatives came together to reject GE UP. The BKU and local panchyat president

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 9 also field a complaint to police against in France, Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy significant in solving problems in Mahyco, The department of and Luxemburg the individual countries of improvement of crop plants, particularly Biotechnology and the GEAC alleging EU opposed the verdict saying they will reducing over dependence on pesticide violations in safety measure in GE rice field resist any attempt to make them accept GM and other chemicals and improving lower trial plot. The direct action of the agitated food. Hungary has declared to remain GM production and productivity. Moreover, farmers are spreading through out the – free in; its economic interest. “Greece as he described, biotechnology offered a country. and Austria have affirmed their total tremendous potential to tackle the issue The rice exporters too expressed their opposition to the GE crops. Italy has called of food security as well as nutritional concern in a recently held press conference the WTO ruling ‘unbalanced’ and Poland’s security. “If used in a responsible manner, and demanded that the govt. should stop Prime Minister had pledged to keep the it can help reduce poverty and improve the the field trials. The executive director of country GM-free. Local govts are even livelihoods of the rural poor”. Of course the all India Rice Exporters Association more opposed: more than 3500 elected he did not forget to say that “confidence stated “Any contamination from GE rice councils in 170 regions of Europe have is needed to be built among the consumers field trials will be a death blow for millions declared themselves GM-free. “(Guardian that GM foods are safe and eco friendly”. of farmers and exporters. We want the News paper dtd 2006). Now in 25 countries What more can the MNCs propagate? govt. to draw the correct lesson from the of the European Union no biotech rice is Reality does not confirm this propaganda. plight of the US rice industry and stop allowed to have entry. In the face of the A farmer from northern Karnatak said, “In further GE rice field trials in this region now. peoples growing opposition to GM food, agriculture, GE is not good for crops, soil, If the govt. does not heed our warning, it US food companies have to leave European animals or humans, its introduction leads could prove to be costly and irreversible market and they are now concentrating on to the loss of agro-biodiversity. It increases blunders.” (Frontline, December 1, 06) developing countries. But here too it is seed costs and use of pesticides continues. Kavitha Kuruganti from the Centre for not a smooth sailing! The US food Further, the farmers don’t get returns. Since Sustainable Agriculture, Hydrabad said companies are meeting strong opposition farmers are not literate, they believe “Until independent scientific laboratory from unions and farming groups. In Latin whatever the companies tell them. But it is studies show that this crop is safe for America Bolivia is going to fully reject GM clear these crops have no nutrition, only human consumption, the govt. should not foods. In Korea, Indonesia, Philippines water and pesticides” (The Hindustan allow any field trials to take place”(Ibid) and else where US food companies are Times, Feb 8, 06). Another example that While farmers, consumers, rice facing large demonstrations in opposition was cited by D. Raghunandan, Greenpeace exporters, environmentalists and scientists to GM foods. In the Middle East too, GE India, opposes the claim of” increase/yield are vehemently raising their voice and imports are banned. People’s agitations, and production”. The experience of the resorting to direct action the managing protests and demonstrations are growing world’s most widely grown GE crop, director of Mahyco, had the audacity to throughout the world. soyabeans, shows that the yields of GE tell the Frontline “Why are they so His Masters’ voice soybaeans is around 5% less than concerned about exports? We should think The govt. of India, even amidst such a conventional soya. The varieties of GE of filling our own belies first. Bt rice will worldwide opposition to GE foods and rice are not supported by credible claims help increase productivity by reducing crops, peddles stories taught by MNCs. of increased yield either. Eduardo Galeano crop damage due to pest attacks”. As a representatiove of the indigenous Urugneyau writer and journalist stated the Expressing his reaction at the farmer’s ruling classes, the cronies of MNCs, experience of his country – there is protests against the field trials he told,” continue to deceive the people. On Sept evidence that these inventions of Dr. These people are preventing technology 30, 06 Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Frankenstein damage the health of the soil from reaching farmers. They are standing Powar, disregarding protests against GE and reduce national sovereignty. Are we in the way of scientific research”. What foods and crops, said that other than Bt exporting Soya or exporting our land? else a crony and servant of an MNC can cotton, several transgenic crops are in the Aren’t we now trapped in the cage of say? He just parroted his master’s pipeline, including pigeon pea resistant to Monsanto and other giant companies argument to lure and deceive the people. bollworm, Bt brinjal, tomato resistant to leaf whose seeds, herbicides, and pesticides The stark reality has already shattered the curl virus, tomato with delayed ripening we have become dependent on?...... The myth. Now protests against GE farming and improved shelf life and potato with vast expanses destined for GM Soya, and its products are permeating not only enhanced levels of essential amino acids. razing native forests and forcing out poor in different parts of India but also He did not tell the fact that the repeated peasant farmers. The highly mechanized throughout the world. Between 1999 and failure of Bt cotton, how it devastated the form of farming creates very few jobs; 2003 Europe had imposed a de facto ban cotton farmers of Andhra Pradesh and instead it exterminates small farm plots and on GM food imports even violating WTO Maharashtra leading to suicides of orchards with the poisons it sprays. The rules. Frustrating the hope of biotech thousands of farmers! However, a peddler exodus accelerates to the big cities, where companies and Washington, the of MNC should not tell the reality following it is supposed those driven from the land opposition to GM foods have been going accepted norms of fairness! So he took up will be able to consume, with luck, as soon on since 2004. In reaction to WTO courts’ the next point. He placed the importance verdict against de facto ban on GM food of transgenic technology which was Continued on page 15

10 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 The conflict in Darfur: Sudan on US imperialist firing line! -Jyoti Sudan’s stand governmet. There were rebellions in the st he US has given January 1 2007 Khartoum always claimed that a U.N.- South East and Western parts of that country Tas the dead line to Sudan to accept led international force would mean a return in the past too. The civil war in the south the UN forces in place of the 53 member back to colonialism. resumed in 1983. The main participant in the African Union force numbering 7000 which “Our position is that the forces of the war against government was the Sudanese is stationed presently in Darfur region of African Union should continue in Darfur,” People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the armed Sudan to oversee the peace deal arrived at Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of Sudan, wing of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Abuja, the OPEC headquarters in Nigeria in told reporters. “We categorically . . . reject Movement (SPLM), under John Garang’s August 2005. The UN Security Council the transformation of the African force in leadership. The southern rebels had been passed the resolution 1706 in August 2006 Darfur into a U.N. force.” There is wider taken into the government under an under US pressure, to deploy UN forces of support from Arab people that in the name agreement ending 21 year armed struggle for 20,000. This resolution did not come for of UN, US should not be able to meddle in self determination. After 6 years, there will implementation as Sudan vehemently the affairs in Sudan. Arab intellectuals are be referendum on the question of secession opposed it. US Secretary of State, raising a point that with one or other pretext from Sudan. Condoleezza Rice, warned in September that the US wants to interfere in Sudan. There is In its fight against the minority Khartoum faces “a choice between little difference between US and the UN, is nationalities and ethnic groups the Sudan cooperation and confrontation, after the popular feeling among the People of regime cruelly suppressed the rebellions with desperate attempts by the US and western Arab countries. “The so-called ‘international military might. It raised Arab militias like imperialists which tried to force on Sudan to peacekeeping force’ is an euphemism for Janjaweed( like Salwa Jhudum) which along accept the 20,000 blue helmeted UN forces. foreign military intervention which is with government forces has killed thousands Sudan resisted vehemently and a destined to have disastrous repercussions of Darfur tribals and twenty five lakhs had to compromise deal was struck to send 4000 for the people of Darfur and Sudan as a cross the border to neighbouring Chad to more African Union troops and UN to whole”, says Gamal Nkrumah, the foreign escape the military and the Janjaweed. These augment more funds for the logistics support editor of leading Egyptian newspaper, Al- 25 lakhs people are now lodged in the refugee to the supervising forces. Ahram camps in sub human conditions, facing Threats of forcible intervention “We don’t want the United Nations back manslaughter, rape and all kinds attacks by In September, Mr. Bush in his speech to to Sudan no matter what the conditions,” government sponsored Janjaweed vigilantes. the UN cried hoarse that there was genocide( said Sudan President Bashir at a news Rebellion in Darfur- ignoring his own war crimes in Iraq and conference during the nonaligned movement Background Afghanisthan) in Darfur. Devils do recite summit in Cuba. While the African Union is Darfur is in the semi-arid and one of the the scriptures, goes the adage!! And under advocating an “African Solution”( not most backward regions of Sudan. It has a UN charter, UN can enter even without the allowing any western powers interference), predominantly agriculturoil economy with 80 permission of any country in case of a Pakistan and Algeria opposed any sanctions percent workforce engaged in agriculture. genocide. Bush, after he failed to force Sudan against Sudan. Arab League firmly opposed Since 2000 Sudan is able to export oil and it to agree to the deployment of UN forces, any “precipitative action”. Despite wide has recorded good trade surplus on account immediately appointed a special envoy spread opposition US and Britain are trying of the oil trade. In the neighbouring Chad Andrew Natsios, a former administrator of their best to force the deployment of UN abutting Darfur, there are vast oil resources, the U.S. Agency for International forces with or without the consent of Sudan and estimates are that Darfur also has vast Development, to Sudan. Natsios came out and to initiate punitive sanctions against oil reserves. Sudan is reputed to have very with the real intention of the US: that the Sudan. rich miniral resources. Bush administration will resort to an Sudan and history of uprisings Darfur is Sudan’s westernmost province unspecified “Plan B” if the Sudanese Sudan is Africa’s largest country with a bordering on Libya and Chad. It is very government does not agree by Jan.1 to large (almost 400,000 square kilometers) and deploy international peacekeeping forces for multinational population of 4 crore. It is just more than one quarter of the US size, Darfur quite populous in comparison with other its Darfur region. Natsios, speaking to regions of Sudan (with around eighty lack reporters, declined to explain what he meant alone is the size of France. Sudan is typical mixture of Arabs and black African tribals. people). 2/3 of the peasants are in the by “Plan B,” saying he was not trying to subsistence farming. The amount of rainfall make a threat. “On January 1st, either we see The 39% of Arabs dominate the power structures and the 52 percent black Africans determines the character of the population a change or we go to Plan B,” he said. If there going from north to south: camel herders in is no change in Sudan’s attitude, “then a cosnsits of various tribal groups. Sudan like many an African state, is the northern arid zone, settled peasants in more confrontational approach will take the center, cattle nomads in the south place,” “The United States will not accept synonymous with civil wars. Various nationalities are fighting for bordering on the Bahr-el-Ghazal Province. any of this ….”. Iran, Syria, North Korea and The black African Fur tribe are over half of now Sudan are on the firing line of the US selfdetermination, autonomy and against neglect of their provinces by the central the population, hence the name of the imperialists. province Dar (home) of the Fur, and the rest PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 11 is divided between over fifteen different helicopters and bombed civilian areas. They oil. Chad, Darfur’s neighbour to the immediate ethnic/linguistic groups. All the inhabitants recrutited large number of vigilantes, West has huge oil reserves. There is no doubt are Sunni Muslims. Janjaweed. Janjaweed was used in merciless that there are oil reserves in Darfur itself. The The region was home to the independent massacre of civilians. Chinese and Total Fina Elf of France know all Sultanate of Kayra around the mid-17th There have been an estimated 30,000 too well that the potential for exploiting century. In 1916 it was finally annexed to then casualties, one million people are displaced Darfur’s oil in commercial quantities is Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. within the province and over 120,000 have tremendous. That is the reason why the US In 1991, Daud Bolad, a Muslim fled into neighboring Chad. The fight is and West is interested in the Darfur’s Brotherhood activist of Fur ethnic origin basically between black African insurgents “Humanitariran crisis”. initially supported the Bashir’s regime. and the Khartoum government and its local While the Sudan regime is the culprit in Disillusioned by neglect and Arab’s agents, the Janjaweed. The deep causes of suppressing the rebellions and organizing domination, he tried to organize a revolt. the rebellion lie in Arab domination and vigilantes and is responsible for the ghostly Daud Bolad was defeated and killed. His neglect of the Africans. The African rebels crimes in Darfur, the US is desperately trying attempted uprising marked a turning point in point out that in spite of people’s consciousness in Darfur. being a loyal part of the Revolt and Repression Muslim north, Darfur is in fact Historically, North Darfur and parts of as badly off in terms of lack West and South Darfur have suffered of infrastructure, neglect of recurrent droughts. Crop yields have education and economic remained low and unpredictable due to erratic underdevelopment as the rainfall, pest infestation and the lack of Christian south. agricultural inputs. The livestock has also Destruction of the means dwindled due to pasture and water scarcity. of livelihood of the The main cause of this conflict is the population was another widespread feeling of being consistently tactic of the Sudan marginalized socio-economically and the government. Wells were sense of alienation which is giving rise to poisoned, cattle were killed the struggles for self determination. and foodstuff stores were The present conflict started in February destroyed. This caused 2003. It has rapidly developed into wide massive displacement of spread guerrilla war. The guerrilla struggle civilians who fled to the was intensified on April 25 when the SLM neighbouring Chad. About rebels attacked the provincial capital at el- 2,000 villages have been Fasher, killing 72 troops of the garrison, destroyed across Darfur, and destroying four aircraft on the ground and violence and disease have left as many as to enter the strategic area of Darfur in the capturing General Ibrahim Bushra, the 4,00,000 people dead and 25 lakhs homeless. guise of supporting the hapless Darfour garrison commander. The games the imperialists people. There are two rebel groups struggling play French Foreign Minister Philippe against the Khartoum forces. One is the Throughout Africa’s colonial and Cold Douste-Blazy who travelled to Darfur in Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM). The War history, conflicts were very often used September had to tell time and again SLM is based mostly on the Fur and by world powers to further their own journalists that the international community Masaleet tribes. The second rebel group is imperialist interests. US is no exception in had no “hidden agenda” for Darfur. Rightly the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the present context. suspected by all vigilant people!! That too based mostly on the Zaghawa tribe. SLM is It is Sudan’s oil, like Iraq’s oil, which fuels after the world witnessed what was the the major and most powerful group among American interest in Sudan. hidden agenda behind all the “ war on the two. The Sudanese Liberation Movement Sudan is the third largest producer of oil terrorism” is for secession from Sudan. The Sudanese in Africa. It has large reserves of oil and China becoming important Liberation Army, led by Mini Arkoi Minawi, minerals. With one or other pretext the US is player says it wants to “create a united, democratic bullying Sudan since long. Once it was China has been attempting to play an Sudan. accused of supporting “International important role in this region. The African The government forces reacted with terrorism”. Since 1997, there are several Summit with heads of fifty countries held in increasingly violent attacks on the civilian restrictions on Sudan by the US. In that year Beijing is a pointer to China’s growing population. The guerrillas opened training the U.S. government imposed a trade interests in this region. Sudan is an important camps on the uninhabited slopes of Jebel embargo and a total asset freeze against the trading partner to China quite from some time. Mara and recruits flocked in. Unable to Government of Sudan. Despite the embargo Sudan has not control the situation, the Sudan government The US is most concerned about succumbed to US pressures and it has been unleashed air power using Mi 24 combat Chinese, and French monopoly of Sudanese counting on Russia and especially China’s

12 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 help. China’s interests in Sudan have helping them build refineries and arms “no fly zones”, etc., Apart from these US is increased considerably. Seventy one percent manufacturing plants. Six percent of seriously weighing the options of unilateral of the Oil is exported to China and major China’s total oil imports are from Sudan. action on Sudan. share of imports are also from China. The Chinese are on the Security In September, the United States and its The Chinese are major players in the Council and they abstained on the allies are counting other options, in Sudan oil industry, and own the rights to resolution to refer the case of Darfur to confronting the Sudanese government, Block 6, which covers South Darfur and the International Criminal Court, in March including the possibility of military where there are unexplored oil reserves.. 2005. They along with Russians and intervention despite Bashir’s objections. The Chinese own (through China National African Union members are pressing It is clear that Sudan is able to insulate to Petroleum Company) 40 percent of the against any serious puritative action some extent because of China’s support. main southern oil concession that against Sudan. US and its allies especially For the present the US and EU are unable produces oil for export — the only one so the Britain are for deployment of UN forces to push sanctions because of this factor. far producing for export. Chinese have and serious actions like embargo by all Sudan could become potential flash many other investments in Sudan, such as the member countries of UN, enforcing point in the coming days. P M

Continued from page 21 Conclusion: rules laid down by the ruling classes. would help the poor and oppose In a recent Conference of the Latin They get entangled in the coercive privatisation. American Conference of Popular machineries of the semi- colonial states According to the revisionist left, the Autonomous Organisations in Uruguay and become just a puppet in the hands electoral victories by these forces will in February 24-25 2005 activists from all of the imperialists and their cronies. For bring a new horizon in Latin America and over the continent met. Some of the key the sake of protecting their government the world. But the experiences of the past observations which emerged from the they put all revolutionary programs into and recent past show that these so-called conference is that in each of the Latin cold storage. The experiences of the left governments in Latin America have American countries where social parliamentary lefts are same as that of failed to keep their radical promises and democrats or progressives won, the Asian countries particularly in India rather implemented the neoliberal social movements face new challenges where victory in the assemblies of three policies with an iron fist in a velvet glove. and in some country like Uruguay after states and forming governments has The most recent example is Lula. In 2002 the victory of Tabare Vazquez many of become the be all and end all of their the Workers Party candidate Lula won the social movements demobilised and program. the President election in Brazil with a lost their edge. The “participants The valiant masses are aspiring for a promise of redistribution of land to the discussed how to prevent growing complete social, economic, political and landless poor, renegotiations of IMF expectations in social democratic cultural transformation, which will end loans and IMF imposed policies. He governments from impeding the 500 years of tyranny in Latin America. shamefully switched his colour and accumulation of popular power.” They But the parliamentary left and centre left betrayed the people by sticking on the also observed that the official unions in coalitions are incapable of bearing the path of neo liberalist policies and has in Latin American countries are infiltrated torch of rebellion. Instead of attacking fact turned out worse than his right-wing heavily by the bourgeoisie (whether the structures of exploitation and predecessor. social-democratic or openly reactionary) oppression, they choose to While Chavez in Venezuela showed and the workshop also clearly pointed accommodate them or rather fit some radical possibilities by taxing the out that the workers cannot depend on themselves in the semi colonial state and oil multinationals and increasing state bourgeois laws and bourgeois controlled become protectors of the imperial and revenues and creating better health and unions to protect their rights and so a comprador interests. In Latin America, education for the poor of Venezuela, he new path of creating truly proletariat injecting forceful politics into the has strong economic ties with Russia power is to be envisaged. (From-Znet- popular struggle is a priority. We have and China. Morales is showing some Marie Trigona) The huge tide of peoples’ seen fruitless ending of many a militant positive signs by nationalizing oil gas movements in Latin America is getting people’s movement because lack of and mines but his recent declaration (mid diverted into parliamentary reformism political formation. For this reason, the May) of land reform is devoid of any and without a revolutionary and Maoist large popular mobilizations that oppose radical substance and is rather a path to direction they are getting frittered away. privatizations and overthrow avoid confrontation with the existing The general experience of the so- governments, have to take up the task ruling classes of big landlords and called left governments in Latin America of seizing political power by linking their comprador bourgeoisie. Morales knows is that they get elected riding on the movements with armed struggle which that strong peoples movement in Bolivia wave of popular dissent against the will attack the very basis of imperialist is capable of ousting him as they have imperialist and comprador social system subjugation, the landlord and comprador done with previous regimes if he fails to but after forming the government their class, and by removing their hegemony, deliver. main aim turns out to be to maintain the can they achieve liberation. P M stability of the government following the

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 13 Apclc Fact Finding Report On Encounter Killings Of Madhav And Seven Maoists In Nallamala Forest – Andhra Pradesh he CPI (Maoist) AP Stat Secretary and talked and interviewed the people. The planned to hold a State level meeting and TMadhav alias Burra Chenniah Team met persons who had helped the the police successfully disturbed it. Goud and seven Maoists including five police in carrying dead bodies down from Exchange Of Fire? women were killed in encounter with the the hill and also the tribals in Nekkanti The firing might have taken place police on 23rd July 2006. The alleged hamlet who cleared the trees for preparing between 7.30 and 8.00 am on 23rd July. The encounter took place in the dense the Helipad. The team came across the police themselves have admitted that they Nallamala forest contiguous to shepards on the way to palutla village. fired first at a woman who was on sentry Erragondapalem Mandal of Prakasam They gave crucial information about the duty. The injured Maoists while escaping district in Andhra Pradesh incident as some injured Maoists met from the scene of encounter met the Police version thems on the way while running for safety. shepards on their way and informed that The Director General of Police Finally the Fact Finding Team met the DSP five of their comrades died in the firing and Mr.Swaranjt Sen and other senior police in Markapuram town and talked to the SP five members had gone for fetching water officers have claimed that the incident is a of the Prakasam district and sought some and looking after security arrangement. genuine encounter. The SP of Prakasam clarification on the alleged encounter. Soon after hearing the firing they might district Mr.Balasubramanyam said that “a The scene at the place of have escaped for safety. Greyhounds team searching Nekkanti are encounter The tribals who had gone for bringing a (a tribal hamlet) chanced upon some The incident of encounter took place down the dead bodies overheard the activity near Doraboyanipenta (another on Kodavatilanka hill situated between discussion among the greyhounds, and tribal hamlet) at 10 P.M on 23rd July 2006. Palutla villege and Nekkantipenta at a the same was informed to the team The Greyhounds team saw some pitched distance of 15 and 10KM. respectively. The members. The essence of conversation is tents and cooking arrangements. It opened team reached the scene on 26th July. The that ‘if the Maoists had been alert and used fire and the Maoists retaliated. The team found utensils, kit bags, medical kit the weapons there would have been more exchange of fire continued for one hour. and some articles scattered all over the causalities on the side of greyhounds.’ Police later searched the area and found place. By watching two ovens and the The DSP Mr. Ranganath also confirmed eight bodies lying scattered in a radius of substance in the bowels the team that a greyhound’s team consisting of 25 2k.m.The police further stated that ‘some understood that at the time of incident the members participated in the action and first of the Maoist leaders might have escaped squad members might have been involved fired at the women sentry. It appears that or died while fleeing for life’ The Home in cooking. About 20 steel plates of which there was no rapid fire from both the sides. Minister Mr. Janareddy while five were found damaged, and 30 to 50 kgs There might be some resistance from the congratulating the police, categorically of rice, some tea and milk powder packets Maoists. Since the Maoists just reached said that encounter killings are inevitable were found scattered on the ground. The and were settling down on the hill, the to maintain ‘law and order. team could observe torn out notebooks, greyhounds might have encircled the Disbelieving the version of the police letter pads and two documents relating to Maoists and fired pointedly. As per the the Human Rights organisations including Mahboobnagar and Nalgonda district injured Maoists only five of their comrades APCLC have condemned the incident and plenary meetings held in 2004. There were fell down to the bullets. The remaining described it as a fake encounter and fall four- sentry posts arranged to guard three might have been captured, tortured out of brutal strategy of ‘hot pursuit’ of themselves and to keep a watch on the and later killed by the greyhounds. Those Naxalites to wipe out the movement. police. The team members saw three bullet who had gone for fetching water might In the background of recent serial marks on the trunks of the trees and a blood have escaped immediately after hearing the encounter killings in the state, seriousness marks near the heliped. gunshots. of the present incident and the confusion From careful observation of the scene The DGP in his press brief told that about the death of state level leader of the one can reasonably infer that there was no they have good intelligence output and CPI (Maoist), a six member Fact Finding adequate arrangements for holding a state informer network to trace the movements Team (FFT) of APCLC inquired into the level meeting by the Maoists. As the of armed squads in the forest. The DGP incident and brought forth the following number of steel plates found at the place said with jubiliation that the greyhounds facts and circumstances regarding the is only 20 and the quantum of rice left may team has successfully completed the task. ‘encounter’. be sufficient for two or three days. The This implies that the police have been The team with great difficulty went Fact Finding team believes that 10 to 12 pursuing a policy of hunting down the inside the Nallamala forest and located the Maoists might have gathered there either Naxalites in the guise of encounters. exact place where the encounter took place. for a review of their programmes or to Based on the information gathered from During the course of inquiry the team conduct political classes. There was no the tribals, material at the site, the first hand members visited tribal hamlets in the forest evidence to indicate that the Maoists had information left by the injured Maoist with 14 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 the shepards, the team is of the opinion complained that the post-mortem, was Police have made all attempts to that police had a clear information of the conducted hurriedly, only two relatives are suppress the evidence. How can they movement of the armed squad, encircled it allowed to identify the body. The CD’s of collect CD’s, wireless sets, other and killed. There might be minimum the post-mortem were sealed and signed documents before the inquest? Any resistance from the Maoists. If the by the APCLC President, District Judge revenue officials do not endorse the greyhounds had maintained some restraint and sent to the High Court. amount of cash they recovered at the spot. they could have captured the victims alive. Indeed, it was an herculean task to bring Although the inquest has been conducted The intention is to kill the naxalites. the dead bodies and send them to the by the officers concerned, it is only the Flouting all legal procedures mortuary. First, the tribals protested to police announced the details of the articles In order to prevent the police from carry the dead bodies and later accepted and things at the scene of offence. Will violating all procedures of law and the afraid of future consequences. There was the police produce before the court the NHRC directions that are to be followed in unreasonable delay in identification and material that they have collected from the encounter killings, APCLC moved the High transporting the dead bodies. Five days scene! APCLC has filed a writ petitions on Court of AP and sought the following after the incident the relatives received the this extra judicial murders and it has come directions. dead bodies. They found it difficult to for hearing before a division bench. How 1. To preserve the dead bodies and identify their kith and Kin list of victims. the Honourable High Court responds and take necessary steps to preserve them from The list of the victims: what would be the wisdom of and judicial decomposition 1. Madav alias Burra Chinnaiah Goud mind of the court on this issue of blatant 2. To conduct post-mortem alias Sri Sailam, A.P. State Secretary, CPI violation of basic and fundamental right examination by the experts, shift the dead (Maoist). Karimnagar District. to life. bodies either to Osmania Medical Hospital, 2. Rajitha alias Suseela, Hyderabad. APCLC requests all the human rights Hyderabad or Medical Hospital, Guntur. 3. Vijaya Lakshmi alias Shyamalakka, organisations across the country to make 3. To handover the dead bodies to the Hyderabad. a voice against the extra judicial murders concerned relatives after proper 4. Ramesh alias Eswar, Anantapuram. and bring pressure on AP state identification. 5. Rama, Ardavedu Mandal, government to stop immediately the state 4. To prosecute the greyhounds or Lakshmipuram village, Prakasam District encouraged murders. . persons responsible for the encounter (Commander, Nallmalla Forest Division Write to the following killings under 302 IPC. Committee Secretary). 1. The Governor of Andhra Prudish, Raj The Honourable High Court responded 6. Nagamani - Julakallu Village, Bhavan, Raj Bhan Road, Hyderbad very favourably and directed the State Piduguralla Mandal, Guntur District Fax No- 040-23312650; E Mail- Government and concerned officials to (Squad member). governor @ap.nic.in perform post-mortem by the specialists, to 7. Uday Kumar alias Ramana, 2. Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy, identity and handover the dead bodies to Hyderabad. Chief Minister of Andhra Prades the relatives. This must be done in the 8. Kusuma alias Sangeetha - C.Block, A.P.Secretary, HYDERABAD presence of APCLC president Mr. Subhas Ramajipalli, Pedda Sankarapalli Mandal, Fax No- 040-23454828; Chandra Bose (petitioner), the district Mahaboobnagar District. [email protected] P M judge and the collector. APCLC President

Continued from page 10 does not carry any sense to them. “UN Millennium Development Goal of as they produce. its agrarian reform; They turn their deaf ear to the voice of reducing hunger by half – by 2015”. or rather, agrarian reform in reverse”. the people who demand for the So under cover of suitable slogans, as The very introduction of GE development of a free, independent dictated, they are introducing technology leads to disaster. It and self reliant path of progress. biotechnology to meet imperialist ensures more ruthless plunder and Though the word “sovereignty” is hunger for more exploitation and exploitation of MNCs – imperialist very common in the rulers’ vocabulary plunder. The fundamental causes are forces rendering devastation of and is used now and them, it does not not to be addressed by them. These country’s economy, environment and have any place in their hearts. These can only be addressed by peoples’ abject dependence on imperialists. It parties and their leaders do not have Govt. which emerges in the course of is an “agrarian reform in reverse”. But any regard to this land and the peoples struggle to build a new social who does bother for that? It is not countrymen. What they have in their system – a social system that ensures Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister mind is how promptly they can follow equitable distribution of social assets of India, nor his cabinet ministers. It the projects dictated by the and access to food as basic and is not the UPA, nor NDA and their imperialists, more particularly at fundamental rights. Dignity of the constituent parties. Nor even those present, the US imperialist Mr. people and sovereignty of the land can other multi-colored fronts who aspire Manmohan and Mr. Pawar, with great only be ensured by such a peoples’ to form govt. All are shameless. enthusiasm, have been peddling the Govt. P M Dignity and prestige of the country

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 15 Latin America: A Boiling Cauldron D.Rao atin America, better to say the invasions. These invasions literally which would have expanded the buying Lwhole of the American continent committed genocide of the indigenous power of the masses who were toiling in barring USA and Canada, is an extreme populations. The settlers took over the the fields, resulting in expansion of the local example of massive inhuman exploitation. fertile lands and the decimated Indian market and economic production. The Everywhere in the continent the local population were pushed into the highlands tussle between the progressive nationalist oligarchy representing ruling classes – i.e. and interiors or to serve as labour badly bourgeoisie and the comprador landowners, mine owners and comprador exploited and oppressed, on the lands, that bourgeoisie and Landlords was eventually bourgeoisie - colludes with Imperialist was once theirs .In North America the won by the later group and they Global Capital, making grotesque profits indigenous population almost got wiped established new bonds of subservience for themselves and their foreign masters. out by the civilized barbarians .In the with the emerging imperialist and capitalist In the fields and in the factories millions of south, barring Brazil, where the Portuguese powers of British and US imperialism who people are being ruthlessly exploited by colonizers settled, the Spanish emperor required the rich raw or semi processed them and the vast majority of the took control. The valiant indigenous products from the fields and mines of Latin countrymen are suffering from hunger, people of Latin America though they lost America. While, in the USA just the reverse living on the edge without work, without the initial battle, still did not completely happened. The industrialist progressive roofs, without health, without education. succumb to their enemy. The imperialist national bourgeoisie of the north was able While the resources of the continent are design to use indigenous people as slaves to defeat the export oriented Cotton getting drained continuously to inflate the was greatly jeopardized due to armed growers, Plantation owners, slave owners coffers of Multinationals and their local attacks by Indians and their desertion. and mine owners of the south and ushered cronies, the masses are being reduced to These events compelled the Colonizers to in the Capitalist path of growth. abject poverty. The last 20 years of practice import slave labor from Africa to toil in the The masses of Latin America were of neo-liberal economics not only fields and mines. deceived of the promises of liberation from increased the loot by global capital but At the time of the Napoleonic war in Imperialist rule. The control of political also made life more and more miserable for Europe, around 1810 A.D, both Spanish power by the ruling elite did not come the people of Latin America with increased and Portuguese control over their Latin smoothly. People’s rebellions, coups, mass austerity measures adopted by the American colonies got weakened and the upsurges throughout the 19th century all government of all hues. It is also to be kept emerging ruling classes of the big over the continent shows how in mind that these ruling classes of landlords, mine owners and export oriented courageously people fought against the landowners, mine owners, comprador comprador lumpen bourgeoisie in cronies of imperialism. bourgeoisie are hand in glove with collaboration with the progressive national Tentacles of Global Capital imperialism and are at the root of all bourgeoisie and exploited masses rebelled IMF-WB Policies problems of the Latin American people. against the metropolitan control of Spain They have driven the continent in the path and Portugal and almost the entire The structural adjustment programs of an export oriented economy where the continent freed herself from the shackles which was imposed in India in the 1990s total continent has been serving as a rich of retarding imperialist control of Spain and was applied and experimented long before resourceful hinterland for metropolitan Portugal. In the leadership of Simon in Latin America .The Chilean dictator capital. This is reflected in the net resource Bolivar, the Andean region of Bolivia, Pinochet after ousting the progressive transfer out of the Latin American and the Colombia and Venezuela got liberated from Salvador Allende in the 1973s implemented Caribbean region from 2000 to 2003 of Spanish rule in 1825. But the strong the Structural reform programs which gave 782,200,00,000 US dollars (Source: ECLAC, Nationalist dream of Simon Bolivar to immense maneuverability to foreign capital UN). These ruling classes are now integrate Latin America as a nation and get to dictate terms. In the 1980s and early 90’s confronting people’s unrest more and rid of North American imperial control when the military dictatorships of Latin more, and resorting to various means to remained unfulfilled. Independence from America drove the economies into a deep placate them. But the wretched people of the control of the Imperialist power did not debt trap and people’s movements were this continent are gradually realizing that initiate independent capitalist growth in the turning towards radical change on the “people’s rights are not begged for but are continent. The export oriented Comprador continent, it was impossible for the won in the struggle.” bourgeoisie in alliance with landlords and imperialists and comprador class to Historical perspective: mine owners opposed the economic operate through military dictatorships. They changed the form of government and The history of Latin America in the last policies which would encourage growth of allowed the new civilian regimes to come 500 years is the history of colonisation and local or national industries by guarding into being to sabotage the possibility of exploitation as well as valiant resistance them against cheap industrial import from radical change by deceiving the people of the masses against the oppressors. The Europe and North America. This ruling with the façade of democracy while they discovery of America in 1493 A.D by alliance also fiercely opposed kept economic, military, political control in Columbus was followed by European redistributionist land reform programs 16 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 the new governments. The hopes of the critical liberalization rules with respect to processing zones of Mexico. The increase people were belied, who saw puppet investment and investment protection, of women in the export processing zone military regimes being replaced by intellectual property rights and as well as workforce has decreased their wages comprador civilian regimes under the removal of trade tariff barriers for industrial almost 10% less than the men. Long facade of parliamentary democracy, and so and agri-products. The NAFTA working hours, sexual harassment, unsafe remained hostage to US and Global agreements ensured supreme investment and unhealthy working conditions, imperialism. The deep debt crisis actually protection to the investors. They could termination of jobs, and all the vices of helped the new civilian regimes and their demand compensation if change in capitalism are experienced by the foreign masters to justify the IMF, WB domestic policies, ranging from workforce in these export processing proposed austerity measures like: fiscal environment, health & food, safety zones. NAFTA also brought job loss to cuts, wage freez and retrenchment and regulations, result in “indirect the developed partners of the treaty. This other labour market reforms to decrease the expropriation” of the profit of the indicated greater appropriation of the bargaining power of the proletariat, investment. After almost 12 years of labour by capital. In the US the official privatization of public enterprises and de- implementation, NAFTA brought figure of NAFTA job loss is 5,25,000 in the nationalization of the resources. Far from enormous profits to this capital and misery first 10 years. ending future borrowing, these policies to the people of all the three countries. In This gloomy performance of NAFTA added to the enormous debt burden and Mexico, which is being sighted as the has awakened the Latin American people dependence of the region on Imperial success story of the free trade agreements and they had risen to the occasion by Capital. to the whole world by these imperialists, protesting rebelliously against the grand NAFTA Blues & FTAA:1994— according to UN Human development design of US imperialism to annex the total onwards the “Trade” doctrine report 2005: “In stark contrast to this Americas to its coffers through the “Free “Trade is the most certain path to export success story, economic growth per Trade Areas of the Americas” (FTAA) lasting prosperity” — George W. Bush, capita between 1990 and 2003 averaged treaty. Due to the valiant protest by the Summit of the Americas just over 1%. Real wages are stagnant, masses the head of states of the continent Mr. Bush spoke this half truth; certainly and unemployment is higher than at the did not dare set a firm date on the FTAA “Trade” proved to be the path of lasting start of the 1990s.” By importing which the US wanted to be set for 2005.The prosperity for the foreign investors and subsidized maize from the US lowering its failure on the part of the US to push their local collaborators and compradors; tariff down to 99%, Mexico had strangled through the FTAA negotiations did not not for the toiling farmers and workers who it’s own subsistence maize farmers for restrain it from signing free trade experience everyday their real income and whom the maize farming has become agreements with Chile, Colombia and Peru wages geting decreased due to economically unviable and it contributed while with Ecuador the talks are on. voluminous international trade crushing all to a 70% decrease in real income of the People’s Struggle rock the barriers. Mexican maize farmers and loss to continent agricultural employment was 1.3 to 1.85 After the end of the Cold War US The recent events in Latin America and million. “Agricultural export growth has imperialism tried to secure its firm control throughout the American continent have been concentrated in large irrigated on the Americas. Its target was to dismantle chilled the bones of the US and other commercial farms, while small farmers have all trade barriers from Alaska in the north imperialists, global finance capital and their had to adjust to increased import to the “Straits of Magellan” in the south. local collaborators. Massive people’s competition.”(UNDP-2005). As farming This would allow US imperialism to stake struggles throughout the continent became economically unviable, almost its claim on the natural resources, labour against the Free Trade Agreements with 1000 Mexicans are leaving rural Mexico resources and markets of the land, while USA, for equitable radical distribution of every day in search of jobs to the towns or keeping Japanese and European capital at land, demanding indigenous people’s as illegal immigrants to the US. The increase bay. To realize the Grand plan first they rights, nationalization of resources, against in manufacturing exports did not lead to a implemented the North American Free the malpractices and loot of multinationals, high technology boom in the country Trade Agreement (NAFTA) comprising of for sovereignty of the countries, scrapping because “half of the exports originate in US, Canada and Mexico in 1994. From the of IMF-WB sponsored policies and waiver the Maquiladora zone, where production very beginning the NAFTA was designed of IMF-WB debts have gained tremendous is dominated by simple assembly and re- to be heavily skewed in favor of US momentum, millions of people marched in export of imported components.” This agribusiness, industries and capital. The US in solidarity with the so called “illegal” dependence on low wage labour intensive US Govt did not decrease any subsidy migrants who are used as fodder to the manufacturing not only made the existence towards its large agribusinesses, which capitalist machinery to run the US of the “Maquiadoras” unsafe as foreign rendered their products very cheap in other Economy. Throughout Latin America the investment is sure to fly to the next low countries if trade barrier were removed and migrant movement got widespread support wage destination in the world but also, also was able to keep the protectionist among the masses who themselves are despite increased and sustained measures against import from Canada and fighting against imperialism and their local productivity by labour, real wages have Mexico intact. In spite of these uneven set cronies to maintain their day-to-day not increased as organized bargaining by of rules US was able to ram through very existence. the unions do not exist in the export PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 17 Ecuador: national emergency banning all democratic major supplier of coal, oil, to the US. The Ecuador saw a month long protest in rights in the constitution. Defying the US and British multinationals own and March ‘06 by the Indigenous community emergency 3000 protesters marched in operate huge mines in Colombia. Colombia and workers against the ongoing Free Quito on March 2003. But the leadership is also infamous for the drug trade, which Trade Agreement between the caretaker of CONAIE and Ecuarunari called off the was started by the US which has helped Ecuadorian Government of Alfredo Palacio protest on 23rd March and promised to be funding rightwing paramilitary groups, like and the US government. From March 13 back on the agitation path if the free trade the AUC. Colombia is the third highest indigenous Ecuadorians in the leadership deals are signed or the Government fails receiver of US military aid through Plan of Confederation of Indigenous to take appropriate action on their Colombia, sanctioned by Clinton and later Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) and the demands. under plan ‘Patriot’ designed by Bush. The Confederation of the Peoples of Kichua It is to be remembered that the Colombian government is getting money Nationality of Ecuador (Ecuarunari) began rebellious masses of Ecuador like their fight against drugs and “Terrorism”, a a national mobilization against the Andean Bolivian counterparts compelled the last favourite label of the imperialists and their Free Trade Agreement and the bilateral free president Lucio Gutierrez, who got elected cronies to stamp on any rebel organisation trade agreement with USA which Colombia on radical promises and did a volte face that dares to defy their dictate. Uribe, the and Peru have already signed .The shamelessly and embraced neoliberal current president, elected in a fraudulent protesters demanded that the government policies and friendship of Bush, to step election in 2002, started dialogue with Left should make public whatever they have down, and he had to flee his presidential wing Revolutionaries, but armed with negotiated in the free trade agreements till palace by helicopter. Just some months renewed US help backtracked from the now and stop the negotiation and call for back the people’s movement forced the dialogue and lifted the ceasefire by a country wide referendum. They also Ecuadorian legislature to frame a bill which attacking rebel positions. But FARC-EP, strongly demanded that election for a will empower the state to renegotiate all which almost control one third of the constituent assembly be conducted which the contracts with the foreign multinational country, gave a befitting reply to the will draft a new constitution for the country. oil companies who are reaping enormous oppressors and their army. Especially from The protesters were also demanding that profits due to the high prices of crude and 2005 they achieved several important the government should cancel its contract petro-products in the international market. victories, which have certainly demoralised with Occidental Petroleum, a US The economy minister has proposed a new the oppressors. More repression over the multinational Oil company as Ecuadorian oil law which will increase the common masses actually increased the officials have alleged that Occidental broke government’s share of windfall oil revenue resolve of the masses in opposing the ruling the law six years ago when it failed to report from an average 30% to 50%, but the classes and their armies. The US govt along the transfer of a 40 per cent share in its legislature are for a 60% revenue. The US with the Colombian govt is trying to paint operating concession to EnCana of oil giant Occidental has threatened to take FARC-EP like a drug trafficking Canada. The energy minister of Ecuador legal action against the government if the organisation but correlation of drug was not able to take a decision to scrap new oil law is passed because the new law trafficking with FARC-EP operation has the contract with Occidental due to will violate contracts signed between 1992- never been established. Whereas the US tremendous pressure by US imperialism. 2002. has openly supported paramilitary groups The protesters demanded that Ecuador A prelude to the struggle against FTA, like AUC who not only have a very dismal should neither be a part of the US 4000 contract workers shut down human rights record but also actively made sponsored Plan Colombia nor should it production in 12 Oil fields of Petroecuador, huge money from drug trade; and Mr Uribe allow its territory to be used by the US/ the state run oil company, in the Amazon the spineless President of Colombia has Colombian army for implementing their provinces of Napo, Orellana and given soft treatment to the paramilitaries terror program. Sucumbios on March 8 demanding who have agreed to lay down their arms in The demonstration started in 14 of the payment of their three month’s salary which return for reduced prison sentences for 22 Ecuadorian provinces along with capital was not paid by the contractors. Army crimes including massacres and torture. Quito. Thousands of protesters took part soldiers used tear gas and bombs to eject Recently the Colombia government of in marches, road blockades and the strikers from several oil company sites. Uribe has signed a free trade treaty with demonstrations which increased day by They ended their strike on March 12 only the US which will lower all tariffs on US day and saw the resignation of the interior after promises by the Ecuadorian imports in Colombia and it is feared that minister of the interim caretaker government to release their payments. 2.5 million Colombians will be jobless if government, Alfredo Castillo after publicly Colombia: highly subsidized US agricultural imports stating that the protesters “are right” to In Colombia rebellious masses under enter the Colombian markets. demand that the TLC (The Spanish the leadership of leftist revolutionaries Mexico: acronym for Andean Region Free trade FARC-EP, EPL and ELN are waging a war In the market of San Salvador Texcoco agreement) negotiations be “much clearer.” against the proxy army of the US, the on 3rd and 4th May local flower vendors As the movement gained nationwide Colombian army, rightwing paramilitary and residents who were organized under momentum and severity on 21st March, 06 groups, private army and security agencies the banner of the People’s Front in the the caretaker president announced a of foreign multinationals. Colombia is a Defense of the Land (FPDT), were

18 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 demonstrating against the city mayor’s the EZLN has not taken any military crisis the colonial government is trying to decision of handing over the local flower initiative and now-a-days their impose more stringent austerity measures market to private parties to erect “Wal communiqué is stressing of civil society and in fact started imposing increased Mart” like departmental stores .The police initiative against injustices. The EZLN is utility rates and tuition hikes in the brutally attacked the demonstrators on 3rd touring the country to organize various universities, pressured public employees May and in the police brutality one 14 year oppressed sections of the society and to take early retirement in recent months. old boy was killed. 40 protestors were broad masses to start a countrywide mass As sugar coating, it also approved a new arrested. On 4th May, residents and upsurge to demand a Constituent onetime 5% tax on corporations with adjoining Atenco also started protesting Assembly Election. Though EZLN did not earnings of more than $10 million. in solidarity with the Texcoco residents and take part or support any candidate in the On May 9 2005 the electrical workers the police again came down heavily on the last Mexican presidential election it also union UTIER, the Teachers Federation of protesters and arrested a total of 190 people did not boycott the election. The militant Puerto Rico, and other unions held a in two days. A nation wide protest is zeal, tactics and politics is somehow demonstration on the docks of San Juan, continuing in Mexico against the Vincent missing from the old revolutionary EZLN blocking access to a large cruise ship. In Fox government to demand the release of whose communiqués are increasingly the cities of Mayagüez and Ponce, the prisoners. 20 Mexican organizations using the word “civil society” and “civil unionists held mass pickets at shopping along with EZLN, the Zapatista rebels, society initiatives” and deviating towards malls called for a protest day on May 19th and a a post modernist type of ideology which Brazil: massive rally in Mexico City is planned on will only cheer and assist the ruling classes On April 16 2005, 400 families, organized th 28 May for the release of the prisoners. to maintain their hegemony. by the Rural Landless workers Movement The valiant struggle of Atenes Puerto Rico: in Brazil (MST is the local acronym), peasants is still fresh in the memory of the Puerto Rico, a Caribbean country, which invaded the 600-hectare (1,480-acre) countrymen. The peasants fought is still a colony of the USA, though the plantation owned by Suzano Papel e heroically to stop a plan of the Mexican people of Puerto Rico don’t have Celulose SA in Teixeira de Freitas,the president Vincent Fox to build an Airport democratic rights to choose the US biggest pulp and paper company in Latin in Atenco capturing 5,000 hectares of president, is an example of how profound America , located 1,000 kilometers (620 communal ejedo land. In July 2002 the is the so called democratic mission of US miles) northeast of Sao Paulo. They peasants armed with machetes and government! uprooted about 200,000 eucalyptus organizing militantly barricaded the town Tens and thousands of workers in saplings and built temporary shacks in the of Atenco for three days after the military Puerto Rico have marched and picketed to land ignoring Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, police stooped down heavily on their protest the layoff of 95,000 public which says that the unproductive land may th peaceful demonstration on July 11 2002. employees in 2005, except those related to be expropriated as long as the owner is The insurrectionary masses rose to the safety, health and essential services, compensated. On April 28th the rebellious occasion and fought pitched battles with including 40-45 thousand teachers that landless peasants moved from the Molotov cocktails and machetes with the began on May 1st. On that day the colonial occupied land after they were assured by police, took 19 local government administration of Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, the government of distribution of land to authorities hostage, barricaded the town, claiming it had run out of money and them but vowed to come back to the burnt down cars. For three days the town having a budget deficit of $750 million shut plantation if their demands are not met. was under control of the masses and the down public schools affecting 6,00,000 The pulp and paper company cultivates Fox government was forced to abandon students and many other government 1,84,000 hectares of eucalyptus trees in the its plan to build an Airport on communal agencies across the island. To protest the continent. On March 27 in Para state the land with foreign investment. looming layoffs, many unions organized a military police forcibly evicted 600 families Almost 12 years back, on the eve of march in San Juan the capital of the island belonging to the MST from an 1994, guerrillas streamed into four towns on April 28 that drew 50,000. On May Day, encampment on the Rio Vermelho estate in of Chiapas. In the week long battles that several thousand people rallied in pouring Sapucaia municipality. The Quagliato ensued Mexican troops massacred more rain, including contingents from the group had illegally appropriated the estate. than 100 (unofficially 400) persons, the unions of electrical workers, teachers, and Angered by the eviction, some 800 families guerrillas who called themselves the non-teaching university employees. from an encampment in Lourival Santana Zapatista National Liberation Army The government has used the layoffs blocked the PA 150 highway near Eldorado (EZLN) retreated into the forests on the and shutdown of public services to force dos Carajas, and occupied a property borders of Guatemala. The rebels refused through the first consumer sales tax in known as the Peruvian estate. Brazil’s to bow down under military pressure. On Puerto Rico’s history as the Senate voted Movement of Small Farmers (MPA) held a January 12 a cease-fire was declared. The to impose a 5.9 percent sales tax on May national campaign of mobilizations from rebellion was a protest against the North 4th to generate revenue to pay for the March 27-30, with nearly 10,000 people American Free Trade Association workers wage. In a way the ruling classes participating in actions in 14 states against (NAFTA), which was scheduled to be tried to shift their failure of economic big agribusiness interests and in defense st forced from 1 January 1994. Since then polices on the masses. Using the budget of campesino agriculture. Actions included

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 19 marches, road blockades, demonstrations resulted in several people being injured and hunger strike against the draconian Anti and debates arrested. terror Law of Chile after the senators th The MST, on April 17 2006 observed Haiti: assured them of action to repeal the law the 10th anniversary of the day in 1996 and working on their parole. (Reuters, 16th The democratically elected president of when the Military Police fired at some 1,500 May) The four were sentenced to a 10-year Haiti, Aristide, who was elected in 1990 with MST members who were marching on the imprisonment in 2004. Mapuche Indians, a huge margin, had been overthrown PA-150 highway in Eldorado dos Carajas, the largest indigenous group in the within seven months by a coup by the Para state. The military police killed 19 country is struggling against the large Haitian army, who were faithful to the protesters and wounded 69 others. The commercial agricultural plantations, which previous military dictator. In 1994 when rural landless farmers organized under the are encroaching upon their forests and Astride came back to power he disbanded banner of MST intensified their activities destroying their way of life and livelihood. the Haitian army. Astride was re-elected in throughout April 2006. The Mapuche Indians are continuously 2000 with a huge margin and in 2004 he Landless rural workers and peasants waging battle against the plantations by was again overthrown by a coup planned united under the banner of MST, which is occupying land, burning plantation trees by the US in collaboration with the French one of the biggest landless peasant’s and destroying the infrastructures. The government. The disbanded Haitian army movemenst in the continent, from fascist regime of Augusto Pinochet officials with US help attacked the poorly the1980s, are occupying the unproductive enacted the law in 1990 to curb people’s armed Haitian police who were loyal to lands of the big landlords and have protests and the ‘democratic’ government Astride, and these contras in collaboration distributed those lands among the landless of the ruling classes, which is running the with the local US ambassador kidnapped peasants. MST supported the Workers country from the end of the dictatorship, Astride to the Republic of Central Africa. Party Presidential candidate Lula in the last is using it against the same people who The country was taken over by the US, presidential election in Brazil hoping to get revolted against the dictator to end his French and Canadian peace-keeping forces an equitable radical distribution of land to regime. The Chilean president Bachelet who chose a puppet regime and handed the landless peasants of Brazil. But got who once was imprisoned by the fascist over the peace keeping of Haiti to a UN disillusioned in the self proclaimed military regime and a victim of state sponsored Peace Keeping Force socialist president who not only terrorism has declined to give a presidential constituted of ‘Revolutionary’ Lula’s Brazil committed an U-turn and embraced neo- pardon to the hunger strikers. and ‘Socialist’ Chile. But constant people’s liberalism but also colluded with ruling Bachelet, the latest heart throb of the movements and mobilization for fresh elites of big landords, ranch owners and “army of uncritical left cheerleaders”, the elections forced the UN to conduct Agribusinesses to supress the activities adjective used by James Petras, a longtime elections in Haiti and in February 2006. of the MST. The Lula government did not Latin American analyst, has vowed to The CEP or the Interim Election implement its avowed moderate target of “walk the same road” as the former Commission of Haiti tried to manipulate the distribution of land to the landless socialist president, Ricardo Lagos. Lagos counting, as the Popular Candidate Rene peasants. And his so-called socialist not only supported and implemented neo- Preval had got more than 52% of the vote, government’s record is poorer than the liberal policies but also signed a free trade by counting the invalid 8% votes against previous reactionary government. agreement with US and repressed people’s Preval. When the CEP was not declaring On April 2, 2006 nearly 1,500 members movement within the country. the result the people took to the streets of Brazil’s Movement of Dam-Affected protesting against the undemocratic action Bolivia: People (MAB) and other organizations of the Election Commission it was forced Bolivia has seen rebellious social demonstrated at the Minas Gerais Energy to announce the result. Haiti is the poorest upheaval in very recent past when people Company (Cemig) in Belo Horizonte, country in the western hemisphere and 1% of Bolivia rejected the neo-liberal capital of Minas Gerais state. On April 1, of the population control half of the globalization and privatization of natural 3000 people took part in a march for water, country’s wealth and the country has a resources of the country, which has energy and sovereignty for Brazilian long revolutionary tradition of Toussaint impoverished the common masses while people in Belo Horizonte, supporting 7 L’Ouverture a black slave who organized increased the wealth of ruling classes and activists who were on hunger strike from the masses to overthrow the colonial their foreign masters. Bolivia, the country 31st march .The protesters were protesting regime and establish the Haitian republic named after the legendary Simon Boliver, against the energy prices in Minas Gerais 200 years ago. is rich in natural resources. It has enormous state which are highest in Brazil and the Chile: natural gas reserves second only to masses who use less electricity have to Venezuela in the continent, even-then it is Thousands of Chilean workers pay more than the industrial corporations. one of the poorest countries in the marched in the capital on May Day and The protesters objected against the continent. People of Bolivia have organized some militant section of the marcher’s privatization policies of the Inter American strong social movements, developed attacked and ransacked the symbols of US Development Bank, which is the major unions and fought against injustice. imperialism, some MNC showrooms and financer of the hydro electric projects. The In April 2000, the indigenous and non offices and banks. military police of Brazil carried out a string indigenous Bolivians in Cochabamba were Three Mapuche Indian prisoners and of repressive measures against the successful in stopping the privatization of protesters from March 31st to April 4 which one of their supporters ended a 62 day 20 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 the local water supply by a consortium of and gas resources by Morales was cheered supported the repeal of amnesty laws multinationals led by the US company by millions of Bolivians and created fear protecting military officers. But it was the Bechtel and the project designed by the among foreign multinationals operating in same Kirchner who has been collaborating WB by organizing street protests and the country and imperialists, his mid May with the US in many spheres. blockades. The French giant Suez tried to announcement of land redistribution was Electoral Scenario and it’s reap profits from the privatization of water a clear sign of non confrontational path impact on peoples movement resources and supply in 2005, but the with the land owning magnets of the The massive people’s movements have courageous masses of El Alto evicted the Bolivian society when he ruled out mass turned into a giant social movement from company in 2005. In February 2003, 34 expropriation and instead proposed for below and pervade the entire continent of Bolivians were killed in a protest against redistribution of 5 million hectares (12.36 Latin America. These are against imperialist income tax increase suggested by the IMF. million acres) of state-owned property to onslaught and exploitation, particularly, In October 2003 people rose in thousands indigenous groups and then identify against the U.S. imperialist. People’s against the president Gonzalo Sanchez de unproductive private land for possible demand and movements are creating a Lozada’s decision of privatization of the redistribution. According to a UN report massive pressure on the socialists, social– rich natural gas resources of Bolivia. 60 of October 2005,100 families control over democrats, parliamentary communists and protesters were killed. Street protests and 25 million hectares of land while 2 million other ruling class parties under the garb of blockades increased in reaction to the Campesino families have 5milion hectares ‘leftists’ to at least temporarily declare a barbaric action of the government troops of land in Bolivia. pro people stand to defuse the people’s and the protesters called for resignation Argentina: unrest and save the existing system. Haiti of the president. On October 19th 2003, Argentina suffered a devastating saw the victory of Rene Perval, a close Lozada had to resign, vice president Carlos financial crisis in 2001 due to the associate of Aristide (the former elected Mesa took the presidential post and aggressive implementation of neo-liberal president who was ousted by US backed arranged a countrywide referendum on the economics from the 1990s under the contras in 2004) and in Bolivia the victory gas resource issue on July 2004. But the leadership of President Carlos Menem. The of Evo Morales came after almost ayear referendum did not have the option of pundits of neo-liberal economics in the long protest by the rebellious masses. In nationalization of the gas resources. So pursuit of maximizing loot for imperialist Chile the socialist party (which was part of street protests across the country capital, controlling inflation and the ruling coalition) candidate Michelle increased day by day and in March 2005 privatization of public assets made the Bachelet the former defence minister of the Mesa resigned from the presidential post. country’s economy fragile. In 2001 the previous government won the presidential Evo Morales, the indigenous leader of county’s economy collapsed with a election and vowed to follow the footstep MAS (Movimiento al Socialismo : collapse of the peso and of the domestic of the previous socialist president Lagos Movement towards Socialism) was elected credit system and the economy slipped into who signed a free trade treaty with the president in December 2005 after his a deep slump with a 20% fall in GDP in the USA. In Brazil Lula da Silva won a second promises of nationalization of natural next year. Income distribution became worse term in the October, 2006 election deceiving resources like oil and petroleum reserves and poverty rates doubled within a year. the masses with pro-people vocabulary. In and forests, scrapping of the neo-liberal The banking institutions collapsed and it Nicaragua the Sandinesta leader and model imposed by the IMF–WB on Bolivia, was one of the worst nightmares of the former Marxist Daniel Ortega blessed by radical redistribution of lands to the capitalist economists. Lifelong savings of the Church, flanked by a former contra as landless and securing rights of the pensioners evaporated in just days and his Vice President won the presidency indigenous farmers to cultivate coca which thousands of people took to the streets election of Nov., 06. His ‘left’ image helped is endangered by the current war on drugs protesting against the neo-liberal policies him to come back as he pledged to promote by the US . and the crisis created by the IMF-WB duo. the private sector and build on free trade But Morales, a son of the soil, who The mass protests and popular uprising agreements. Rafael Correa, a leftist organized Movement towards Socialism forced six governments to change within a economist won the presidency in the and also was the president of the Coca few months. In 2003 the ‘left-leaning’ recently completed election in Ecuador. Mr. grower’s union, was not as radical in his Néstor Kirchner took office in Argentina Correa, during his campaign called for actions and convictions as he was in his and ensured the protesting masses that he Ecuador to cut ties with World Bank and speeches. At the height of the 2003 would bargain hard with the IMF and other IMF, and also pledged to institute ‘Citizens’ popular uprising in Bolivia demanding the International creditors. The country revolution’. While in Mexico parliamentary nationalization of resources Morales was threatened to default with it’s payment to left supported candidate Lopez Obrador of in Geneva attending meetings on IMF and it’s threat forced the IMF to back the Democratic Revolutionary Party was parliamentary politics hobnobbing with the away from its demands for increased defeated by just 0.5%. In protest of ruling elite of Europe. austerity measures and higher interest massive manipulation in vote counting Morales is walking on a path that is rates in the country’s economy and thousands of people took the streets and non-confrontational with the ruling land Argentina was able to renegotiate it’s over Mr. Obrador pledged to head a govt. that owning classes and comprador businesses 100 Billion USD foreign debt to a of the country. Though the May first significantly reduced value. Kirchner has Continued on page 13 announcement of the nationalization of oil PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 21 Women’s Genuine Revolutionary Empowerment (The example of Soni, vice-president of a Revolutionary People’s Government in Dandakaranya) Dear readers, visit the surrounding villages. She with my physical situation. So I did not organized many women into the have the medicine. I asked my sister would like to tell you the story I of a woman. She is not an organization. As an activist of the for something to eat. Inside I was educated woman. She is born into an women’s organization, she could fight thinking what to do. I was with a strong adivasi family. Her name is Soni. She against the patriarchal customs in the doubt that the police might come. is a revolutionary. Not an ordinary society. She got a better understanding I ate with difficulty and rested. The revolutionary. She is the vice president about the forces behind the customs, thoughts continued. Contemplating, I of an Area level ‘janathana Sarkar’ behind their living condition and so on. went near the door. I heard the sound (Revolutionary People’s Government) She also learnt politics. She learnt to of motor cycles and saw the police in Dandakaranya. read and write. coming. I immediately went back to the Soni’s mother died when she was Her father did not object to her bed, covered myself with a blanket and still young. She was trying to separate activities. But later when the police slept. The police stopped in front of the two groups fighting with each other knew about her, he was apprehensive. house and came inside. My sister was when she was hit in the stomach. She He started objecting. But Soni did not stunned. died after 24 hours. They did not take bother about her father’s fears. The police enquired about me. They her to the hospital because that was By the time her responsibilities in asked why I was sleeping. My sister told not in practice at that time. She could the organization increased, her sisters I was not well. They talked to me not be treated in any other manner too. grew up. So she could spend less time directly. They asked me to get up. I said The whole family could do nothing but in household work. I cannot. I told them that I was given watch her struggle to live and the final In 1998 – ’99 it was decided to recruit injections and that due to the effect I death. her into the squad. Just before joining was unable to stand. They said, “Sir is The mother left behind Soni, her the squad she developed illness. She calling. You come and see him. You can younger brother and three younger had to go to the hospital. It took one be back immediately”. sisters. They were brought up by their whole year to overcome the illness. After I told them I would come at 4’ o clock father and grandmother. Being the she recovered, the squad asked her to in the evening. But they insisted. I eldest, Soni had a responsibility join them. But her father told her to stay thought going with them is inevitable. I towards the family. for some time and to join the squad after told the woman comrade accompanying Her village was one of those which 2 – 3 years. She too had second me to return and pass the information the revolutionary movement visited thoughts. She thought she would stay to my village. Since we talked in the right from the time of its entrance into home. But the squad commander used local language the police could not this area. Soni used to see the squad to always discuss the situation and the understand. I went along with them. since her childhood. Her father used prospects of joining them. They took me to the SI at the police to attend the activities. But at that Soni had an experience with the station. Two of my relatives initial period women were not allowed police. She was deceived and picked accompanied me. While going I told my to go to the meetings or to meet the up by the police. Let us now the story younger sister to tell the police whatever squad. Moreover she was a child. But from her voice: I tell them, if she was questioned. If I the situation gradually changed. Four years after this, as a part of did not speak, I told her not to speak. She was very much interested in my treatment I saw a doctor. I was The SI interrogated. He told me my songs. Even now she is enthusiastic accompanied by my elder sister and one original name and asked the details. He to sing songs. So the squad used to of my women comrades. The doctor wanted to know which squad I belong take her along with them to perform. gave me 4 injections. I was suspicious to, how many members were there in Soni crossed childhood. By that why he was giving so many injections the squad and where the squad moves. time the Kranthikari Adivasi Mahila at a time. This did not happen in the It was a marathon interrogation. At one Sanghatan (KAMS), (the women’s earlier treatment. The effect of time they even threatened to give me organization in Dandakaranyam) was injections started showing. There was electric shocks. They put me in that formed in her village. Naturally she heavy sweating. I could not stand. I room. became a member in the organization. could not sit. I could not move. But all through, I maintained a Soni was active in the organization. I came to my sister’s house with different name and place. I told them I After a while she became a member great difficulty. The doctor gave me was innocent and that I did not know in the Range Committee of the three tablets and told me to take them anything about the party. They tried to organization. after I go home. My sister was insisting lure me. They asked me to tell at least Her activity continued. As a member that I should take them, thinking I would that I was a member of the party. I did of the Range Committee she used to become better. She did not doubt the not admit that. I continued the story I doctor. But my suspicion only increased told them before. 22 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 It was the time when talks were onwards I started working whole time in In this land the women of the village do going in between the Naxalite party and the Party. all the work. This proved in practice that the government in Andhra Pradesh. The Now Soni is working in the nothing would happen if women sow police started discussing what to do with Janathana Sarkar (revolutionary seeds. me. Though they had specific people’s government). Initially she was Now Soni feels women must be information about me, they now had a the president of the Sarkar in the village. involved more in the Sarkar and in all doubt whether it was correct or not. In Now she is the vice-president of the its departments. She also feels the the present political atmosphere, they area level Sarkar. She has been in this importance of a residential school apart did not take the risk to kill me in an field of work for such a long time that from the 10 – 12 village level schools ‘encounter’. They were not ready to face she has very clear opinions about how under the people’s government. She any problem from their higher ups. the people’s government should be and said the party is thinking in these lines. Meanwhile, one of my brothers, a how it could improve. Agricultural committees are to be made panchayat member came to the police The people’s government is multi purposeful, she said. station. He too told I was innocent. The changing the society in more than one Coming to the participation of police told him that they suspect that I way. Agriculture is the main aspect of women, she said that women were would return and join the naxalites. My people’s lives. The people’s government increasingly being recruited in the party. brother assured them that if I join the brought a great change in agriculture. They are in the militia and the cultural naxalites he could be arrested. They left It brought the people into collective organization mostly. There are four me after 24 hours. tilling. It taught them irrigation. It women in the Sarkar where Soni is My brother brought me back to my developed fish culture. It developed the working, out of the total 12. sister’s house. He told me that the mode of production. Basing on this it Dear readers, brought change in all the fields of the doctor is not reliable and that he This is the spirit of the Revolutionary people’s life. This change developed deceived me with the injections. He movement. It is the spirit of the more political consciousness in soni advised me to leave the place Revolutionary women’s movement. too. immediately and go to my village. I went Come and see the women in One of the great achievements is to back home. struggle in Dandakaranya. Come and break the age old customs regarding Later the squad met me and see the revolutionary movement. Come women too. One of the tribes does not discussed the situation. I thought it was and exchange your opinions and allow women to sow seeds. So to fight high time I joined full time. The police experiences with them. This is the main back this custom the local people’s would not allow me to work. Then stream of the society there. government allotted land to the women. P M

Eventhough People’s March is a Registered Newspaper we had to send People’s Maech to bulk subscribers in West Bengal by Regd. Book Packet containing Printed Books. Now we are rceiving complaints over phone that the December 2006 issue posted on 16th Dec 2006 and the Jan 2007 issue posted on 2nd Jan 2007 as Regd. Book Packet were undelivered. Single copy and bulk subscribers are requested to send written complaints to the Editor of People’s March regarding non delivery of People’s March to enable us proceed further legally. As the intensity of struggles advances we have to face more such interferences by the reactionary state. We suggest the readers to help speedy translation & printing of the People’s March in local languages to overcome such interferene by the reactionary state. Editor

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PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 23 Continued from page 28 considered imperialism the main source and Muslims which compelled all the lakh peasants were compelled to commit of loot, disturbance and wars of revolutionary forces to think over this suicide. And when peasants, workers and exploitation of people and of nations. question. other sections of society struggle for This definition of imperialism by Bhagat Bhagat Singh wrote an essay their rights then they are dealt with Singh is very near to the scientific “Religion and Our Freedom Struggle” batons and bullets and their unity is understanding of it. in May 1928 and it was published in the disrupted through religious frenzy, On the Character of Indian magazine “Kirti”. And after that in June casteism and regionalism. Capitalists 1928 another essay “Communal-Riots It is evident, that in this age of capital There is a lot of debate going on about and its remedy” was written. At last, the imperialist globalisation and the character of Indian capitalists Bhagat Singh in reply to the questions exploitation, the ideas of Bhagat Singh amongst the revolutionary circles. Some of Bhai Randhir Singh of the Gadar Party are quite relevant. It has become the organisations and parties consider it as (who was also in the jail along with immediate responsibility of revolutionary a free capitalist class and some divide it Bhagat Singh at that time), wrote an organisations to know his ideas and take into two parts comprising comprador and important document, “Why I am an light from them, particularly, regarding national capitalists. Accordingly, some Atheist?” on 5-6 October, 1930. He imperialism, religious blind faith, take it as an ally of imperialism and also questioned the existence of God in these communalism, caste oppression, take it as depended capitalists. But essays. He described that belief in God terrorism, on the character of the Indian Bhagat Singh and his comrades had long is the result of mysticism, and mysticism rulers and emancipation of the people, ago recognised it as one who is ever is the natural product of mental poverty. for the founding of a revolutionary party ready to strike a bargain with and to bow He questioned the religious teachers as and the need of revolution, and down before the imperialists at any such: “By being omnipotent why does regarding methodology of revolutionary moment. It has been very clearly stated your God not end injustice, cruelty, struggles and the role of the in the declaration of the “Hindustan hunger, poverty, exploitation, slavery, revolutionary classes. Now let us have a Socialist Republic Association” (which violence and war?” He repeated many a look at some of his fundamental views. was mainly written by Bhagwati Charan times the quotation of Marx—Religion On imperialism Vohra) that the condition of the working is opium for the masses. He alleged that Although, Bhagat Singh in many of class of India is very grave; it is facing the religious teachers and the politicians his writings and statements has danger from both sides. On the one hand, instigate the communal riots for their mentioned about the repressive from foreign capital, and on the other, vested interests. He blamed the print character of British imperialism, but in from the deceitful attacks of Indian media also that by writing sensational context of the Lahore Conspiracy Case capitalism. Indian capitalism is daily articles they give a push to the communal before the Special Tribunal, a statement making many alliances with foreign feelings and cause personal enmity. As was given on May 5, 1930, defining capital. Accepting the dominion status a remedy of this he stressed upon clearly what is imperialism. It was for India by some of the politicians also keeping religion away from politics; he mentioned that imperialism is nothing justifies this approach. Indian capitalists further said that if religion is kept apart but a great conspiracy of robbery. It is a deceive the Indian masses and want to from politics then all of us can come climax of exploitation of man by man and have some share in the government on together on politics. We can unite of a nation by another nation. To fulfil the basis of mistrust for the Indian together in spite of practising different their interests and to complete their people. And in fact, in 1947, Tata and religions. He had a firm view that when agendas for exploitation, the imperialists Birla and the like of big capitalists and religion intermingles with politics, then not only overlook the judiciary or the their political representatives it becomes a killing venom that keeps on laws but organise grave massacres collaborated with the landlords, and by gradually destroying the living organs through wars of aggression. They breaching the trust of the Indian masses of a nation; cause quarrel between commit dreadful crimes. In the garb of accessed to state power. brothers, discourages the masses, blurs maintaining peace, they destroy peaceful On Religious Fanaticism and the vision of the masses, makes it difficult systems. While critically pointing to the Communalism to identify the real enemy, weakens the British imperialism it is noted that “the Religious fanaticism and dogmatism fighting spirit of the masses and as such British government that has been has played a great hurdle in the national makes a nation a helpless prey of imposed on the helpless and disagreeing liberation movement. The British, by imperialist conspiracies of aggressive Indian nation is a gang of criminals, spreading religious fanaticism, sufferings. When Babri Masjid is dacoits and robbers that has organised instigated communal riots and demolished in our country under the nose all kinds of forces to murder the people fragmented the unity of the masses. After of the state power and Gujarat massacres and to devastate them. In the name of the carnage of Jallianwala Bagh in 1919, are organised then the relevance of maintaining law and order, it destroys the British government promoted Bhagat Singh’s above mentioned point any opposition to its rule or those who communal riots on a massive scale. comes to mind. expose its secrets.” It is quite clear by Particularly, in Kohat in 1924, terrible and On Caste Oppression these lines that Bhagat Singh inhuman riots took place among Hindus On caste oppression Bhagat Singh

24 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 has described his views under the On Terrorism failure. In the beginning it was of some heading “Problems of Untouchability”. From many political corners it had use. It brought an entire change in the This article was published in “Kirti” in been alleged that Bhagat Singh and his politics; it sharpened thoughts of young 1928. Scheduled castes were addressed comrades were terrorists. Even MK intellectuals, rendered a burning form as Achhute (untouchables) in those days Gandhi, like the British government, to the feelings of self-sacrifice and got a and they were not allowed to take water considered them as terrorists. That is why chance to express the truth and strength from the wells. Their entry in the temples he did not stress upon cancelling the of their movement before the world and was also banned, and untouchability death sentence of Bhagat Singh and his their enemies. But this is not enough in was practised against them. He strongly comrades. Gandhi, on the contrary, at the itself. The history of this (terrorism) is opposed such type of inhuman and time of the ‘Gandhi –Irvin-Pact’, signed the history of failures in all the countries discriminating conduct of the upper on 5th March 1931, advised the viceroy –France, Russia, Germany, Spain— castes, particularly the classical to carry out the death punishment before everywhere the same story.” From this it Brahmins. He questioned: “when you the Karachi Conference of the Congress is evident indication that Bhagat Singh even refuse to offer water to a person, Party. And the British hanged them a day was not a terrorist but a revolutionary, when you do not allow them to study in before the opening of the Karachi who had definite thoughts and a school then what right do you have to Conference. The next day, that is, on 24th objectives and a long standing program demand for your own right.” He was March 1931, before leaving for Karachi, for revolution. referring to a statement made by Noor ‘the advocate of non-violence’, the It is apparent that even today the true Mohammed, a member of the Bombay Mahatma released a press-note—”in my followers of Bhagat Singh, i.e., the Council. While objecting to the conduct own opinion, because of the death Naxalites, who have been declared by the of untouchability, he pointed out, “a dog sentence of Bhagat Singh and his Indian and American governments as can sit in our lap, and roams freely in comrades our strength has increased.” “Terrorists” are being tortured, our kitchen. But a man touches us, and In this statement he asked the youth “not assassinated and killed in many ways. see, the religion gets corrupted.” He was to support their path”. But the populace They are being eliminated in fake greatly disturbed when Muslim and of the country particularly the youth encounters to crush the movement which Hindu politicians, in fulfilment of their strongly opposed the death sentence is going on under their leadership. Along political ends, started dividing the and showed black flags to Gandhi in with the ordinary police and paramilitary untouchables on the basis of religion and Karachi cursing him through slogans. forces and special commando forces, the then by converting them into Muslims Bhagat Singh has given a befitting air force is also being put into operation. or Christians and started increasing their reply (on his being alleged as a terrorist) The ‘crime’ of these people is only that religious base. He gave a clear cut call to in his various statements, the pamphlet they, like Bhagat Singh, want to change the community—”Organise yourself and thrown in the assembly hall, and in the entirely the system based on social challenge the whole society on your own statements given during the trial in the injustice. accord, then you will see that nobody session and high court regarding On the Use of Violence will dare not to give you your rights. Assembly Bomb Case. And also, in a In the Indian liberation movement a Do not be fodder for others and do not piece named “A Manuscript of serious debate took place between look towards others.” But along with Revolutionary Program”, Bhagwati Gandhi and Bhagat Singh and his that, he warned against the rulers—”Do Charan Vohra in a reply to Gandhi’s essay comrades on the question of violence. not be swayed by the rulers. They do not “Adoring the Bomb” (in which Assembly Gandhi was of the view that, on the one want to do any help but want to make Bomb Case was severely criticised) he hand, the military expenditures of the you a puppet in their hands. Only the vehemently turned down Gandhi’s government increases due to the violent bourgeoisie is the real cause of slavery positions. An essay “The Philosophy of movement of the revolutionaries, as a and poverty.” the Bomb” was written refuting result, the common citizens have to bear In this way, he asked them to exhaustively the logic of Gandhi. Bhagat this extra burden, and on the other hand, recognise their own strength. He said, Singh had given finishing touches to the non-violent movement, which was “You are the real proletariat. You are this essay. Bhagat Singh had very clearly going under his leadership, suffers great the mainstay of the country, the real accepted in his writings that he was a damages. In reply to a letter written by strength. Arise! The sleeping lions, and romantic revolutionary and he was Sukhdev, Gandhi wrote, “Had the organise rebellion”. This call of Bhagat impressed by Russian leader Bakunin. environment of the country been totally Singh is very precious, especially in But afterwards, he became a true peaceful, we would have achieved our these times when even today and when revolutionary. He mentioned in one of aim even earlier than this. Whereas the carnage of Khairlanje occurs we once his essays, “The Manuscript of contention of Bhagat Singh was that again remember Bhagat Singh’s words Revolutionary Program” written in Feb “however, non-violence is a good ideal against casteism and untouchability. 1931, “In our society terrorism is the but it is a matter of the past. The That too was said at a time when all manifestation of lack of the grip of situation in which we live today, only others, including the CPI were silent on revolutionary thinking or repentance. through non-violence we can never it. In a way, it is, an acceptance of one’s achieve freedom. The world is totally

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 25 equipped with weapons, but we who are which is as follows: “by Inquilab the arising people’s power then a mighty slaves should not be swayed by false Zindabad our aim was not that which is war is a must for the fulfilment of the dogmas and forsake our path.” He made generally understood in wrong terms. ideal of revolution. After surmounting it clear by citing the examples of the Pistol and bomb do not bring inquilab, all hurdles and by moving forward the armed revolutions of Turkey and Russia nevertheless, the sword of inquilab is rule of the proletariat class will be where struggles were organised sharpened on the grinding stone of established.” Was Bhagat Singh in such through violent methods, and there they ideas.” The second point is taken from a statement hoping for a serious war that got freedom and also socially “Why I am an Atheist”, which was written would be non-critical, that would be non- progressed. However, he also agreed on 5-6 October, 1930. This point is like violent and in which only the sword of that “for revolution a bloody struggle this: By now I had only been a romantic thoughts will work? is not imperative and there is no place revolutionary. Till now we followed So far as the second point is for individual annihilations. That it is others, now the time has come to concerned, its context is altogether not the culture of bomb and pistol.” shoulder responsibility. For a time the different. This point is taken out of an (See the Statement in the Session Court, existence of the party seemed essay in which Bhagat Singh has June 6, 1929). He understood it well that impossible in the prevailing expressed his scientific ideas about God, the method of revolution is decided by circumstances. More spirited comrades, religion, religious communities, the rulers. He declared that “so far as no the leaders, had started jeering at mysticism, and blind faith. In this essay the question of method of establishing us. For a time even I feared that one day the use of violence in the revolutionary the revolutionary ideology through I too will be swayed by the idea of un- movement is not questioned. In this peaceful or other means is concerned, usefulness of our program. That was a Bhagat Singh has reported his activities the selection of it depends on the will of deciding point of my revolutionary life. and reviewed the political situation of the rulers of the times. The The echo of call to study was ringing in that time. In 1925, after Kakori action most revolutionaries, by virtue of their love the corridors of my mind—Study! to be of the leaders of the Hindustan for humanity are the adorers of able to face the arguments put forward Republican Party were arrested. After humanism. A revolutionary, if he takes by the opponents. Study! to enable that Bhagat Singh and his comrades had to the bomb and pistol, it is out of the yourself to give logic in favour of your to face many serious questions and express necessity and as a last resort.” argument. I started studying. By doing problems. They seriously studied and In fact, when the ruling class puts the so my old ideas and beliefs were purified analysed the movements of our country gun on all the peaceful proposals of the in a strange way. Deep thoughts had and of the world and tried to free the revolutionaries, then they are left with replaced the romance of adopting Indian revolutionary movement from no alternative ex0cept to oppose the violent methods that was extremely mysticism and blind faith and ‘romance reactionary violence with revolutionary prevalent within our old companions. of adopting violent methods’ (the violence. Today the same is happening Now there was no mysticism and blind purpose with which all the Hindustan in Chhattisgarh where the rulers are faith. Realism became our basis. Republican Party leaders were involved). resorting to “Salwa Judum” type “Violence is only justified when it is He stressed upon the wider participation repressive campaigns against the people used in great necessities. Non-violence of the masses in the revolutionary and are on a killing spree. Along with should be the essential dogma for all struggles and stated that in the main the some sections of the ruling classes, some people’s movements.” people will fight with non-violent of the intellectuals and Human Rights So far as the first point is concerned, methods, but in particular situations the organisations are also raising the Bhagat Singh was trying to explain to violent activity will be justified. This is question of violence or extremism. the judge the true meaning of Inquilab the only meaning of the last two lines of Today too some of the intellectuals Zindabad and the importance of ideology the second point. To understand the and progressive and democratic sections in revolution and not to negate the role meaning of these points we should read of our country have also initiated anew of violent struggles in the course of the forward of “Documents of Bhagat the debate on the understanding of revolution. Secondly, in this same Singh and his Comrades” written by Bhagat Singh on the question of statement Bhagat Singh had clearly Prof. Jagmohan Singh and Chaman Lal, violence. They are of the opinion that stated that “the written statement we published by Raj Kamal publishers. In after being jailed Bhagat Singh studied had submitted in the Session Court had this forward the last two lines are kept in deeply and pondered over it, and then defined our objective, and in that way it a composite sentence -”violence can be he converted himself from a “romantic” also explained our will.” Let us see what justified in certain situations but the ideological revolutionary to a ‘scientific’ he said in the statement submitted to the main weapon of the peoples movement revolutionary and opposed violent Session Court. He had stated that “our will be non violence.” methods in the revolutionary movements. aim is revolution, i.e., total change in Therefore, it is clear that the above- To prove their position they put forward the present social system which is based mentioned both statements of Bhagat two points of Bhagat Singh. The first upon injustice.” Along with that, he had Singh do not prove that he was opposed point is taken from the statement given stated that “if the present ruling system to the use of violent methods in in the Lahore High Court in January 1930 did not stop from putting hurdles before revolution. If he had done so he would

26 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 not have given a call to the youth for different classes and sections in the priority of such a nation is to break the organising an army wing in “Document revolution was quite clear. He wanted shackles of imperialist slavery.” In other of Revolutionary Program” (Feb 2, such a revolution that should be for the words, the revolution in a slave country 1931), which was written after Why I am people and also accomplished by them is in opposition to imperialism and an atheist? Along with that, he would alone. It meant that the people should colonialism. It is clear from this point that not have talked about organising “an exercise control over the political power. he did not aim at feudalism as such but Action Committee” (whose main task Therefore, this concept of Bhagat Singh considered the abolition of feudalism as was to collect arms, train the forces for tallies with the quotation of Mao that ‘it an “essential task” of Indian revolution. revolt and for carrying on attacks on the is the people and people alone who are Bhagat Singh, like Lenin, suggested enemy secretly). [See Bhagat Singh and the motivating force behind revolution.’ three necessary conditions for a his comrades, page No. 404 of Raj Kamal Bhagat Singh well understood the role revolution to be successful: 1. Politico- Publishers’ paper back edition.] Besides, of peasants and workers in the economic conditions, 2. mental three days before their hanging, i.e., on revolution. He used to say that “the preparedness of the masses for plunging March 20, 1931, he would not have peasants of the villages and workers of into revolt, and 3. a revolutionary party written in the letter sent to the Governor the factories are the real soldiers of which is fully trained and at the time of of Punjab (jointly written by Bhagat revolution.” He particularly stressed test should be ready to offer leadership Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev), upon the role of workers. He had said to the masses. He was of the opinion that “Certainly, we have taken part in the that “to dethrone the imperialists, India the first condition does exist in India, but war, hence, we are prisoners of war. The has only one weapon and that is the the second and third conditions are last war would be fought in the coming workers revolution.” In this context, he waiting to be fulfilled. He wanted to future and that would be decisive. This wanted to establish the sovereignty of prepare the minds of the people for is the same war in which we have the proletarian class after revolution is revolution through fractional work participated directly and we are proud achieved. He also well understood the among already existing organisations of ourselves.” (See the same book, page role of youth. It was stated in the and also by building new organisations 379-80) declaration of the Hindustan Socialist of the people, and also wanted to build a On Revolution Republic Association that the future of revolutionary party made of professional Bhagat Singh in his statements and the country lies in the hands of the revolutionaries. He especially laid stress articles has discussed in detail the youth. They are the sons of the soil. Their on studying and carrying out ideological concept of revolution and the role of preparedness to face troubles, their struggle. In this context, one of his very different classes and sections in the fearless bravery, and spirit to sacrifice popular quotations reads like this: “the revolutionary movement. He had said shows that the future of India is safe in sword of revolution is sharpened on the that if any government deprives the their hands. Besides these classes and grinding stone of ideas.” He usually masses of their fundamental rights then communities, Bhagat Singh stressed in stressed that “a revolutionary believes it becomes the essential duty of the “Document of Revolutionary Program” in logic to the maximum. He believes in masses to not only uproot such a that, intellectuals, artisans and women reason and reason alone.” He especially government but also to rise up to bring a too should be organised. Along with this, laid stress on revolutionising the ideas. revolutionary change in the social, he stressed upon utilising the stage of Today Bhagat Singh is not among us economic and political areas of the the Congress Party and to work among but his revolutionary ideas are still present system. While clarifying the the trade unions to take control of them, relevant. The clarion call for revolution concept of revolution he said, “What we and also to conduct work among the which he and his comrades gave for mean by revolution is that the prevailing social and volunteer organisations revolution is still finding echoes system based largely on injustice must (including the cooperative societies) everywhere. The struggle for revolution be changed….Lastly what we mean by secretly. has not stopped after his martyrdom but revolution is the establishment of such So far as the question of the ultimate charting a tortuous path is still a social system where the dictatorship objective of revolution is concerned, continuing. He had rightly said: “Neither of the proletariat is acknowledged and there were a lot of differences among we have started this war, nor it will end the people of the world are liberated Bhagat Singh’s own comrades and also with us. This war will continue till the from the bondage of capitalism and with the people out side. Some people exploitation of man by man is ended, saved from the devastations and advocated for national liberation, while and the oppression of weak nations by tragedies springing from the wars others stressed on socialist revolution. the imperialist countries continues”. launched by imperialists.” This Generally, Bhagat Singh stood in favour Today it is imperative that Bhagat statement was given by him in the of socialist revolution, but he defined this Singh’s revolutionary ideas are imbibed Session Court, when the judge wanted revolution in this manner: “If a country and are taken to the masses to change to know the meaning of revolution. This is slave then she cannot establish a them into a material force. This will be statement justifies what an extensive classless society, cannot end the only real tribute to him. concept he had about revolution. exploitation and nor can they bring His concept about the role of equality amongst the people. So the first P M

PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 27 Regd. with the RNI No: KER ENG/2000/2051 Postal Regn. No KL/EKM/614/2007-09 On Occasion of the Birth Centenary Year and 75th Year of Martyrdom: The Relevance of Bhagat Singh’s Ideas in the Times of Globalization “The British are rocked, their roots braved baton and bullets and kept on foreign rulers and for the people there have been shaken. There will be an joining the lines of martyrs. would hardly be any difference between agreement and they will leave this land After the transfer of power, or the so- them and the imperialists. in about fifteen years, but the people called freedom of 1947, major sections of Truly speaking, the pace of won’t be benefited in anyway. Many the populace felt that the hardships of development for ‘free India’ has simply years will pass in confusion. Then the their life and that of the country will stop charted the way he predicted. In 1947, people will recall me.” and a new era of prosperity and 248 foreign companies were operating in o said Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat happiness will usher in. But just within our country. Today, their number is SSingh, a few days before he was some years it was realised that those who 20,000. Today, we can see the alliance of hanged to death in 1931. His prophecy were sitting on the seats of power in Delhi foreign capital and that of comprador proved true and about sixteen years later, were not their true representatives. The Indian capital in every sector of the in the year 1947, an agreement was struck economic policies they adopted for the economy. Because of the implementation and the British moved out entrusting the development of the people and the of liberalisation, privatization and reins to the ‘Indians’. Thus power got country showed that they are friends of globalisation, particularly after 1990, the transferred ‘from the whites to the real face of our rulers, as being pro- coloureds’. Now many years, nearly six imperialism, is completely unveiled. decades, have passed in anarchy. Now, Today along with the industrial sector, more than ever the oppressed and in agriculture and services too foreign exploited people and their true capital is increasingly entering into the representatives are evoking him. country. The ‘nine gems’ along with This year patriots, democrats and dozen of public sector units that generate revolutionaries are observing the 75th profits to the tune of crores are being year of martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, disinvested. And their shares are being Rajguru and Sukhdev as also Bhagat sold to the mega-capitalists at throw Singh’s 100th birth anniversary. This year away prices. Health, education, energy, is not only the birth centenary of Bhagat irrigation, business, roads, airways and Singh but also of Rajguru (15th May 1907). shipping, banking, insurance and This is also the centenary year of telecommunication etc. are being grossly Chander Shekhar Azad’s birth (27th July privatized and investment of foreign 1906). The celebrations are not being held capital, up to 100%, has been permitted as a formal ritual, as is done by the in very many areas. Agriculture that has government of Punjab, every year on the not only big-landlords and big capitalists till now remained the mainstay of 65% of 23rd of March at the Husainiwalla but also of the imperialists. Their main the total population of the country has memorial of these martyrs. objective is to exploit the hard earned been made a grazing ground for the Revolutionaries on this occasion are money of the labouring masses and to foreign MNCs such as Monsanto and going to the working masses with a enrich the exploiting and ruling classes. Cargill. In the age of corporate-farming, variety of mass programmes. Bhagat Singh rightly understood this mega-industrial projects and special Bhagat Singh had said, “They (the mode of development. That is why he economic zones, the land of peasants British) think that by destroying my said, “The way the Congress is leading and tribals is being handed over to the body they will be more secure in this the movement will certainly end into MNCs in a big way. Previously, these country. They are in the wrong. They can some kind of agreement.” He also said companies used to supply fertilizers, kill me but not my thoughts. They can that if Purshotam Dass replaces Lord seeds, insecticides, and other agricultural cut my body into pieces but cannot Reading and Tej Bahadur Sapru replaces machinery for the agriculture. Now they suppress my dreams.” In fact, in our Lord Irwin, it means no difference for the have taken a leading role in purchase and country neither the British could be masses and their exploitation and trading of agro-products. Today, along saved nor could Bhagat Singh’s dreams repression will continue. He warned the with agriculture, our entire economic set- be destroyed. History testifies that the Indian masses that our leaders who will up is caught in the tight grip of imperialist dead Bhagat Singh has proved more sit to rule will allow a great lot of foreign institutions such as WTO. As a result of dangerous than the living one. The capital and make friends with Indian it lakhs of industrial units are being youth has continued to be intoxicated capitalists and petty-capitalists. He also closed down, tens of lakhs of workers by his revolutionary ideas making them declared that in the near future we will and employees had to leave their jobs. mad for revolution and freedom. They see this leadership collaborating with the And in the last 15 years, more than one Continued on page 24 28 PEOPLE'S MARCH, February 2007 Owned, Edited, Printed & Published by P. Govindan Kutty, Peroor house, Tripunithura, N.F. Ernakulam, Kerala — 682 301, Printed at Chithira Printers, 63/321, Poruvelil, Kannachanthodu Road, Kochi — 18