People's Democracy
(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
No.
25
June 20, 2010
|
Vol. XXXIV
No.
25 June 20, 2010 |
Working Class
upsurge in
Latin America
THE
whole world is today
watching with great curiosity and pride the remarkable upsurge of
revolutionary
and popular forces in Latin American continent. This region was once
known as a
backyard of US imperialism which has now become the front runner in the
struggle against neo-liberal globalisation and criminal perpetration by
US
imperialism. The entire movement in the continent has convincingly
shown to the
world that it is possible to oppose imperialism and defeat its evil
designs if
the people are united to oppose the hegemonistic policies of
imperialism while
trade union movement and the working class can play a significant role
in
strengthening the global struggle against capitalistic exploitation.
The
process of trade unions
coming together on a new platform of powerful struggle commenced with a
meeting
of leading trade unions at
MAJOR
CHALLENGE TO
PROGRESSIVE FORCES
The
working class in Latin
America has waged innumerable struggles to oppose the policies of
globalisation
and intervention of US imperialism. The Quito appeal therefore called
upon the
working class to strengthen the process. It further noted,
“It
is a major challenge and
duty to expand the awareness and mobilisation of the working masses to
fight
alongside other progressive forces, for two inter related goals of
defeating
the neo liberal reaction and promote action for change. Focussing the
energy in
this way, the labour movement can overcome difficulties, recover
strength,
expand in capacity to mobilise and make a decisive contribution towards
the
affirmation of the concrete unity of the working class and the rise of
the role
of the working class in the political ways of Latin America.”
The
heightening of the level
of the trade union struggles have created a political impact in the
entire
continent. The pro-US imperialist groups were soundly defeated in
electoral
battle and progressive groups came in their place, the millions of
people
joined the struggle against US imperialist hegemony of Latin America
making the
entire continent a bulwark of popular struggle against US imperialism
and
neo-liberal policies of globalisation.
The
Quito appeal concluded by
giving a clarion call to the working class of the entire Latin American
continent in the following words, “We are convinced that the course of
history
in Latin America, where it became clear that the impasse between the
shadow of
imperialist oppression and the light of a sovereign and socialist
future will
depend on the role of the working class in the great political
struggles that
are already underway. Trade unionism committed to social progress can
play a
large role in shaping our common destiny, if it can overcome the
economy
matters and raise the level of its movements and battles in the
political
field.”
The
second meeting of Our
America movement held in Sao – Paulo (Brazil) on September 22-24, 2009
was
attended by 161 international delegates representing 85 trade union
organisations from 21 countries of America. They include Argentina,
Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, USA,
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto
Rico,
Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
UNIQUE
GET TOGETHER OF
ANTI
IMPERIALIST FORCES
The
meeting was attended by
fraternal organisations from other continents namely, Cyprus,
Democratic
Republic of Congo, Galicia, India (CITU), Japan, Basque Country,
Portugal and
Vietnam.
The
meeting thus became a
unique get together of anti imperialist forces to fight the policies of
neo
liberal globalisation and for an effective alternative for a better
world.
The
working class and the
popular upsurge in Latin America against the neo liberal policies of
globalisation affected several defeats against imperialist hegemony.
The
electoral success of Hugo Chavez in 1998 set in motion a new wave of
struggle
against depredation of multi national corporations. The success of
Lula, a son
of steel worker in Brazil (2002), Kirchner in Argentina (2003), Tabare
Vazquez
in Uruguay (2004), Evo Morales in Bolivia (2005), Rafael Correa in
Ecuador
(2006), Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua (2006), Fernando Lugo in Paraguay
(2007) and
Mauricco Funes in El Salvador has changed the face of Latin American
countries.
These defeats were inflicted when US imperialists clandestinely
supported
morally and materially all reactionary forces. Despite campaigns of
lies by
newspapers in Latin America, these electoral defeats of US imperialism
assumed
special significance in the entire continent.
The
proposal for a platform
for united action advanced in the Quito (Ecuador) meeting received wide
support
in most of the Latin American countries. The proposal covered three
main topics
for consideration of the trade union movement in the region. They
include:
1.
Protection of
Labour and
Social Rights
a.
Full
employment b.
The
state should assume its role as a promoter of economic and social
development c.
reduction in working hours without loss of pay d.
Against precarious work e.
against privatisation
f. universal
public policy on education, health, welfare and
transport g.
Campaign
in Latin America on “Education is not a merchandise” h. against
discrimination
in employment on grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion and
sexual orientation.
2.
Solidarity
and Sovereign
integration
a.
Solidarity
between
people and support for political and social changes b.
Unity against the military offensive of imperialism and its
conservative and
corrupt allied forces in the region.
3.
Struggle in
defense of
food sovereignty, in defense of sovereignty over strategic resources,
water,
bio diversity and environmental sustainability.
The
platform energised a
powerful campaign all over Latin American countries which gave a new
boost to
the struggle against neo liberal policies of globalisation and
imperialist
intervention. It also contributed to the strengthening of the unity and
solidarity of the trade union movement in the entire region. In spite
of
ideological differences in the trade union movement, the platform
brought
together several trade unions despite different international
affiliations and perceptions.
DEFENCE
OF FUNDAMENTAL
CLASS
INTERESTS
To
carry forward the
objective laid down by the Sao Paulo meeting, a 13 member co-ordination
committee has been formed consisting of leading trade union
organisations from
Uruguay, Brazil, Cuba, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Mexico,
Columbia,
Chile, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and
Venezuela.
The
co-ordination committee
will “Strengthen the defense of fundamental class interests, their
commitment
to solidarity, internationalism and search for path that leads to unity
in
action.”
The
third meeting of “our
America” movement will be held in Venezuela in July 2010 which will
review the
advance made by the movement since September 2009 and consider steps to
further
intensify the class struggles in the entire continent of Latin America
to foil
all conspiracies of US imperialism in the region.
Despite
several setbacks, US
imperialism has not given up its conspiratorial activities, it is still
helping
all reactionary forces in Latin American countries. The US imperialists
inspired repression of the democratic movements in Peru, the CIA
engineered
army coup in Honduras where a democratically elected president was
overthrown
and to give a legal sanction to the illegal act, a farce of election
was
organised in the country. Many Latin American countries have refused to
recognse the stooge government of US imperialism. The US backed by CIA
further
resorted to armed intervention in Ecuador and destroyed military base
in Manta
and established large number of military bases in Columbia
to protect a puppet regime in that country.
With true backing of US imperialists in Mexico too, the US government
is
protecting an unpopular government which resorted to brutal suppression
of
legitimate trade union movement, an act which is condemned by trade
union
movement all over the world.
The
formation of Bolivarian
alternative for the peoples of our America (ALBA) has created a new
basis of
international co operation without involvement of World Bank, IMF or
WTO. It
lays the foundation of new integration of economics in the developing
countries
based on a break with neo liberal globalisation economic model. Along
with a
proposal to create a South Bank which would meet the credit needs of
the
developing countries in Latin America so that they would not have to
depend on
the World Bank and the IMF with their
unfavourable conditionalties, there is also a proposal for creation of a union of South American Nations (UNASUR)
which will be a new political union of the people of the Latin America
which
will oppose all US imperialist policies
to dominate the world.
The
positive developments in
Latin America are hitting the backbone of US imperialism. The trade
union
movement in the region is playing a crucial role in the struggle. Huge
mobilisation
was seen all over Latin America on every aspect of struggle against
globalisation. It is a reflection of the fighting spirit of the working
class
and the toiling masses in Latin America. These movements are inspiring
working
class and progressive movements in all other continents and paving the
way for
a global struggle against the hegemony of US imperialism.
