People's Democracy

Second Congress Of International Energy And Mines Organisation

M K Pandhe

 THE Second Congress of International Energy and Mines Organisation was held at Cochin from November 15-17. The Congress appealed to all the workers in the energy sector around the world to form a single organisation by merging all international organisations of energy and mine workers. The Congress noted that through this move a powerful struggle can be organised in all the continents to fight the process of globalisation, privatisation and liberalisation. The Congress was hosted by the CITU.

The resolution adopted by the Congress condemned the worldwide attack on trade union rights and living conditions of workers. It expressed grave concern at the growing unemployment and loss of jobs as a result of the policies pursued by the governments of several countries as dictated by the World Bank and the IMF.

The Congress also denounced the hegemonic designs of US President George Bush, as reflected in its aggression on Afghanistan and its current threat to attack Iraq in the name of war against terrorism. The Congress felt that the US was doing this with a view to control the oil resources in the region. It further condemned the criminal acts of Israel against the people of Palestine who are heroically fighting against the Israeli aggression. The Congress castigated the US imperialism for its decades-long blockade of Cuba, blatantly defying the United Nations resolutions. The Congress called upon the working class to fight against the imperialist machinations and support all the struggles against such machinations.

The resolution was moved by Arthur Scargill (UK), and seconded by A K Padmanabhan (India). The Congress unanimously adopted the resolution amidst big applause from the delegates.

The Congress was attended by 156 delegates from 27 countries, including 70 delegates from abroad. From India, representatives of AITUC, HMS and Engineers Associations joined the Congress.

A broad based reception committee was formed in Cochin with C M Dineshmony, Mayor of Cochin, as chairman. He could not personally come to deliver his welcome speech due to an urgent engagement in Thiruvananthapuram and hence it was read out by M M Lawrence.

M K Pandhe, vice chairman, IEMO and general secretary, CITU, in his opening speech appreciated the role played by the IEMO in unifying the energy workers and gave a brief review of the united struggles conducted by the Indian workers against globalisation and NDA government’s economic policies. He condemned the rise of communalism and stressed the need for the working class to fight against it.

Arthur Scargill, co-president of IEMO, pointed out how within a short time IEMO developed into an organisation with 109 affiliates from 66 countries in the world. He welcomed the growing movements all over the world against US imperialist’s attempts to dominate the world. He condemned the policy of British prime minister, Tony Blair, and pointed out how the working class in UK is fighting against his policies.

DISCUSSION ON REPORT

Alain Simon, general secretary, IEMO, presented a report on the activities of IEMO since its first Congress held in Monlucon (France) in 1996. He affirmed the need for an integrated energy policy and demanded the right of all workers for basic human and trade union rights. He expressed concern at the discrimination in the utilisation of energy worldwide and appealed for solidarity of energy workers internationally.

Several speakers who spoke on the report explained their national experiences and endorsed the views expressed by the general secretary, IEMO. The Congress then discussed the following six theme papers presented by leaders of the IEMO:

·        On Globalisation, by Arthur Scargill (UK)

·        On Public Utilities and Structure of Enterprises, by J Paul Escoffier (France)

·        On Problems of Developing Countries and North and South Dialogue, by M K Pandhe (India)

·        On Rights of Wage Earners, by Danialou Karimou (Benin)

·        On Struggle for Peace and International Solidarity, by Houceni Kafouri (Morocco)

·        On Unity and International TU Movement, by Francois Dutiel (France)

There was a lively discussion on all these reports and the delegates could get a global picture of the situation prevailing in different countries in the world. Written papers were circulated to the delegates in advance which facilitated an effective intervention by several speakers.

The deliberations of the Congress were conducted in English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic using an arrangement for simultaneous translation.

STRESS ON UNITY

From Europe, the delegates were represented from Great Britain, France, Russia, Ukraine, Albania, Romania and Poland while the delegates from Africa came from Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Congo, Niger, Togo and Libya. The Congress was attended by delegates from India, Nepal, Kuwait, Jordan and Qatar representing Asia.  The delegates from Cuba and Haiti made up the Latin American representation.

Over 20 delegates, who informed their participation, could not attend due to their difficulty in obtaining visa from the Indian embassies. Several countries representatives expressed their inability to attend the Congress due to their involvement in the local struggles.

One of the most important features of the Congress was the participation of the representative of ICEM, an  affiliate of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). Gino Govender, who represented the ICEM, welcomed the appeal for unity of the international organisations in energy and mining industry and emphasised that it was the only way to meet the challenges facing the world TU movement today. He appealed for follow up action on these issues at a global level so that such unity can be achieved as early as possible. He mentioned that the IMEO has been invited to attend the ICEM Congress being held at Rome.

The Congress was greeted by V R Krishna Iyer, an eminent jurist. He condemned globalisation and called upon the working class to defeat the policy of globalisation by joining with other sections of the people. Other wise the world will face a new form of slavery, he asserted.

J Paul Escoffier (France) presented the financial report to the Congress and appealed for funds to strengthen the activities of the IEMO.

NEW EXECUTIVE

The Congress elected the Executive Bureau of 17 members and the Executive Committee of 26 members. Arthur Scargill (UK) and M K Pandhe (India) were elected as co-presidents while Alain Simon (France) was elected as general secretary of the IEMO.

The Mayor of Cochin hosted a dinner to all the delegates on the evening of November 17. An impressive cultural programme was performed by a group of renowned artists from Kerala. A cultural performance was also arranged by artists from Punjab on the evening of November 15.

A well-documented exhibition on ‘Power Scenario in India’ was arranged on the eve of the Congress by the reception committee that was visited by a large number of people of the city.

On November 14, a national seminar was organised by the reception committee on ‘Indian Energy Scenario in the 21st Century – Problems and Prospects’, which was inaugurated by E Balanandan, president, CITU. It was addressed by N R Srivastava, V B R K Rao, both former chairmen of Central Electricity Authority; J K Mehta, AGM (Corporate Planning), NTPC; R K Belapurkar, GM, BHEL; Thampan Thomas, HMS; N C Jha, General Manager (Quality Control), Coal India Ltd; K Ashok Rao of NCOA, Chakradev Prasad Singh, AITUC; and M K Pandhe, CITU. The speakers highlighted various aspects of power development in the country. They explained the positive contribution made by public sector in the development of energy and the need to strengthen it for accelerating its growth. They criticised the policy of privatisation, which would lead to increase in the price of electricity in the country.

Another international seminar on ‘Energy for All’ was organised on November 17, jointly by CITU and the Association for Right of Energy (France). It was presided over by M K Pandhe and inaugurated by M R Srinivasan, former chairman, Atomic Energy Commission. Madjid Cheric, general secretary of the Association submitted a background paper. Among those who addressed the seminar include Danialou Karimou (Benin), J Paul Escoffier (France), B S Meel (India), Gino Govender ICEM (South Africa), Mademba Sock (Senegal) Francois Duteil (France) Ghanesh Abdul Kader (Algeria), and S M C Pillai, (India), former Director, NTPC. The seminar, which gave an overview of the energy development at a global level, evoked good response from the participants. The seminar considerably helped in evolving common understanding of the problems at a global level.

Alain Simon, general secretary, IEMO in his concluding remarks underlined the success of the seminar. Arthur Scargill, while presenting a vote of thanks, congratulated the organisers for holding the Congress successfully.