People's Democracy

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNIST PARTIES’ MEET ASSERTS

'No Force Can Stop This Wave of Struggles'

From N S Arjun WSF-2004, Mumbai

SPEAKERS at an impressive mass meeting held jointly by the CPI(M), CPI and Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) on January 20 asserted that the present wave of struggles against globalisation cannot be stopped by any force. They declared that socialism alone can be the alternative to globalisation.

Leaders of 16 communist parties who were attending the WSF-2004 in Mumbai were special guests at this “International Communist Parties Meet” apart from the general secretaries of the CPI(M), CPI and PWP – Harkishen Singh Surjeet, A B Bardhan and N D Patil respectively. The communist parties which participated in this meeting were: Communist Party of China, Communist Party of Vietnam, Communist Party of Cuba, Communist Party of Greece, Communist Party of Brazil, Communist Party of France, Italy Refoundazione Commission, Communist Party of USA, Communist Party of Italy, Communist Party of Portuguese, German Party of Democratic Socialism, Communist Party of Finland, Communist Party of Germany, Communist Party of Turkey and Communist Party of Bangladesh.

Surjeet, who presided over the meeting, in his brief speech said the WSF meetings in Mumbai have created an atmosphere no force can stop the ongoing struggles against globalisation. He felt that people were increasingly realising that socialism alone can be the alternative to imperialist globalisation. He called upon all progressive forces to take this message into the masses.

Turning to national situation, Surjeet warned that if the Vajpayee government is allowed to continue in power, the nation will be fragmented. He said not only does this government follow the dictates of capitalist forces; it serves most loyally the interests of imperialism.  The fact of the ruling party being an inherent part of the fascist band, Sangh Parivar, makes it all the more imperative to defeat it in the coming polls, exhorted Surjeet.

CPI general secretary, A B Bardhan, in his speech also asserted that socialism alone can be the alternative to capitalist globalisation. Expressing happiness that nearly 1.5 lakh people converged in Mumbai with the aim of seeking a better world, a world where there is no exploitation, no poverty, no violence against women etc. Despite differences on how to go about achieving that world, they were unanimous that they want an anti-capitalist world, said Bardhan.

He ridiculed the ongoing efforts of BJP to project Vajpayee in a larger than life image, and also to propagate the “feel good factor”. “Are the farmers who were committing suicides feeling good? Are those who are going hungry every day feeling good when foodstocks are rotting in the godowns? Or are the youth feelings good about the severe drought of jobs? Who are feeling good? Please stop this nonsense”, said Bardhan. He then identified those who actually were feeling good due to Vajpayee government's policies – those who fly in aeroplanes, those who buy laptops and mobile phones, basically the upper middle classes. He declared that the opposition is ready to fight the elections whenever they were held.

Bardhan concluded saying that if the WSF slogan of Another World Is Possible is to be realised in India, then it is absolutely necessary to defend our secular democracy, our national economic sovereignty and self-reliance.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Sitaram Yechury, said those who were pleading for humanising capitalism should realise that exploitation is inherent in capitalist system. He, too, asserted that socialism alone is the alternative to capitalism. Referring to criticisms that WSF is a talking shop, he said that it was not a organisation but an open  platform for organisations to come together. Strengthening the struggles is the responsibility of these organisations and not that of WSF, said Sitaram. He cited how the growing struggles against globalisation forced the governments, such as those of India, to adopt the stance they did at Cancun. He said the presence of the 16 communist parties in Mumbai shows the unity of purpose.

PWP general secretary, N D Patil also spoke. Feng Cui of Communist Party of China, Kenia  Sarrano of Communist Party of Cuba and Thach of Communist Party of Vietnam spoke and greeted the people attending the mass meeting.

FREE THE CUBAN FIVE

A resolution demanding immediate release of the five Cuban heroes, illegally imprisoned by the US was unanimously adopted by the meeting, amidst resounding slogans of Solidairity with Cuba. The resolution, moved by CPI national secretary, D Raja, also demanded the lifting of the illegal economic blockade by the US and reiterated the Indian people's continued solidarity with Cuba.