People's Democracy

PRAKASH KARAT INTRODUCES DRAFT POLITICAL RESOLUTION

Intensify Struggle Against Imperialism

Rajendra Sharma

THE draft political resolution was introduced for discussion by the CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Prakash Karat in the afternoon session of the deliberations on April 6, 2005. He introduced the resolution by underlining the importance of the two-month long discussions held on it among Party members in their branches throughout the country. Outlining the framework for the discussion he said that the discussions must reflect the conclusions derived from experiences involved in implementing the political resolution passed by the Seventeenth Congress of the Party held at Hyderabad in 2002.

Analysing the changes in the international situation since the last Congress, he pointed out that the 17th congress had underlined and called for opposition to the aggressive role of the US and its designs of hegemony over the entire world, and exposed the manner in which the US was using the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre as a pretext to further its aggressive policies. Since then, in the name of fighting terrorism, it has been intervening in the internal affairs of other nations. The Hyderabad congress had noted that Afghanistan was not the end, and that the US was bound to target Iraq next. In these three years the US has done precisely that. There has been a definite escalation in the aggressive policies of US imperialism, and Iraq has been the centre of this aggression. The US has declared a war against all “sinful” nations, and included among countries that deserve ‘punishment’ are countries like Iran and North Korea. Syria is also included in this list of enemies.  In this context, Karat reminded that the US has also intensified its illegal economic blockade of Cuba.

In order to achieve its hegemony the US is violating all international laws and simultaneously increasing its military strength. Prakash Karat pointed out that the dominance of the US over the world is not a result of its economic strength alone. It is as much an achievement of its military strength. Its military budget is larger than the next ten countries’ budget put together. It has established military presence in West Asia and the countries of the former Soviet Union. It is also promoting and encouraging Japan to increase its military budget. The US has initiated a new political path designed to hegemonise the whole world. It has openly declared its adherence to the principle of pre-emptive action, which makes it clear that it is not going to allow any other nation to challenge it, and it has talked of even using military strength to prevent any such challenge.

Karat pointed out that China is seen as a threat by the US for this very reason. He also criticised the sham elections pushed through by the US in Iraq, and reminded delegates of how the US had attempted the same in Vietnam in 1967 but was forced to retreat from there. He thoroughly exposed the game of the US in Iraq, particularly its false claims of ushering in democracy in Iraq through these elections.  The victory of Bush for the second term implies that the aggressive policies will continue, and is a threat to all democratic forces. Underlying this policy of aggression is the drive to control sources of oil, gas and other resources.

Prakash Karat also analysed the linkages between the economic policies of imperialism and the growing aggression by the US. He said that the crisis of capitalism is intensifying, and the imposition of the economic reforms on developing nations is a reflection of this crisis. He reminded the congress of how three years ago these policies had created a critical situation in Argentina. The continuing assault on peoples’ livelihoods is leading to crises and instability, which are being tided over by increasing military expenditures. Pentagon had increased its military budget by 40 per cent in 2003 alone.

The effects have been uneven for the world. Europe and Japan have been left behind. The fall in the value of the dollar and the decline in US reserves is a reflection of this. He explained how the G-8 nations had got together to prop up the dollar, and also pointed towards the many ways in which the attacks on the working class are being intensified as part of the imperialist policies. In the developed world also unemployment has reached alarming proportions.

Prakash Karat elaborated on the nature of international finance capital, which does not recognise national boundaries. Such free flow of finance capital results in the mutation of inter-imperialist contradictions, but is causing havoc in the third world countries through shifting in and out at free will according to its own priorities of maximum profit. There is a consensus among them to create a favourable political climate for such free flow of speculative capital into third world countries despite some differences over handling of the Iraq crisis. This is leading to the intensification of the contradictions between imperialism and the third world; at the same time this pressure on third world governments is leading to contraction of the space for maneuverability for third world governments and is resulting in cuts in social spending in favour of the peoples of the third world.

But there is also the reality of the growing global protests against the policies of imperialist globalisation. The resistance in Iraq itself is a fine example of such protest and anger. It shows that it is easy for imperialist countries to attack a nation, but not so easy to achieve their aims with regard to it. Despite military control over Iraq, the imperialist forces have not succeeded in eliminating the resistance. Iraq is the focus and epi-centre of international resistance of democratic forces against imperialism.

The PLO struggle was characterised by Karat as another important arena of resistance to imperialism. He showed how the US is collaborating in the Israeli design of capturing parts of Palestine territory. The Palestinians are having to organise their resistance in extremely adverse circumstances. He exposed the new so-called peace proposals of Sharon which involve the control over vast areas of the west bank. The building of the so-called security wall by Israelis on Palestinian soil has found approval with the US despite its declaration as illegitimate by the International Court of Justice. He pointed towards the historical support by India to the struggle of the Palestinian people, and called for a reversal of the collaborations with Israel by Indian governments in the recent years. He said it is important that the support of the Indian people be expressed more clearly.

He also talked about the very inspiring anti-globalisation movements in Latin America, and underlined the leading role of Cuba in not only subverting the designs of the US but in bringing together all Latin American countries into a larger globalised resistance against imperialism. He mentioned how the struggle for economic self reliance had resulted in political changes and emergence of democratic political alternatives in many of the Latin American countries; for example the Lula government in Brazil, and Chavez in Venezuela. These governments are strongly rejecting the globalisation economic policies, and together with the peoples in their countries are taking forward the struggles initiated at Seattle against the World Bank policies. The Porto Allegro and Mumbai World Social Forum had also contributed to this international struggle. He said the potential for these movements in the advanced capitalist countries is also great because the liberalisation policies are hitting at the livelihood of peoples in these countries as well.

US imperialism is also trying to weaken the socialist countries, the foremost example being the blockade of Cuba year after year. Apart from Cuba, China is also emerging as an important contending force on the international scene, due primarily to the rapid strides in economy. Vietnam is on its way to following the economic policies of China. North Korea is firmly resisting the US, particularly on nuclear issues. The strides made by socialist countries will help the struggles of the third world to maintain their national sovereignty in economic and political terms.

Prakash Karat also stressed on South Asia, particularly the growth of sectarian forces in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which are adversely affecting the democratic processes in these countries. He welcomed the initiatives for friendship between India and Pakistan. He reminded comrades of how the CPI(M) has been opposing the increase in military alert on borders, and is of the firm view that the only real solution to all problems between the two countries is that the people to people contact be promoted. The new bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad is a landmark in this direction, he said. He mentioned the support for sectarian and anti-people forces by Bangladesh in the areas adjoining it in Bengal and Tripura, and emphasised that the issues should be resolved peacefully, through talks, and without intervention from other countries. He condemned the suppression of democracy in Nepal, and showed how the US is working towards propping up the monarchy there and the suppression of all democratic rights in the name of fighting Maoism. He expressed his concern and support for the people of Nepal in their struggle for democratic alternatives. 

Finally, he called for the expansion and strengthening of the movements against imperialism, and underlined the role of the communist parties everywhere in these struggles. He reminded comrades of the success of the Indian communist parties in pushing through in parliament a criticism of the US attack on Iraq, during the NDA government which was supporting this attack and was ready to send Indian soldiers to participate on the side of US.  But we should also remember, he said, that apart from areas which are strongholds of the Left it did not become possible to create a strong anti-war sentiment elsewhere in the country, of the kind of widespread protests in Europe and other continents. It will be a significant contribution of communists if we are able to mobilise the majority of the Indian people to oppose the policies of imperialism. This is the central task of CPI(M) in strengthening the struggles against imperialism within our country.

 (To be concluded)