(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India
(Marxist)
Vol. XXXII
No.
48
December
07, 2008
CPI(M)
Greets 18th Congress Of PCP
The 18TH Congress of the Portuguese
Communist Party was held in Lisbon from November 29 to December 1,
2008. Tapan Sen, Central Committee member of CPI(M) attended the
Congress as a fraternal delegate. The following is the text of the
message of greetings sent by the Central Committee of CPI(M).
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) conveys
its warm fraternal greetings to all the delegates attending the
18th Congress of the Portuguese Communist Party and through them
to the entire membership of the PCP.
The 18th Congress of PCP is taking place at a crucial juncture. A
severe financial crisis has gripped the United States and engulfed
Europe. It is now being compared to the Great Depression of 1930s. It
has exposed the bankruptcy and the fraud within the imperialist
neoliberal capitalist order driven by the philosophy of �speculation
over production� and �profit over people� and its absolute incapacity
to offer sustainable all round development to humanity. While
workers and mass of people are the hardest hit owing to mass scale
job-losses and loss of earnings owing to the recession let loose almost
everywhere by the financial crisis, the initial responses so far by the
ruling polity of the capitalist countries have been to bail out the
financial institutions and big monopoly houses. Their whole emphasis is
on repairing the same financial model breeding artificial boom and
irresponsible speculation spelling disaster on the economy as well as
on the life and livelihood of millions and not on curbing speculation
to ensure the flow of resources to real economy and the common people.
The capitalist order is under compulsion to restructure itself in the
face of this crisis. Simultaneously, this has unfolded an opportunity
before the toiling classes and the Left and progressive movements to
intensify class struggle.
In this background, the Left and progressive movement all over the
world has to meet the challenges of the time and utilise the
opportunities unfolding before them. The hegemonist drive of US
imperialism, its aggressive militarist ploy aimed at global domination
and undermining sovereignty of other nation states has been continuing
unabated since the collapse of the USSR, demonstrating arrogant
assertion of a Washington-led unipolarity. It has promoted
authoritarian and rightwing attacks on progressive movements and the
rights of citizens severely undermining the United Nations Charter and
international laws. But the most notable development surfacing in
the course of the last decade in general and the last couple of years
in particular is the growing opposition to such multi-pronged
hegemonist drive of the USA not only among the peace-loving populace
the world over but also within the capitalist camp itself. Its Iraq
adventure is facing opposition within the USA itself, besides a
resistance from the Iraqi people. In Afghanistan as well, it is not in
comfort either, owing to recurring conflicts being faced by their army
posted there. The loudest voice of opposition to US hegemonism is now
being heard from Latin America. And gradual aggravation of conflict of
interests between the Russia and the United States over the
developments in the Caucasus region, signals a growing challenge to the
perception of Washington-led unipolarity in world affairs. And the
latest, the severe financial crisis in USA and the collapse of the Wall
Street model of unregulated finance is also going to have a major
impact on its global domination.
The Portuguese Communist Party has a glorious history of struggle and
sacrifice. We remember with pride the militant role of PCP in the
struggle against the dictatorial regime and taking the country towards
democracy; the decisive role played by PCP in the national life and in
the struggle against exploitation, attack on democratic rights and
institutions, uniting all Left and progressive elements in the society;
its militant contribution in the struggle for a true democratic
alternative for the country�s people; its determined struggle
against the neoliberal economic order, its resistance to privatisation
and all onslaughts on the rights and livelihood of the working class
and the people unleashed by the neoliberal policy regime; its steadfast
role in fighting back imperialist hegemonism on all fronts and
commitment to solidarity with all anti-imperialist struggles in the
world; and last but not the least, its firm adherence to
Marxist-Leninist principles and unflinching commitment to
socialism.
We note with equal attention the frontline role played by PCP in
exposing the real face of European integration and the policies of
economic domination subjecting the Portuguese economy to immense
problems and the common people to severe hardship. The mass struggles
waged by PCP on the issues arising out of the European Union enlisting
the cooperation of other Left wing and progressive forces played a
vital role in shaping the popular opinion for advancing a struggle for
a different Europe based on anti-capitalist and democratic
transformation.
You are aware that in our country, we are in the midst of a grim
struggle against the ploy of the extreme right reactionary communal
forces led by the Bharatiya Janata Party on the one hand and the
anti-people policies of the Congress led government and its increasing
capitulations to US imperialist�s manoeuvres on the other. In the 14th
general elections held in 2004, the government led by the communal
forces could be unseated and only with the support of the Left forces
in parliament of which our Party is the biggest contingent. We
supported this government to isolate and oust the extreme right
reactionary communal forces from power. During the last four years, the
Left parties played a deterrent role in defeating and/or not allowing
many of the neoliberal policy measures including privatisation and
complete deregulation of the financial sector to be operationalised.
And precisely for this reason the impact of the crisis was less in
India as compared to the European countries. Our Party, alongwith other
Left parties, withdrew support to the government as the government went
ahead in operationalising the Indo-US nuclear deal ignoring the Left�s
firm opposition, which to our understanding would bind the Indian
government in strategic alliance with US imperialism and subject India
to permanent blackmail by the US administration.
During the last four year period, our Party has been active in
mobilising the working class and common people in united struggle
against severe price rise, rising unemployment, attack on labour
rights, privatisation etc. Various actions of the working class and
other sections of the people have taken place.
We will have elections to parliament early next year. The CPI(M) has
given a call for defeating the communal forces and also rejecting the
pro-imperialist Congress party led alliance. Our Party will work for
developing a combination of secular forces against both the Congress
and the communal forces.
Once again, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
of India (Marxist), we convey our warm fraternal greetings to the
18th Congress of the Portuguese Communist Party. We are confident
that this Congress will be able to work out appropriate tactics to meet
the challenges that lie ahead and rally all the progressive and
democratic forces to carry forward the struggle for the establishment
of a socialist society in Portugal. While such a struggle will be long
and arduous, on behalf of the CPI(M), we assure you our solidarity and
support.
We are confident, that the long association and bond of friendship
between the PCP and CPI(M) will get further strengthened in the days
ahead.
People's Democracy