[L-I] [ INDIA ] ML Update Vol. 7 No. 24 6 - 22 Jun 2004

MLUpdate
A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol.  7     No. 24    16 - 22  Jun 2004


 The 1st Session of the 14th Lok Sabha:
Morning Shows the Day

While international financial institutions, multinational corporations and
the big bosses of India Inc. are waiting for the first budget of the new
government to be tabled in July, there are already signs galore for the
people at large to sense the direction in which the government is all set to
proceed. As if the common minimum programme itself had not sufficiently
spelt out this direction, the new government used the President's address to
the first joint session of Parliament to send some more reassuring signals
to anyone who might have taken the government's 'human face' noise
seriously. The doubts that the government's commitment to lend a human face
to the reforms might push the government into a 'populist spending spree'
were promptly put to rest by the President when he said that "the precise
content and phasing of programmes will depend on both the availability of
resources and the pace of improvement of the absorptive capacity of various
sectors."

In addition to issuing this general warning regarding the implementation of
the CMP, the President's address also provided the first official
interpretation of the verdict of the 14th Lok Sabha elections. The address
placed the verdict in the limited context of "establishing the rule of law
and repairing our secular fabric", thereby freeing it from having any
implication for the government's economic and foreign policies. Even as the
President's address borrowed copiously from the CMP, one could already see
the beginning of a process of editing it in respect of certain crucial
details. There was no reference in his address to any legislation for
agricultural labourers. Nor was there any general assurance against
privatization of profit-making PSUs. And in the domain of foreign policy,
the address chose to emphasise the strategic dimension of India's closer
engagement with the US.

The dominant theme of the first parliament session was therefore to
emphasise the continuity of policies despite a change of guards at the
Centre. The BJP and its allies predictably made a lot of noise about the
induction of tainted ministers in Manmohan Singh's 'otherwise clean'
cabinet, and predictably enough, the government and its allies sought to
justify the inclusion by pointing out the example set by the NDA regime
itself! The issue of chargesheeted ministers thus only served to highlight
yet another case of continuity in the domain of political culture. There
were some media allegations about the NDA government's mishandling of the
Kargil war, but Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee was quick to bail out the
Vajpayee government on this score, once again reassuring the ruling classes
that the government would not promote any 'unwarranted debate' on matters of
national defence!

Beyond the confines of this brief session of Parliament, we had Foreign
Minister Natwar Singh assuring the Bush administration about the Indian
Government's readiness to take a fresh look at the question of sending
Indian troops to Iraq. Addressing a joint press conference with US Secretary
of State Colin Powell, Singh expressed his 'delight' at the new UN
resolution on Iraq which merely extends the period of American occupation of
Iraq till 2006 and reiterated his government's determination "to work
closely with the US Administration to take the Indo-US partnership forward
in all areas." Then there was Kamal Nath, the new Minister of Commerce,
telling the US-India Business Council in session in Washington "You can rest
assured that there will be a host of privatization opportunities for you".
Even Arjun Singh, the impeccably 'secular' Minister in charge of Education
who began with a lot of noise about detoxification of education now prefers
to soft-pedal the issue of changing the curriculum and the communal history
textbooks introduced by the previous government. The minister is now
evidently more interested in attracting foreign investment in the arena of
higher education!

The CPI and CPI(M) leaders tell us that they would play the role of a
watchdog to oversee the implementation of the CMP. In a signed article
published in People's Democracy, Sitaram Yechury contrasts this watchdog
role to that of a lap dog, even as he cites the CPI(M)'s record of extending
unstinted outside support to a series of 'friendly' governments at the
Centre. But there were little signs of this self-appointed watchdog role in
the first session of the 14th Lok Sabha. There was no attempt whatsoever on
the part of the CPI(M)-led Left to pin the government down on any of the
'early signs of departure' from the CMP. The Left moved no amendments to the
motion of thanks on the President's address. Perhaps one should not expect a
disciplined watchdog to bark too often in the solemn surroundings of
Parliament.


Post-Election Criminal-raj in Bhojpur:
People Punish the Killers

Bihar has got the dubious distinction of having criminal gangs of different
hues. Almost all such gangs have the political blessings of the ruling
party, RJD. Be it the Ranvir Sena, launched by notorious feudals of Bhojpur
or the MCC-PWG or several other criminal hordes operating on caste lines ...
all these gangs are getting regular support and patronage from the RJD
leadership.

This trend has become alarming with the formation of the Congress-led UPA
government at the centre, particularly with Laloo Prasad becoming the
Railway Minister. Not only that the murders and loot have increased in
trains, criminal activities have also increased alarmingly in villages and
towns in Bihar as if forces of darkness have attained a freehand. But, no
doubt, there is a silver lining among these dark clouds. In several areas,
common masses have also started coming out on the streets against this state
patronised crime and anarchy.

Here we are reporting three separate incidents occurred in Bhojpur district
where the people chased the criminals and punished them.
It was 12.30 at noon on 9 June when notorious criminals of the area, Lalnath
and Devendra, claiming as the MCC leaders, killed a CPI(ML) supporter
Sukesar Ram at Sendaha in Terari block. But within hours one of the killers,
Lalnath, was spotted and caught by the people in Ara town and punished to
death. He had reached Ara in search of a safe shelter after committing the
murder, but was spotted by the people. The moment the killer was recognised,
hundreds of people ran spontaneously and nabbed him. He was severely beaten
and drowned in a canal nearby. He died in the canal.

It may be noted that in fact MCC or PWG have no base at all in Bhojpur. Some
notorious criminals belonging to RJD have overnight started calling
themselves as PWG or MCC leaders. Whatever it is, one thing is certain that
this is another game-plan of the ruling class of Bihar to suppress the
growing assertion of the rural poor in Bhojpur.
Second incident took place on 10 June in Charpokhari block of the district.
Anil Ram, son the retired teacher Ram Chandra Ram, a Party supporter, was
returning home by a bus. In the bus he had a minor scuffle with three people
belonging to Ranvir Sena. At Mallore, when Anil Ram stepped out of the bus,
all three criminals followed him and one of them shot Anil Ram dead. This
time again, people chased and caught hold of two of the killers when they
were trying to flee after the shooting. After a severe beating they were
handed over to the police. One of them identified as Raviranjan Rai son of
Shatrughan Rai of Bagar, succumbed to injuries when on the way to Ara while
the other one, seriously injured, is getting medical treatment under police
protection at Sadar Hospital Ara.

The third incident took place on 12 June. Three criminals killed a boy Sonu,
son of Narayan Pandit, an old Party supporter at Abarpul. Sonu was an
auto-rickshaw driver. Hundreds of people soon chased the killers and
succeeded in nabbing two of them. They were done to death. People did
everything they could to save Sonu, but he died while on the way to
hospital. Agitated over the death of their friend and colleague, all
auto-rickshaw drivers went on a day's strike in protest.

CPI(ML) mourns the death of Sukesar Ram, Anil Ram and Sonu and expresses its
condolences to the bereaved families. The Party salutes the people of
Bhojpur for their bold resistances and heroic fight against this all
pervading criminalisation.


PWG Acts As An Armed Outfit of RJD

An armed squad claimed to be of PWG killed Comrade Bikram Paswan in Rabda
village of Daltonganj district in the night of 8 June. They forcibly took
away Comrade Bikram outside the village in the calm of the night and
brutally beat him up with lathis. As soon as Party members and other people
in the village organised themselves to put up a resistance, killers fled
from the spot. Comrade Bikram succumbed to injuries when he was being taken
to the hospital.
Apparently, as the local people say, there is no reason as to why Bikram
could be the target of the PWG. However, people in Rabda village have
launched movement against local feudal-lord and RJD MLA Girnath Singh to
free the lands from his illegal occupation. For quite sometime CPI(ML) is
leading this movement.  Girnath Singh has been resorting to all sorts of
frauds and adopting sinister designs to suppress the movement of the
agricultural labour and rural poor. Earlier, he had formed 'Sunlight Sena'.
But it could not withstand in face of people's militant resistances. And,
now, same armed gang claiming to be PWG has come up to protect lands under
his possession and to teach poor villagers a lesson who dare to rise up to
carry forward the land struggles.
This has been the same story being repeated umpteen number of times at many
places in Bihar and Jharkhand where either 'PWG' or 'MCC' comes in open
support of some domineering feudal-politician, who generally belongs to
ruling RJD, and targets CPI(ML) leaders and cadres. Both of these outfits,
in fact, extended their support to politicians of ruling parties during last
LS elections, simultaneously calling for election boycott, and asked people
to cast votes in their favour. Sometime last year, 'PWG' goons opened fire
on hundreds of people assembled in a massive people's panchayat. This was
organised by CPI(ML) against Inder Singh Namdhari, then Speaker in Jharkhand
Assembly, to denounce his illegal occupation on lands and repression of
rural poor by his henchmen.
CPI(ML) condemns these criminal acts along with the ruling BJP govt.'s acts
of protecting the illegal land holdings of Girnath Singh and its prevailing
nexus with criminals, feudal Senas and such outfits which is intended to
curb growing people's resistance under the banner of the CPI(ML).
We express our sincere condolences on Comrade Bikram's demise.


Stop State-Sponsored Terrorism in Karbi Anglong:
Protests against Killings of CPI(ML) Activists

The CPI(ML) has strongly protested the killing of  three of its activists,
Comrades Vidyasing Kathar, Ramsing Hanse and Joyram Rongphar, in the night
of 9 June in Amlong village in Hamren of Karbi Anglong in Assam by an armed
gang claimed to be "UPDS-pro talk". The armed gang entered into the village,
asked the villagers to assemble, and showered gun- fire, and killed 3
persons for not voting Elwin Teran, the man who betrayed the autonomous
movement and joined Cong(I) but contested election on ASDC(U) ticket. Those
who voted Cong(I) were spared.

The 'UPDS- protalk' is essentially a gang of surrendered militants who are
allowed to keep sophisticated weapons to spread terror. The CPI(ML)
expresses deep concern over the State-sponsored terrorism coupled with the
sinister game of killing Karbis by Karbis being perpetuated by the ruling
classes, Congress in particular, to sabotage the autonomous movement in
Karbi Anglong.

 This terror is continuing for last 15 days in village after village in
Hamren Sub-division. So far four CPI(ML) supporters are tortured to death.
Earlier Krishna Rai was killed on 23 May at Durbintila near Jirikinding.
More than one hundred have been injured and a number of CPI(ML) offices
burnt down. People are so brutally terrorised that nobody is willing to
speak about these incidents.  In spite of several protests not a single
culprit has been brought to book and this has emboldened the UPDS to carry
out more such operations.

The CPI(ML) calls upon the Karbi people to foil the dangerous game plan of
the ruling classes to divide the Karbi masses and transforming karbi Anglong
into killing fields, isolate the Congress-BJP agents from within the
movement and unite to resist all attacks on the autonomous movement and to
advance the autonomous state demand movement to its logical end.

A protest march was held on 15 June in Dispur, capital of Assam, which was
participated by hundreds of people who demanded immediate arrest of the
culprits and restoration of normalcy in Karbi Anglong. They said that the
Central as well as the state government should come to senses, stop
patronising the armed outfits, take positive steps to bring back normalcy in
the hill districts immediately.A five-member delegation led by Rubul Sarma
and Jayanta Rongpi met the Chief Secretary, Assam in absence of the Chief
Minister and handed over a memorandum. Protest programmes were also held at
Tinsukia, Borgang and Sonitpur.

The Party has declared to further intensify the agitation till the demands
are met and repression on CPI(ML) members and supporters is stopped. A
12-hour Karbi Anglong & N C Hills Bandh will be observed on 18 June. While a
month-long mass awareness campaign is to be conducted from 20 June to 20
July which will also be joined by several cultural activists and youth,
students and women's organisations. A People's Assembly will be held at
Diphu on 7 August.

____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________

The Modus Operandi of UPDS-ASDC-Congress Combine

Armed UPDS goons have been unleashing a reign of terror on CPI(ML) cadres
and supporters
 in Hamren Sub-division since the declaration of recently concluded Lok
Sabha election result.
 During election campaign period armed UPDS cadres openly threatened people
of facing serious consequences if they voted for CPI(ML) and forced people
to vote either for ASDC or for Congress.
Armed with polling station wise computerised result sheet of Lok Sabha
election and of course
brandishing AK series rifles marauding gangs of UPDS are now swooping down,
village after village,
those known to have voted for CPI(ML).
The modus operendi of the UPDS gangs reveal total absence of existence of
law and order authority in the district. Group of 10-12 fully armed UPDS
goons
in battle fatigues arrive at a given village usually in the evening and
identifies CPI(ML) supporters by calling names from a register they use to
carry.
Then they order the identified villagers to organise a feast for the group.
 The feast must be a grand one with meat, wine and everything.
After that the victims are asked to lie down in the ground with face
downwards.
 And then, while few armed cadres stand guard the rest carry out
beating and torturing the victims till the gang leader is satisfied.
This usually goes on till the feast is ready to eat.
After the feast those victims who are still in a position to
stand up shall be ordered to sing and dance to entertain the gang.
Those who can't stand are ordered to be carried away by the fellow
villagers.
After the 'cultural show' is over,
the leader will sermonise the villagers with following advice

1. UPDS was compelled to take this course of action because the villagers
voted for CPI (ML) and defy the order of UPDS who wanted them to vote for
Elwin Teron, the ASDC candidate.
2. To resign from CPI(ML ) henceforth and submit the resignation letter to
local ASDC secretary.
3. Not to inform police or anybody. Not to take the injured one to hospital.
And to bury quickly any one who dies due to the beating.
4. They will come again to monitor if their order is followed this time or
not.

Interestingly, after one or two days of the incident
a district leader of ASDC visits the village to complete the formality of
forming a ASDC village committee in the village and issues  a press release
that
CPI(ML) supporters have joined the ASDC.
____________________________________________________________________________
___________


Party Class in Rajasthan

Rajasthan unit of the Party held a two-day class in Udaipur on 11-12 June.
Comrade Srilata Swaminathan delivered her lecture on the basic principles of
Marxism and Comrade Mahendra Singh spoke on the post-election scenario and
the tasks before the Left and on strengthening the Party.
Similar class was also organised in Jhunjhunu district from 15-17 June which
was addressed by Party Polit Bureau member Comrade Swadesh Bhattacharya.
Comrade Bhattacharya spoke on the role of the revolutionary stream
represented by the CPI(ML) in the communist movement in India. He emphasised
that the Party must gear up to lead the people's aspirations for a Leftward
shift in Indian politics. He asked the comrades to update the understanding
of class differentiations and contradictions in today's Rajasthani society
to play a better and bigger role in the present political situation.


AIPWA Protest in Patna

Patna unit of AIPWA held a one-day dharna in protest against an incident of
rape and murder and demanded arrest of all the accused who are roaming
freely in the town despite being named in the FIR and threatening the family
members of the deceased. Speakers condemned the Rabri Devi govt. for
deteriorating law and order situation and increasing attacks on women.
Family members of the victim, Vinita, were also present in the dharna. AIPWA
announced to continue the agitation till the rapists were arrested.


AISA Burns Effigy, Holds Demand Day

AISA protested the Bihar govt. and the University administrations for
overturning their own decision regarding reservation for students passed out
from Bihar School Board for University admissions. This recent decision will
adversely affect thousands of poor students. AISA held a protest march on 7
June in Patna and burnt the effigy of the Vice Chancellor. A Demand-Day was
also observed on 10 June throughout Bihar to highlight AISA's demands which
include rectification of saffronised syllabi and removal of pro-saffron
people from top posts in various academic institutions, privatisation of
education, guarantee of employment, enactment of right to employment as a
fundamental right, etc.


Hike in Petrol, Diesel and LPG Prices Protested at Many Places

CPI(ML) units held protest demonstrations at many places, including Patna,
to condemn the hike in prices of petroleum products. The Party strongly
criticized UPA govt. for taking this anti-people decision and has demanded
withdrawal of the hike. Increasing prices just before the budget
presentation is a continuation of NDA regime's practice of undermining
Parliament on important matters.


New Phase in the Iraqi Resistance

Iraq's interim Deputy Foreign Minister was killed on June 12, marking a new
phase in the resistance War between the puppet Government installed by the
US and Iraqi guerillas. On June 9, Iraqi guerillas unsuccessfully targeted
interim Deputy Health Minister, Ammar  Safar, in this Sunni-dominated
stronghold.  Last year after the American entry Iraq's "de-Ba'athification
committee" had dismissed 30,000 people, who formed the core of Iraq's
skilled workforce because of their allegiance to the former President Saddam
Hussein's Ba'ath party. Now, anticipating a surge in resistance attacks, the
frustrated interim Government is trying to fortify itself by inducting
thousands of former Ba'athists in the military, Interior Ministry and
educational institutions through a major policy reversal of
're-Bathification' to make Iraqis kill Iraqis for the US. Many Iraqis see
the new government as composed of American puppets and collaborators to
continue the colonization by proxy. However, many prominent Sunni as well as
Shia clerics have urged to rise up against any foreign nation tempted to
join the US-led multinational forces after Iraq receives sovereignty.


Anti-War Coalition Slams UN's Iraq Resolution

The Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), an umbrella anti-war
group of India, said on June 12, that the latest UN resolution on Iraq was
"a shameful capitulation to the US" by the world body. Any endorsement of
this resolution by the Indian government, let alone sending of troops,
"represents a betrayal of the Iraqi people, of elementary principles of
justice, and of an independent Indian foreign policy". Resolution 1546
"recognises as 'sovereign' an interim government set up after June 30 that,
like the Governing Council, is established effectively by the US and not the
UN". "It legitimises an illegal, US-dominated occupation force as a
UN-mandated 'multinational' force and endorses this occupation at least
until December 31, 2005 when an elected 'transitional government' is to be
established." Pointing out that any removal of US-led troops before then by
the interim Iraqi government is subject to Security Council authorisation -
where the US can exercise its veto -CNDP said the resolution endorses
ultimate US and not Iraqi or UN control over the deployment and use of "the
occupying 'multinational' forces". Reducing the so-called sovereignty into
farce, Article 27 of the resolution allows all US-organized contracts for
oil companies before June 30, 2004 to continue to have immunity from any
scrutiny by the interim Iraqi government.

-__________________________________________________________________________
Next International Protest on June 30!

On June 30, there will be demonstrations in many cities and countries,
 the day of the so-called "turn-over of sovereignty" in Iraq.
The UN Security Council resolution passed this week through
a combination of U.S. threats and hidden deals
endorses the "formation of a sovereign Iraqi interim government"
 headed by CIA asset Iyad Allawi,
which states that on June 30 "the occupation will end" and Iraq will regain
its "sovereignty."
In reality, more than 175,000 US-led troops will continue to occupy Iraq,
 at least till the end of 2005.
____________________________________________________________________________
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