[L-I] [ INDIA ] ML Update - Vol. 7 No. 27 7 -13 Jul 2004

ML Update
A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol.  7     No. 27    7 -13 Jul 2004

Echoes of Iraq War in American Box Office

If the 'weapons of mass destruction' propaganda was America's biggest
pre-war weapon of mass deception, the claim of handing over of 'sovereign
power' to its chosen puppets in Iraq must rank as the most preposterous
post-war political fraud. On 28 June the whole world was told that power had
been returned to the representatives of the Iraqi people. Some newspapers
even carried for our benefit the hand-written note of exclamation from the
emperor: Let freedom reign!

The hypocrisy of the much hyped 'handover' is all too evident. There are
still 138,000 American soldiers in Iraq, and these troops, commanded by US
officers, can go where they want and do what they want whenever they want.
And let us note that these forces plan to stay on in Iraq for as long as
possible. The US is currently building 14 long-term military bases in Iraq.
On the eve of the 'handover' ceremony, the US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul
Wolfowitz brazenly declared that he thought it was "entirely possible" for
the US troops to remain stationed in Iraq for years.

While Iraqis will continue to live under US edicts with even the so-called
'sovereign' head of the Iraqi state operating from a US-controlled
Republican Palace, US soldiers, Coalition employees and private contractors
will all remain immune from the Iraqi law.
The Iraqi people have absolutely no illusion about their new US-controlled
puppet rulers who are widely known to have been working for the CIA. The new
Prime Minister of the Iraqi government, Iyad Allawi, has been on the CIA
payroll for years. In a recent independent poll, Iraqis rated him 16th among
17 of that country's potential leaders. And the man who finished last in the
poll is none other than the new President Ghazi Ajil al-Yawar. These puppets
will be 'advised' by a core group of about 150  American advisers who will
direct the entire official show.

In an ironic coincidence, the 'handover' in Baghdad coincided with the
release in the US of Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore's explosive anti-war
documentary. More than three million people viewed the film in its first
weekend in the theaters, indicating an unprecedentedly overwhelming popular
response for a non-fiction film. On the eve of the US presidential elections
scheduled for later this year, the film offers an irrefutable indictment of
the Bush Presidency, beginning with the hijacking of the 2000 elections to
the war on Iraq and the continuing American occupation of this oil-rich
Middle-Eastern state.

The massive response to Fahrenheit 9/11 in the American box office is yet
another proof of the simmering popular anger against the war-hungry Bush
regime. How far this anger will now find reflection in the presidential
elections is of course anybody's guess. There is little difference between
the Republicans and the Democrats on foreign policy issues, and in 1992 when
the Senior Bush had lost the elections after an emphatic US victory in the
Gulf War, Clinton had famously attributed the results to the state of the US
economy. The straws in the 'global' wind however indicate that the war
presidency of the US will have to face a major challenge. Spain has already
voted out its pro-war regime (as has India), and Blair's New Labour has just
witnessed a record drop in its vote share in the local and European
elections held in June.

Much as Bush may bombard the American people with weapons of mass deception,
the popular mood in the US is heavily influenced by the ground reality in
Iraq. As Iraqi resistance intensifies and spreads to virtually every corner
of the country, Bush's victory claims sound increasingly hollow and false to
American ears. As a recent full-page advertisement put out by an anti-war
coalition on the New York Times reminded the American public: "To date, 857
American soldiers have been killed and the taxpayers have spent over $150
billion." There is a new defiance in the air in Iraq, which was conveyed
most tellingly when Saddam Hussein was made to face the so-called 'Iraqi'
trial. In place of the images of a devastated, demoralised Saddam Hussein in
US custody the world once again sees a defiant Saddam reminding his judges
that Bush is the real criminal.
The war in Iraq is clearly far from over.


People Resisted Police-backed RJD Goons' Attack in Champaran

A gang of RJD supported goons organised an ambushed attack on Party
supporters who were going to attend the memorial function of martyred
comrade Gambhira Sao on 3 July. This function was held at the memorial of
martyred comrade in Mahuawan in Chhoradano block in East Champaran and
people from all over the district went to attend it. A contingent of Party
supporters from Katkenwa village was ambushed by the goons which was
resisted bravely by the masses leading to the death of Vashishtha Yadav, an
RJD district leader, and his brother Lalan Yadav who were heading the
attackers.
This pre-planned attack was intended to evacuate landless dalits from the
land where they were rehabilitated by the Party few years back. An earlier
attempt was also foiled by the villagers few years ago. The local RJD goons
tried to obstruct a torchlight procession organised on the eve of martyrdom
day of Com. Gambhira Sao in the previous evening. While on the next day at
around 11 AM they encircled the people and sprayed brutally around fifty
rounds of gunfire injuring many comrades. People then bravely defended
themselves putting up an exemplary resistance.

The tension was prevailing in the village since last Lok Sabha elections
and, despite having a prior knowledge of the situation, local administration
allowed to aggravate it and indirectly helped RJD goons to effect the
attacks on and evacuate the poor villagers from their houses. Even now,
instead of protecting the people from further attacks, the local police is
conducting raids on the households of the poor to scare them and many
villagers have left their houses out of the fear of retaliation. Moreover,
when the local CPI(ML) activist went to police to report the incidence and
take appropriate action, the police  ironically took him into custody and
sent to jail. Party has strongly condemned this arrest and demanded his
release and arrests of the goons who perpetrated the attack. So far, police
seemingly following the instructions of their rulers in Patna is openly
protecting the attacker goons.
Many protest programmes have been taken in the district to demand the
release of Com. Surendra Ram.

It may be recalled that Union Minister of State for Agriculture and RJD
leader Akhilesh Sharma had won the Motihari Lok Sabha seat and Akhilesh
Sharma and his henchmen have been involved in many attacks on dalits, rural
poor and CPI(ML) activists, supporters and leaders in Jehanabad and, now, in
Champaran. Our readers may recall that Champaran has emerged as one more
bastion of agrarian movement in Bihar. The agri. labour and poor peasants
have organised themselves against feudal estates-mafia-police nexus in the
area.


Bandh Against Nawada Massacre

CPI(ML) organised a district-wide bandh(General  strike) in Nawada on July 5
to protest against the two incidents of mass killings by dreaded Akhilesh
Singh gang where 11 people were killed in Anaipur and Chakwai villages on
July 3. Party strongly condemned Rabri Devi government's failure to check
continued killings of innocent people in the state and demanded its
resignation besides seeking immediate suspension of DM and SP of the
district.

A five-member team led by State Committee member Rajendra Patel went to the
incident site to gather first hand information on the killings. This team
later released a detailed report to the media. The team reported that all
those killed were innocent agricultural labourers and they had nothing to do
with the ongoing gang-war between two rival gangs. This massacre was
perpetrated by Akhilesh Singh gang only to establish a reign of terror
keeping in view the coming State Assembly elections. Both the incidents were
pre-planned and local people had already expressed their fear to the police
but the latter's laxity led to the loss of so many lives. The CPI(ML) has
demanded immediate arrest of members of the dreaded Akhilesh Singh gang and
seizure of their weapons. The Party also held a protest march in Nawada on
July 4.

Akhilesh Singh gang killed two innocent children (aged 7 and 11) of a Party
supporter Arjun Chauhan at Anaipur in the morning of July 2. And in the same
night it killed ten people in Chakwai while many others were injured.
    These incidents have sent shock waves among local people who in
resentment did not allow the police to take bodies for more than 36 hours.
Party has also demanded appropriate compensation to the bereaved families,
stringent action against those who are providing political patronage to
these criminals besides providing arms to the rural poor for self defence.


Attack by Landlords on Agricultural Labourers Foiled in East Godavari

People of Thondangi village, a Mandal headquarter in Tuni Assembly
constituency of East Godavari district have been conducting struggle
demanding lease pattas for the landless on some 200 acres of surplus
endowment lands for the last three years. Even though landlords and rich
peasants got the compensation long ago for these lands, they continue to
occupy and cultivate it. These landlords are getting patronage from some
local TDP leaders.

AIALA and CPI(ML) have been campaigning for the ouster of illegal occupants
from these lands and redistribution to the landless. Many protest programmes
have been conducted in the past. While TDP mobilised their forces on caste
lines on the one hand and threaten the villagers through organised attacks
on the other, CPI(ML) and AIALA mobilised villagers to increase pressure on
revenue officials through protest marches and other programmes, who in turn
agreed to take control of the land and to redistribute it to landless. But
Telugu Desam MLA put pressure on the officials in favour of the landlords.
When the officials failed to redistribute lands, AIALA organised a seizure
campaign on May 25, as the paddy season has already started, and took
control of some 200 acres of land. The landlords retaliated on June 22, when
some 200 armed goons conducted an attack which was foiled by hundreds of
poor peasants led by AIALA and CPI(ML). Though more than two dozen people
injured in this attack including three CPI(ML) activists, instead of taking
any action against the landlords and their henchmen, police arrested nearly
40 AIALA supporters and leaders including K. Krishna and John of AIALA and
CPI(ML) State Committee member S. Prakash. Later, AIALA held a protest
demonstration at Thondangi Mandal office which was led by AIALA National
Secretary Bangar Rao.

All India Agricultural Labour Association has sent a memorandum to the Home
Minister of Andhra Pradesh to take immediate steps in order to restore
confidence among the masses and to safeguard their interests. It has
demanded to withdraw all cases from the villagers as well as AIALA and
CPI(ML) leaders framed on June 22 '04 by the Thondangi police; to
immediately take possession of the said lands and redistribute it to the
landless villagers; and to arrest those who perpetrated attack on agitating
masses on June 22.


Police Arrests Party District Secretary and AIALA Councillor to Defend the
Land Mafia in Kheri

The National Executive of AIALA strongly condemns the bloody attack by
land-mafia on agricultural labourers in Lakhimpur-Kheri in UP and consequent
arrests of CPI(ML) district Secretary Ramdaras and AIALA National Councillor
Kranti Kumar Singh by the administration making a mockery of the rule of law
to facilitate the land grabbers in the district. It is reported that Comrade
Ramdaras has been framed under 'Gangster Act'.

An armed gang of local mafia Kulwant Singh and Sewa Singh, who are in
illegal possession of more than 100 acres of land for which AIALA and
CPI(ML) are leading the movement for last few years, attacked agri.
labourers belonging to  dalit and minority community with fire arms
resulting in six seriously injured in Guthna-Bujurg village under Fardhan
PS. Police refuged to lodge any FIR of the injured villagers but, on the
contrary, arrested two popular leaders who has been leading their movement.

In a letter sent to UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, AIALA Vice
President Swadesh Bhattacharya has said that it is an irony that people like
Ramdaras, who committed all his life to protect the interests of the Nation,
democracy and rights of the poor, dalits and the working class, and Kranti
Kumar, who, after completing his studies from Lucknow University, chose to
devote himself to the struggle to realise the dream of a new society and
preferred to go and work among the poor, had to face the jail under Gangster
Act. They are seen by the system as a danger to the nation while dons like
Kulwant Singh and Sewa Singh are roaming freely and are given free hand to
spread terror.

Both the land-mafia are dreaded musclemen of the area and are involved in
many cases of dacoity, attempt to murder, forgery, violation of Harijan Act
and other charges. Their illegal possession over the land has been rejected
even by the court. Local police has never arrested them nor has the local
administration ever tried to free the said piece of land which has been
allotted to the agri. labourers and the landless poor for quite a long time.
Whenever, there is any attempt from the side of the villagers to take
possession, the local and the state administration shamelessly comes forward
to save them.  This time again police conducted raids on Party's Kheri
district office and, it is reported, that they are planning to impose NSA on
main leaders of the Party in district.

AIALA's General Secretary and ex-MP Comrade Rameshwar Prasad has gone to
Kheri after hearing the news. The AIALA has demanded immediate release of
both the arrested comrades and withdrawal of framed cases, arrest of two
mafia dons and their goons and ban on the ploughing of the land by them.
A protest dharna was also held in Kheri which was led by Lal Bahadur Singh.


CPI(ML) Demonstration to Oppose VHP's Meet

CPI(ML) held a demonstration and burnt the effigies of VHP leaders in
Kolkata in front of the venue of its Governing Council's Meeting on July 1.
The Kolkata unit of the Party demanded immediate arrest of Togadia, Singhal
and Giriraj Kishore for spewing venom of communalism into the social fabric
of the nation and a ban on this fascist organisation.
The demonstrators carried placards demanding ban on the VHP for being
"totally communal and fascist" and raised slogans for immediate arrest of
VHP's 'International' general secretary Praveen Togadia, working president
Ashok Singhal and vice-president Giriraj Kishore.


Ara District Conference of AIALA

The Second district conference of AIALA (Khet Mazdoor Sabha) concluded on
June 17 in Garhani with a note to strengthen the movement against the nexus
of feudal forces, private armies and criminal gangs protected by politicians
who are main enemy of the people causing for the sorry plight of toiling
rural poor. Inaugurating the Conference Comrade Rameshwar Prasad reminded
the delegates that AIALA strives for the intensification of struggles of all
rural proletariat and semi-proletariat ranging from agricultural labourers,
poor toiling peasants and modern agricultural workers to those working in
agro-based small sector industries, animal husbandry, fisheries, social
forestry and the construction sector. It has raised wide ranging issues
related to social dignity to rural poor, minimum wages, rights of poor on
surplus and bhoodan lands, housing, and red cards, etc. He called upon to
work harder to write a new history of a powerful and unprecedented class
struggle by expanding and strengthening the organisation of rural
proletariat.

Comrade Sudama Prasad addressed the delegates as the chief guest. He said
that RJD supported nexus of neo-rich and kulaks with old feudal forces has
been repressing the movement of agricultural labour for the last fourteen
years and now time has come to break Laloo's illusion of 'social justice' by
intensifying the struggles through raising concrete issues at the
grassroots.

The Conference was presided over by a three-member Presidium that included
Comrades Siddhanath Ram, Kamta Prasad Singh and Vijendra Chaudhary. Kamta
Prasad Singh also presented the work Report to the conference. He vehemently
criticized RJD's tactics of instigating or backing  attacks on rural
proletariat by Ranvir Sena, MCC and other criminal gangs and shedding
crocodile tears after the killings and massacres. He said that such are the
old tactics of ruling parties meant to suppress the awakening and assertion
of weaker socioeconomic groups and rural poor. The report reiterated AIALA's
resolve to defeat these forces and strengthen the unity of the agricultural
labourers.
The Conference concluded after electing a 31-member District Committee with
Siddhnath Ram as its President and Kamta Prasad Singh as Secretary.


Protest Day Observed in Jehanabad and Arwal

The CPI(ML) observed 'protest day' throughout Jehanabad and Arwal districts
on July 1 to register protest against the state government refusal to
withdrawal TADA cases against Party activists. Marches and meetings were
organised in both the districts demanding immediate withdrawal of TADA cases
which have been already withdrawn elsewhere in the country excepting Bihar.
Meanwhile, the indefinite hunger strike by TADA victims in Jehanabad jail
has ended after Jehanabad district magistrate assured for better medicare
and sanitation facilities and agreed to shift nine comrades with serious
ailments to Patna and Gaya hospitals for better treatment.


Block Level Party Conferences in Bhojpur

Block-level Party Conferences were held in various blocks of Bhojpur during
last few days. Till now conferences are over in Peero, Charpokhari,
Jagadishpur, Koelvar, Sandesh, Udwantnagar and Ara Mufassil. While the
conference of Sahar-Agiaon was concluded in Sahar on July 2. The Conference
venue was named after the martyred Comrade Somraj Pandit. This conference,
attended by nearly 400 delegates, was inaugurated by CPI(ML) Bihar State
Secretary Ramjatan Sharma. He called upon the delegates to intensify the
movement against the anti-people governments of center as well as in Bihar.
The conference decided to further strengthen the struggles to oust
Laloo-Rabri regime in Bihar, strengthen the organisation, and to strengthen
and elevate the levels of mass-resistances. After a very lively and
enthusing discussions the conference adopted the programme for the coming
year and elected a 21-member Area Committee. Comrade Ramnaresh Ram delivered
the concluding speech in the conference.

The Terari Block conference was held on July 3 in Shaheed Kameshwar Sabhagar
at Bihta. This was also inaugurated by Com. Ramjatan Sharma while Comrade
Amar delivered the Concluding speech. Here a 15-member Block Committee was
elected. Families of two martyred comrades were also honoured on this
occasion.

The demands to withdraw TADA cases on popular leaders, to stop the incidents
of killings and massacres of agri. labour and rural poor, a central
legislation for agricultural labourers, possession of land to patta-holders,
etc. were raised in all the conferences.


More Corruption Charges against Jharkhand Ministers

CPI(ML) has demanded to sack all the ministers who have reportedly taken
bribes from an industrialist to help him get nominated for the Rajya Sabha.
Though one of these three JD(U) ministers, Madhu Singh,  has already been
removed under pressure, Power Minister Lal Chand Mahto and Excise Minister
Baidhyanath Ram were also the key players in the scandal. They had proposed
the name of the industrialist for a Rajya Sabha seat.
As per reports, Land and Revenue Minister and senior JD-U leader Madhu Singh
had accepted a bribe of Rs. 50 lakhs from the said industrialist. This
incident has added one more feather to the already discredited BJP-led
government of Jharkhand. Party has demanded arrest of Madhu Singh and other
two ministers whose names have appeared in this bribery scandal.


Protest in Ara

CPI(ML), AISA and RYA took out a protest march against the incident of
killing of a businessman by criminals in Ara town on June 29 and held a
demonstration outside the collectorate. They demanded arrest of the killers,
compensation to the bereaved family and check on the increasing crimes.


Demonstration in Raiganj

AISA and RYA held a mass meeting and demonstration in Raiganj (North
Dinajpur) against US occupation of Iraq on June 17 to condemn the US
imperialism and demanded from the Indian govt. to repeal the agreement for
joint military exercises with US. The CPI(ML) also held a convention on
anti-Emergency day on June 26 at Raiganj. This was addressed by CPI(ML)
state Secretary Kartik Pal.


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