‘People Against Imperialist Globalization’ outlines direction of genuine struggles

After the Asian Social Forum in Hyderabad and the World Social Forum at Mumbai the India chapter (ISF) of WSF held its meeting in New Delhi from 9th to 13th November ’06. The main aspect which has emerged in this context is that the continual opposition and exposure by the bulk of communist revolutionary organizations has to some extent taken away the glitter from these events – based on money and media power – in the eyes of the intelligentsia. At the same time it is becoming increasingly difficult to hide the fact that such events rest on big money. Thirdly, it is not necessary that a slogan like ‘no slogan of struggle’, which these WSF events peddle, will attract genuine intellectuals of third world countries like India.

At the time of the Asia Social Forum (Jan 2003) several revolutionary mass organizations under the banner of ‘Forum against Imperialist Globalization' (FAIG), exposed the event. By the time of Mumbai WSF, this opposition had divided to some extent. While ‘People against Imperialism’ maintained the position taken by the FAIG earlier, some organizations decided that instead of opposing WSF, a parallel programme should be organized to attract the forces going to WSF. In this manner, many speakers who spoke from WSF platform became speakers there. However seeing the activities of servitors of ruling classes, at the time of India –WSF (ISF) in Delhi, most of the revolutionary organizations came together on the understanding adopted by FAIG and People against Imperialism earlier, to expose the empty slogans of ISF and to call upon the genuine anti-imperialist forces to recognize the real character of ISF-WSF. The platform raised two slogans: ‘Future is Socialist World’ and ‘Imperialism needs safety valves as peoples struggles rise'. The Convention at Delhi by the People against Imperialist Globalization was held at the time of the WSF – India meet.

This Convention was organized at the time of the first sitting of the WSF-India (ISF). Even though WSF calls itself an open platform for anti globalization struggles, the reality is that it has been established by NGOs sponsored and nurtured by imperialism and by social democratic parties. The aim of imperialism, reaction, and their revisionist servitors and defenders of imperialism is to limit and divert the struggles of the people against imperialist globalization to superficial reform seeking. They talk about giving a ‘human’ face to those inhuman policies of imperialism by which it is intensifying loot of third world countries and of working class. But the reality is these forces are trying that the anti-imperialist struggles developing in various parts of the world should be diverted from their aim. Thus one major aim of the Convention organized by People Against Imperialist globalization (PAIG) was to expose these designs and to unmask the role of imperialist institutions, reactionary and servile govts. and the sponsored NGOs.

WSF India had propagated the slogan "Building Another World- Visions for the Future" but its "another world" is actually a world system controlled by imperialism. Thus another important aim of the Convention was to clearly proclaim that the future is socialist world.

The convention was held at a time when revolutionary struggles in third world countries, national wars against imperialist aggression and colonization and working class struggles in imperialist countries are rising. These struggles are challenging the policies of imperialist globalization and the attacks by American imperialism and its allies. The PAIG Convention supported these struggles and called for their intensification. The purpose of the PAIG Convention was to expose the 'human face' of imperialist globalization.

The day long convention in Delhi was organized on 10th November 2006 at Gharwal Bhawan. Inaugurating the Convention Shri Pankaj Singh, the guest speaker, in his thought provoking address, described the current situation in the imperialist world and spoke of the peoples resistance to imperialism in various countries. Speaking about NGOs, he said not only are such organizations directly funded by foreign agencies, but often the route for funding is directed through Govts. He also clarified what sort of role such organizations play towards struggles. Describing the struggles in Kalinganagar and Bajera Khurd he stressed that people in various part of the country are fighting for defence of land and livelihood against forcible land acquisition.

Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), Nepal Jan Adhikar Suraksha Samiti (NJSS), Krantikari Lok Adhikar Sangathan (KLAS), CPI (ML) New Proletarian, Krantikari Naujawan Sangathan (KNS) and Mazdoor Shakti came together under the banner of People Against Imperialist Globalization. Com. Dr. Animesh Das (IFTU), Com. Arjun Prasad (RDF), Com. P.P. Arya (President, KLAS), Com. Alok (KYS), Com.  Uday Narain (New Proletarian), and Com. Til Bahadur (NJSS) comprised the Presidium.

The Convention began with a song presented by Arohi, cultural team of NBS. One speaker per participant organization spoke to present the stand of his/her organization on the two slogans of the Convention. In this way, Com. Aparna (secretary of Delhi Committee CPI (ML) New Democracy), Com. Raj Kishore (General Secretary RDF), Com. Milan from Nepal Janadhikar Suraksha Samiti, Com. Pankaj from KLAS and Com. Shiv Mangal Sidhantkar from CPI(ML)-New Proletarian spoke on behalf of their organizations. Between speakers an adivasi team from Chattisgarh presented a cultural programme for 10 minutes. At the end, several guest speakers including Dr. NK Bhattacharya (Retd. Prof., Moti Lal College), Dr. Ish Mishra (who teaches at Hindu College), Shri Thomas Mathews, and others kept their opinions.

In her speech Com. Aparna drew the attention of the audience to the role the revisionists played in not only ISF but WSF and ASF also in white washing and giving a ‘human face’ to the imperialist policies of loot. Apart from some socialist elements and NGOs in large number, it was the CPI-CPM and other members of the ‘Left’ Front who were the major participants in the ISF programme. Though the WSF charter prohibits membership to organized forces, not only did these parties and their mass organizations openly take part as an organization, they also organized some sessions. Whereas people of Kalinga Nagar, Bajera Khurd, Singur and other areas are fighting and refusing to hand over land for acquisition by Govts. to fulfil the ‘development’ policies of India's ruling classes, slogans of ‘Rehabilitation and Construction’ were given from the platform of WSF-India. In the name of ‘women’s power’, three women – Suhashini Ali of CPM, Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy – inaugurated the ISF, while the WSF Slogan of ‘no slogan for struggle’ is attempting to blind women towards struggles and to degrade it in their eyes.

The Convention unanimously passed three resolution :

(1)        Opposing the setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) by the Govts. at Centre and of states in various parts of the country. For those, agricultural land is being acquired forcibly from the peasantry using hated, colonial Land Acquisition Act 1894, (2) Against death sentence passed on Saddam Hussein under pressure from US imperialists (3) Against the ceiling of shops being effected in Delhi by the combined effort of courts and both Central and Delhi Govts. to facilitate entry of MNCs and big corporates in retail sector.

After the closure of the Convention all participants assembled outside the hall to burn an effigy of American imperialism. Spirited sloganeering took place demanding American troops should quit Iraq, imperialist troops should get out of Afghanistan. Slogans expressed support for the patriotic war being fought by the people of Iraq as well as for the peoples resistance to imperialism in various parts of the world.

By bringing together significant number of revolutionary organizations onto a common platform with clear cut slogans against imperialism, revisionism and NGOs, the Delhi programme presented a genuine and clear alternative to all genuine anti imperialist forces. There was some effect of this exposure of WSF on intelligentsia. Also the WSF-ISF programme in Delhi did not get the sort of media hype as the earlier WSF meet at Mumbai.