(We reported in the last issue the formation of Forum Against Imperialist Globalization. Here we are publishing Political and Organizaitonal Perpspective of the Forum as approved in October 13 meeting of the mass organizations. – Editor)

Political Perspective

We, the people of India, as the people of the world, are living under the yoke of imperialism. Imperialism since last three decades is in deep crisis and it is deepening day by day. The imperialist powers led by USA established IMF, World Bank and other institutions and formulated several policies such as the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) to overcome the crisis. But when SAPs and other related policies did not help them overcome the crisis, they formulated a new set of exploitative policies in the name of globalization. The imperialists forced the third world countries including India to follow the economic and political guidelines as dictated by their experts.

Under the doctrine of imperialist globalization Narasimha Rao government adopted a new set of economic policies in 1990-91, which paved the way for liberalisation of the Indian economy and privatisation of public enterprises. Since then the Indian government lifted several types of restrictions and the penetration of MNCs in Indian economy attained a new height. The privatization of public enterprises and curtailment in public welfare schemes became the order of the day. The shares of public enterprises, even those earning huge profits, began to be sold to MNCs at throwaway prices.

The signing of the Dunkel Draft in 1994 by Narasimha Rao government against the will of the Indian people and coming into being of the WTO with its global rules for regulating trade, investment, intellectual property rights and services made the socioeconomic and political conditions very grim and alarming. This was done in the name of overcoming the economic crisis and leading India to prosperity. Successive governments at the centre, whether of United Front or of NDA, not only followed the anti-people and pro-imperialist economic policies of the Rao government, but abided by the anti-national policies of this government to WTO. The Vajpayee government came to power by chanting the mantras of ‘Swadeshi’, but it surpassed all the previous governments in opening the floodgates of the Indian economy for the MNCs.

World Trade Organization (WTO) embodied the new offensive of the imperialist powers, particularly US imperialism, against the people of the third world countries in particular and working people of all countries in general. It was born out of the deepening economic crisis of the imperialist system in the background of the collapse of erstwhile Soviet Union leaving USA as the superpower. Working people of developed countries and people of third world countries have been targeted to further maximize profits.

WTO was formed as a result of a one-sided treaty in favour of the imperialist powers. It gave the giant MNCs of the imperialist countries the unbridled right to exploit the natural resources and labour power of the third world countries and control their markets. WTO has been formed in addition to Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) being imposed through World Bank and IMF on third world countries. Through WTO imperialist powers are trying to make the third world countries as total appendage of their economies. WTO has put in place a dispute control mechanism heavily loaded in favour of the imperialist powers to punish the countries failing to abide their diktats.

 In WTO, imperialist powers have acquired a new weapon in addition to IMF and World Bank to dictate to third world countries, impose their will on them and to economically completely subjugate them. With WTO, imperialist globalization as the new offensive has assumed menancing proportions.

However, ten years of globalization and seven years of WTO have worsened the conditions of the people of the country. The economic crisis they were propagated to overcome has been further aggravated. The whole country and different sectors of the economy have been progressively opened up for the exploitation by imperialist sharks. The imperialist stranglehold over the economy has tightened further. The debt burden on the country has risen while the penetration of imperialist capital has assumed multifarious dimension. The financial markets of the country are going increasingly under their control. They are dictating the fiscal, monetary and development policies of the Government

Since coming into operation of WTO rules, prices of essential commodities have witnessed sharp rise. PDS has been progressively dismantled, increasing burden of the labouring masses and even middle classes. Development projects are either shelved or their implementation slowed down, Government investments on infrastructure, industries and agriculture has been reduced or slashed. With free import of agricultural goods and industrial products, unemployment has increased sharply. The government has been trying to propagate the information technology ‘boom’ as a hallmark of its New Economic policies but even this has only served MNC business interests and has further aggravated the unemployment problem and problem of closure of basic industry continues to get aggravated. The lot of the people has worsened to the extent of large-scale starvation deaths and deaths due to eating of inedibles.

Democles sword of unemployment is hanging over the head of employed workers with reduction in Government jobs and privatization of public sector at throwaway prices. To curb the workers’ struggle for jobs and for defending their hard earned rights and benefits, their trade union rights are being curtailed and permanent workers are being replaced by contract workers, all leading to massive increase in the profits of MNCs and big business houses. The lot of unorganized workers is very bad with dismantling of labour machinery. Handloom and textile workers, and workers thrown out of employment have been driven to commit suicides in some parts of the country.

With the opening of agricultural sector to MNCs, vast masses of peasantry are facing destitution and penury and agrarian crisis has deepened further. In recent years the prices of agricultural produce have declined drastically. In several states peasants are driven to suicides. While Indian agriculture was dependent on imperialist countries for machinery, seeds, pesticides and other inputs, now their agricultural produce themselves are flooding the market forcing the peasants to struggle for survival itself. While the subsidies on agriculture are being slashed, the prices of inputs like power, fertilizers, seeds, pesticides etc. have risen steeply. While land problem remains largely unsolved, giving of land to MNCs in forest and plain areas has made the land problem very acute. With unemployment increasing sharply, the real wages of agricultural labourers have remained stagnant or declined.

Attacks on small and medium industries are being sharpened. Recently the Government of India has lifted Quantitative Restrictions (QRs) on 1429 items pushing the small and medium manufactures and peasantry into deep crisis.  Besides opening of these sectors to MNCs and big capitalists, these are being displaced in the name of pollution and for beautifying the metropolitan cities rendering millions of workers unemployed.

Under the impact of WTO and New Economic Policies the conditions of women, dalits, youth, tribals have worsened, as they have to bear the brunt of these attacks. Dalits have been very much affected by globalization as traditional caste based crafts have been affected by WTO. Privatization and ban on recruitment in Government services and public sector have left reservation only on paper. Displacement of the people for development projects, particularly those of tribals is most inhuman. They are not rehabilitated prior to the displacement and their lives are uprooted.

Side by side with the economic charter of their domination, imperialist countries, particularly US imperialism, is resorting to bullying, blackmailing, intimidating, subversion, intervention and even full-scale wars of aggression against third world countries. They bombed Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Serbia in recent past not to mention their crimes against the people of Korea, Vietnam, Congo, Palestine and a host of other countries. They are openly aiding and abetting the reactionary rulers of third world countries in suppression of people’s movements, particularly revolutionary struggles including training death squads in a number of countries. US imperialism has made UN a rubber-stamp besides using NATO and also acting alone or with chosen allies as they wish.

Of late they are blatantly launching aggression and subversion in the name of combating ‘terrorism’ while they themselves are guilty of the worst terrorist crimes besides funding and organizing ‘terrorist’ gangs the world over. In fact, in the name of combating terrorism they wish to target people’s movements and station their Army and make their bases in different regions for their strategic objective of dominating the world.

Even as the NDA Government is shamelessly surrendering before the imperialist powers, particularly US imperialism, it is intensifying its communal conspiracies to disrupt the unity of the people and prepare the ground for fascist repression of their struggles. The Government institutions are being packed by the Hindutva advocates, education and syllabi are being made market-oriented, and saffronized, minorities are being attacked and communal discord and division is being deepened. Along with it, Central and State Governments are intensifying repression on the mass movements. Courts are also being pressed into service for implementing the anti-people and anti-national policies and for suppressing the people’s protests.

With the sharpening of the offensive of imperialist globalization and aggression, people’s struggles are also on the rise. Beginning with Seattle, protests have marked meetings of World Bank, IMF, G-8, EU and NATO. Recent meeting of G-8 in Genoa (Italy) witnessed a militant demonstration of over one and a half lakh people. This broad anti-globalization movement is making itself felt in developed countries. Imperialist governments are resorting to brutal suppression including firing to crush this movement. Huge protests are also being organized in most of the countries, including USA, against imperialist attack on Afghanistan.

In India too, the struggles and protests of different sections of the people have been on the rise. Workers, peasants and other sections of the people are rising against the effects of WTO dictated policies and against the attacks on their livelihood and rights. These struggles, often spontaneous and scattered, are nevertheless protests against the present policies.

Necessity of Forum Against Imperialist Globalization

In view of the seriousness of the offensive of imperialism and ruling classes and urgency of the need to build a broad and decisive struggle against it, there is a pressing need to build a Forum Against Imperialist Globalization to coordinate and develop the people’s movements against imperialist globalization. There is a pressing need to build and develop these struggles into a powerful challenge to the policies of imperialist globalization being pursued through the Indian ruling classes. There is an urgent need to politically orient the ongoing struggles and develop them into a powerful people’s movement to challenge the very policy framework.

Aims and objectives

This Forum will steadfastly oppose the policies of imperialist globalization and develop struggle against exploitation by MNCs and against dictates of WTO, World Bank and IMF. The Forum shall endeavour to develop a massive people’s movement to force the Government to withdraw from the WTO. This Forum shall seek to draw all the forces struggling against imperialist globalization and all the people’s struggles against it. It seeks to draw all the struggles of workers, peasants, small traders, professionals, small entrepreneurs, tribals, dalits, women, youth, students and other sections of society against ideological, political, economic, social and cultural attacks of imperialist globalization. The forum seeks to fight such policies of both the Central and State Governments.

The Forum, while seeking to develop a consistent and decisive struggle of the people against imperialist globalization, shall solicit and welcome the cooperation of those forces which may temporarily join the struggles, strive to make their opposition consistent while remaining vigilant that their vacillation does not cause any harm to the people’s struggles.

The struggle of the Indian people against imperialist globalization is part and parcel of the worldwide struggle of the people against this current offensive of the imperialist powers and domestic reactionaries. Hence, this Forum shall extend its support to such people’s struggles throughout the world.

The Forum shall also mobilize the people against the military aggression of US imperialism and other imperialist powers against third world countries and peoples.

Charter of the Forum

1.    The Forum shall develop struggles against WTO dictated policies, changes in laws etc., World Bank and IMF dictated reforms with the demand that India Quit WTO. Forum opposes fresh round of WTO negotiations.

2.   The Forum shall demand abrogation of economic reconstruction project agreements concluded by different state Governments with the World Bank.

3.   The Forum opposes slashing of PDS, increase in the prices of essential commodities, slashing down of the development projects and public investment in infrastructure and agriculture.

4.    The Forum opposes attacks on the jobs, wages, rights and living conditions of the working class, curtailment of trade union rights and increasing use of contract labour, appointments in government institutions on consolidated pay privatisation and disinvestment of PSUs which are being taken up at the dictates of imperialists.

5.   The Forum opposes Government policies in agriculture including slashing of subsidies, corporatization of agriculture, giving land to MNCs, introduction of genetically modified seeds, experiments with terminator genes, patenting of plant and life forms, changes being brought by government in patent laws, dismantling of the food grains procurement through FCI, import of agricultural and allied products at the expense of domestic production which are increasing the suffering and deprivation of Indian peasants. Forum supports the struggles of the peasantry for land, wages and remunerative prices for agricultural produce.

6.   The Forum shall oppose the displacement of the people for the development projects without advance and proper rehabilitation.

7.   Forum shall fight all attempts to deprive the tribals of their rights over the forest produce and giving of land in the scheduled areas to the MNCs. Forum shall fight against the curtailment of the right of tribals, particularly the Central Government’s move to amend the Vth Schedule of the Constitution.

8.  The Forum shall fight against saffronization, privatization and commercialization or market orientation of education and for progressive, secular and democratic education and employment to all.

9.    The Forum shall struggle against the oppression and for the rights of dalits whose condition is worsening under the present policies.

10.  The Forum shall struggle for equal rights to women in all walks of life and against all forms of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, exploitation commodification and commercialisation of women’s bodies and all forms of violence including state, caste and domestic violence.

11.  The Forum stands for the people’s right to health care and shall struggle against dismantling of Government hospitals and dispensaries and against privatization of health care and high cost of treatment.

12.  The Forum stands for rights of teachers, scientists and other educational personnel and shall take up struggles against imperialist dictated research and policies and in favour of science and technology for the people.

13.  The Forum stands for advancement of arts and culture and free flow of information in the service of the people and rights of artists, writers, journalists and cultural workers against imperialist and reactionary propaganda and attacks.

14.  The Forum shall build up a strong mass movement against draconian laws that have been and are being made by the Central and State Governments to suppress the people’s movements and persecute the minorities. The Forum stands for justice and indemnification for the victims of illegal arrest and detention, torture, extrajudicial executions (encounter killings), disappearances and other blatant violations of human rights.

15.   The Forum shall support the struggles of nationalities like in Kashmir and the North East. The Forum also supports the people’s struggles in the backward regions, who are fighting for their democratic aspirations.

Organizational Perspective

Forum Against Imperialist Globalization should consist of three-tier organizational structure at all-India level and in the states - Convenors’ Committee, Coordination Committee and Forum’s Committee.

Forum’s Committee at the all-India level shall be the highest decision making body. It elects members of the Coordination Committee which shall elect a Convenors’ Committee. Those organisations which have the capacity / ability to coordinate the activities of the Forum can be taken into the all India Coordination Committee. The Coordination Committee shall convene meetings of Forum’s Committee whenever it feels necessary and at least within one year.

Coordination Committee is the main decision making body between the two meetings of the Forum’s Committee. All decisions of Coordination Committee shall be made by consensus. Convenors’ Committee shall take decisions in emergency. Convenors’ Committee too shall make its decisions by consensus. Decisions of the Convenors’ Committee shall be ratified by the next Coordination Committee meeting. Members of the Convenors and Coordination Committees are expected to play an important role in implementing the decisions.

State level committees shall implement the decisions of the all-India committees. State level committees can also decide and take up programmes within the framework of the charter.

Every member organization is entitled to have its representative as a member of the Forum’s Committee. All India organizations and state level organizations are entitled to become members of All India Forum’s Committee and state level organizations and district level organizations are entitled to become members of the state level forum committee. Organizations at other levels may be considered by the All India Coordination Committee in case they apply for membership in All-India Forum Committee.

Membership Criteria

Any organization agreeing with the political perspective and charter of the Forum may apply or may be invited to become member of the Forum on the basis of the following criteria.

i)    The people’s organizations that oppose all imperialist agencies like World Bank, IMF and WTO and demand that India should quit WTO.

ii)   The organizations that do not accept imperialist/government funds in any name or through any channel or from foreign institutions or those that do not have links with such NGOs.

iii)  The organizations that seriously work amongst the people.

iv)  The organizations that are not affiliated to or do not owe allegiance to the ruling class parties.

Guidelines for Participating Organisations

All participants shall assume responsibilities in accordance with the resolutions and decisions of the Forum’s Committee.

All participants shall use only the commonly agreed slogans and confine to the political perspective in all the activities of the Forum.

The Forum shall have a broad mass character and shall not be affiliated to any particular political party.

The Forum shall not interfere in the affairs of the individual member organizations.

The Forum shall afford equality to all participating organizations.

State level committees shall implement the decisions of the all-India committees.

The activities of the Forum shall include holding of Conventions, Seminars, organizing of social and political actions including building of mass movements and struggles.

Disciplinary Action

Any member organization that consciously goes against the Perspective and Charter and decisions of the Forum will be liable to face disciplinary action including upto expulsion.

All-India Forum’s Committee, on the recommendation of Coordination Committee, shall take all disciplinary actions.

Funds and Resources

The basic operations of the Forum Against Imperialist Globalization shall be financed by the contributions of participating organizations.

Subject to approval by the Forum’s Committee, the Convenors’ Committee shall recommend the methods of raising funds and resources from the public through concrete solidarity programmes and activities.