Conference in India declares:
'U.S. imperialism is main threat'
By Heather Cottin
Kolkata (Calcutta), India
A Nov. 15-16 convention here, called by the
All India Anti-Imperialist Forum, condemned "U.S. imperialist
attacks on the peoples of the world climaxed by the invasion,
devastation and occupation of Iraq and the intensification of
U.S.-backed Israeli brutality on the Palestinian freedom
fighters."
A representative from the International Action Center of the
United States joined in the historic conference.
Since 1995 the forum has held a yearly conference in
Kolkata. Delegates represent every state in India, along with
international anti-imperialist groups able to send
representatives. AIAIF was organized by the Socialist Unity
Center of India, a party formed in 1948.
The founders of SUCI participated in armed resistance
against British colonial rule during India's struggle for
independence. However, the pacifist movement led by Gandhi won
the leadership of the independence movement. The result was an
Indian government that preserved the class system and permitted
most of India's wealth to remain in the hands of foreign and
national capitalists. Conditions have only worsened since
then.
SUCI headquarters are in Kolkata, a city of 10 million
people, most of whom live in absolute wretchedness. One-tenth
of the population is homeless. SUCI organizes thousands of
people across India in women's groups, labor unions, student
groups, peasant associations and anti-imperialist centers. Its
members in every Indian state are involved in a variety of
struggles, from defending the rights of rickshaw drivers to
organizing massive student protests against the privatization
of colleges.
SUCI is but one of many left parties in India. Millions of
Indian workers, peasants and intellectuals consider themselves
socialists and/or communists.
At the conference, anti-imperialists from France, Syria,
Palestine, Bangladesh and the United States joined with
representatives from India in calling U.S. imperialism the
greatest threat to the people of the world. The audience of
over 2,000 was rapt. Many were familiar with the anti-war
marches in Washington organized by the International ANSWER
Coalition, and with the International Action Center's
anti-imperialist stance.
Conference resolutions called for the unconditional
withdrawal of U.S. and British occupation forces from Iraq, a
boycott of U.S. goods, and support for the Palestinian Intifada
and right of return. They also called for worldwide resistance
to U.S. threats against Syria, and for the creation of a
"mighty global anti-imperialist struggle."
The Indian ruling party, the BJP, has done little to oppose
the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq. Washington supports the
reactionary BJP government, its nuclear buildup and its huge
army. India is in the clutches of globalization, and U.S.
transnational corporations are looting the country with
government permission.
The Indian delegates denounced the willing lackeys of
imperialism who are privatizing everything, from the water to
the schools and hospitals. The BJP government is entirely
indifferent to the suffering of the 70 percent of the Indian
people who live at or near the poverty level.
The Indian ruling party was condemned for its connections
with the U.S. and Israeli governments. The convention ended
with a resolution that the delegates return to their home
regions to "build up broad-based anti-imperialist organizations
from the grassroots level."
Reprinted from the Dec. 4, 2003, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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