Left unity conference
The left in Pakistan took an important step forward in achieving unity on March 23. More than 230 movement leaders and activists took part in a Left Unity Workers Conference in Lahore Eva Cheng The conference date marked the 70 anniversary of the execution of Bhagat Singh by British colonialists. His last words as he was about to be hanged were "Down, down the Union Jack; Up, up the Red flag".
This national gathering, unprecedented in its breadth and openness in forging left unity, was organised by the Labour Party Pakistan (LPP).
No less than 20 Pakistan organisations sent delegations, with a significant and uniquely broad representation from the forces in national liberation struggles from all over Pakistan. Key trade unions, political parties, women's rights and human rights groups also attended.'
Glaringly absent were some leaders from the other left parties, i.e. the Awami Jamhoori Party, the Socialist Party, and the Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party, although some activists from these parties did attend.
The central question addressed was how and to what extent the left groups and individuals in Pakistan could step up their collaboration in order to shift the balance of class forces in their favour.
A sense of urgency for left unity 20 International Viewpoint #311 May 1999 clearly emerged from most contributions, stressing the rise and increasing aggression of fundamentalist forces trying to pose as an alternative to the impotent and corrupt Pakistani ruling class. The latter's obedient execution of the imperialist countries' globalisation and anti-people agenda is imposing a crushing burden on the working class, peasantry and the unemployed. Agreement on the basics
No definitive answer emerged on the precise forms and shapes of unity, but there was a keen and comradely discussion on the basis on which it should be built.
Some of the essential principles on which any future unity must be based were: a democratic and federal structure, respect for the rights for self-determination of various national groups that comprise Pakistan, as well as the common goal towards a socialist social order.
Few seemed to have the illusion of achieving a full agreement, let alone a concrete blue-print, in the one-day event. But the clear enthusiasm in kicking off the process and taking it further in the mass movements was recognised as a big gain.
One significant achievement of the conference lied in its ability to bring together all key forces in national struggles in Pakistan—Sind, Balochistan, Saraiki and Kashmir. Leaders from these struggles expressed their determination to step up their collaboration after the conference.
In concluding the conference, LPP the leader Farooq Tariq acknowledged the absence of what he called "the senior tw thi comrades of the left", but affirmed there was a need to continue attempting to
CO include them in the process.
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While highlighting the need to be fur absolutely clear on the political limitations of the Non-Government the
Organisations, Tariq stressed the need to the try and include some of the good activists from their ranks.
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"We can't be reformist", said Tariq.
"We're Marxist, socialist."
Tariq drew special attention to the clear consensus in involving trade union and other mass organisations on the ground as an integral part of the unity process. He contrasted it with previous attempts of left groups which involved primarily the top leaders, of which
"workers never know much about and
T why they were taking place"
"We want a real unity in Pakistan, but it's impossible to achieve unless it's built on a strong democratic basis".
", said Tarig.
"The concept of 'left unity' has long been misused by the 'left' leaders."
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Commenting on the participation of a significant number of veterans as well as
A young militants, Tariq commented: :We hope that the senior comrades who have come have been inspired by a new ray of hope that the left is still alive"
Tariq continued: "The LPP is the youngest part of the left movement in
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Pakistan, but it's also the fastest growing party." The LPP has many young je comrades among its ranks, active in
CC various mass organisations.
No shame in India links al
All this didn't please the Pakistan government. It splashed the media with re fanciful smear accusations of LPP links fr with Indian spies only days before the al conference. Just hours before the a conference police beat up an activist who m was putting up posters about the event.
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They also destroyed many posters and red flags related to the conference.
Two intelligence agents tried to observe the conference. They were kicked out.
They also refused to grant a visa to a
CC representative of the CPI-ML
(Liberation) who had been invited to m attend the conference.
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But the party's new general secretary
Dipankar Bhattacharya sent warm and g inspiring greetings, stressing the th importance of socialists in Pakistan and
India joining hands in the struggle for m socialism. A revolutionary spirit filled the n air: the CPI-ML (Liberation)'s
W description of the conference as an
Is important milestone for the left in
Is
Pakistan and India was impressively preempted by many participants before
G their message was read out.?
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Afghanistan
The representatives of the Watan
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Party of Afghanistan were very warmly
welcomed by the participants who gave the party's delegation standing ovation twice. It was the first time in seven years that the Pakistani left had any direct contact with their Afghan counterparts.
Watan's leader Habib-Ullaha spoke of the barbarous atrocities that the fundamentalist forces have inflicted on the Afghan people since 1992, turning the country into virtually a desert.