The left in India and Pakistan to organise peace rallies on 13th June
By: Farooq Tariq
Responding a call from the Left parties of Pakistan, the Communist Party
of India (ML) Socialist Unity Center of India, CPIML(Red Flag), CPIML (Unity
Initiative) have agreed to organise peace demonstrations on 13th June.
Demonstration accros India will be held on the day calling for an immidiete
end to war like situation, pull back the troops from the borders and an
end of imperialist intervention in the region.
At Lahore, there will be a peace demoonstration in front of Lahore Press
Club. The representatives of four left parties National Workers Party,
Labour Party Pakistan, Communist Mazdoor Kissan party and Pakistan Peoples
Party (Shaheed Bhotto) met in Lahore and decided to hold a joint peace
rally. Already several national trade unions federations have agreed to
support the peace demo.
A call by Labour Party Pakistan to CPIML for the organisation of the peace
rallies on the same day was accepted by the leadership and CPIML is now
in in discussion with other Left forces to organise joint rallies on the
same day acros India.
It will be for the first time in the history of Pakistan and Indian Left
parties that there will be rallies on the same day and on the same issue
accros Indian sub continent.
Here is a letter of CPIML leadership to LPP.
To;
> Pakistan Labour Party
> June 9; 2002
>
>
> Dear Comrade Farooq Tariq
> Our party wholeheartedly welcome the timely and bold initiative of
> Pakistan left parties of June 13 joint demonstration for peace. Your four
> slogans expresses the aspirations of the people of both Pakistan and
> India.
Positively responding the four parties call our party decided observe
> June 13 as anti- war day organize demonstration across the country on the
> same day on the same slogan, reflecting the single voice of the people
> across the line of control. In the meanwhile we are working to unite other
> left Parties , so far four left parties , Socialist Unity Center of
> India,
> CPIML(Red Flag), CPIML (Unity Initiative)] have agreed to join with us in
> the demonstrations. Thus so far four parties has united on June 13 th
> Demonstration for peace. We are pasting two statements below for your
> information.
> Kindly keep in touch with,
> .
> Comradely Yours,
> P.V.Srinivas
> Incharge, International Relations.
> CPIML (Liberation)
>
>
> PRESS RELEASE
>
> CPI(ML)'s Reaction on Proposed Deployment of US-UK Troops
>
> The reported proposal for the deployment of a US-UK 500-strong
> helicopter-borne special force to monitor the LoC is deeply disturbing. It
> seems the much-trumpeted 'success' of India's coercive diplomacy can only
> be
> measured in terms of increasing institutionalization of Bush-Blair
> coalition
> 's intervention in the subcontinent. The CPI(ML) calls upon all
> peace-loving
> democratic and patriotic Indians to reject the Bush-Blair move in no
> uncertain terms.
> Both the US and UK are busy fuelling the growing arms race in the
> subcontinent. They are also guilty of aggravating the war-like build-up in
> the region by asking their diplomatic staff and other tourists to return.
> The proposed intervention of Anglo-Yankee armed forces and the suggested
> pull-out of normal diplomatic staff and other civilian American and
> British
> citizens are two sides of the same coin of growing imperialist
> intervention
> in the region.
> The present crisis follows largely from India's refusal to break the
> diplomatic deadlock and resume direct bilateral dialogue with Pakistan.
> With
> bilateral diplomatic channels being successively closed down and
> war-hysteria between the two countries reaching a crescendo amidst free
> exchange of nuclear warnings, the arrogant rulers of India and Pakistan
> are
> only inviting greater external interference. Peace-loving people in India
> and Pakistan must therefore exert greater pressure on their rulers for an
> early resumption of bilateral dialogue with a view to de-escalating
> tension
> and keeping the imperialist powers at bay.
> n Dipankar Bhattacharya
>
> ______________________________________________
>
> Demonstration for Peace both in India and Pakistan
>
>
> Dear Comrades,
> It has been decided in consultation with the Left in Pakistan to organize
> demonstrations for peace in both India and Pakistan on 13 June. Four Left
> and democratic parties in Pakistan including the National Workers Party,
> Labour Party of Pakistan, Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party and People's Party
> (Shaheed Bhutto group) are spearheading this campaign in Pakistan. We
> should
> also try and involve other Left parties or democratic organisations in
> this
> campaign wherever possible. The main slogans of this anti-war campaign are
> as follows:
> No More War between India and Pakistan
> Indians and Pakistanis Need Peace and not War
> India and Pakistan Must Resume Direct Bilateral Dialogue to Defuse Tension
> Say No to Bush-Blair Imperialist Intervention in the Subcontinent
> As part of this Day of Anti-War Action, we should organize peace marches
> and demonstrations including dharnas and similar forms in all state
> capitals
> and major centers. It should be widely propagated that this programme is
> being held in both India and Pakistan and that it reflects the genuine
> voice
> of the peoples of the two countries.
> --Central Committee ,CPI(ML)