(1)
This year is the 150 anniversary of publishing "Manifest of the Communist Party," which begins "A spectre is haunting Europe - the specter of Communism...," and ends "Workers of All Countries, UNITE!"
The Manifest, stating world view and historical perspective of Commnists, is the first Program of Communists. Analyzing expanding bourgeois and world market, for which England paved the way, it describes proletarians as the independent class who has historical and revolutionary tasks. Furthermore, it explains the ultimate goal and the immediate aim of the Communists around the revolutions in 1848, criticizing Socialist and Communist Literature at that time.
The basic idea of the Manifest is that workers are able to emanicipate themselves from capitalism through permanent revolutions; the forcible overthrow of state powers, the abolition of private property of social means of production, capitalism, state, ruling class and class itself. It is the epoch-making revolutionary theory which describes the future prospects that "we shall have an association, in which the free development of each in the condition for the free development of all," that is, communism as human being's true history.
This revolutionary theory has been deepened by the lesson of Paris Commune, the critical analysis of capitalism in Marx's Capital since the Manifest was published. We can also learn a lot of practical lessons from October Socialist Revolution in Russia, Anti-Imperialism Revolution in China and other revolutions in this century. The flame lit by the Manifest has been still vital and lighted up the way to the abolition of all classes; World Socialist Revolution.
As you know, however, so-called 20c socialism such as the Soviet Union collapsed, which brought workers of all over the world shock, dullness and confusion. In the face of brougeois ideology attacking communism, a cynical attitude toward communism and revolution has spreaded among workers. It is a pity for communists or leftists to fail in socialist renewal due to staying in theoritical confusion and being broken up.
It is our urgent task that we are to expose the reason to the public why the state power for emanicipation of proletarians, turning into Stalinist party dictatorship, namely, communist party dictatorship, led to collapse of 20c socialism such as the Soviet Union. Otherwise, our effort for new socialist revolutionary line will not bear fruit, nor defeat neo-liberalism campaine yelling out the collapse of socialism and the victory of liberal democracy.
(2)
Rowing against the current, we are going to hold the rally open to the public in order to reconfirm the significance of the Manifest and overcome defects of on-going movements, in solidarity with communists and workers all over the world who are trying to lead the way in socialist renewal.
As you know, various troubles, strifes or splits have arisen among international communist movements and anti-imperialist people's movements. That is why it remains to be seen if we can find the solution to different evaluations of the past among those who promote or approve the rally. Beyond our different view or something antagonistic among currents, however, we are ready to pave the way of united actions to make the rally successful in cooporation with you.
Why don't we celebrate the Manifest of the Communist Party, now?
We are going to hold the rally not to look back on the past, but to step forward 21 century, learning from the fruits or defeats of our own experience; 20c-socialist revolutions.
Modern capitalism, describing itself as a winner against socialism, now accelerates exploitation and oppression against workers, toiling and oppressed people under the age of bitter competition, that is, the law of the jungle, so that the explosion of the basic contradiction built in capitalism comes into being.
At first, the vulnerability of the world capitalist system has arisen in East Asia and Japan, and the currency and financial crisis could be a sign of another world depression.
The intense besic contradiction of the capitalist system cannot be solve within capitalism itself by something democratic reform. It shows a historical limit of too "affluent and surplus" modern civilization depending on huge amount of production, consumption and disposal; mode of modern capitalism.
The Manifest said 150 years ago, "Modern bourgeois society with its relations of production, of exchange and of property, a society that has conjured up such gigantic means of production and of exchange, is like the sorcerer, who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells." This is what we see now.
Thus, what the Manifest said is continueing now. In addition, the corruption of the capitalist system is so keen that its stalemate might lead next generation to the verge of extinction. Therefore, it is our urgent common task that we are to gather revolutionary political forces to change on-going situation drastically.
In Japan, the financial crisis stealing up, the corrupt and close relasionship amaong political, bureaucratic and business circles has been pointed out. It is unpardonable that capitalists are willing to place the crisis onto the shoulders of people. Workers under the leadership of "Rengo (Japan Trade Union Confederation)," have not taken militant actions yet, but have been already angry enough to criticize the Hashimoto coalition government including Liberal Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party and Sakigake Party.
In the world, however, workers and toiling people have made their actions intense in Korea, Indonesia, Philippine, Sri Lanka as well as in Europe and America.
We should create our new values and principles of society and civilization in order to criticize the decayed capitalist system and to change it. We should also make our perspective and plan clear not only to protect current practical interests of movements, but also to pave the waty to emanicipation in the future.
150 years ago, there was the reality of the revolution in Europe following to the depression. At the age of convulsion, then communists held national or international meetings several times to discuss the matter such as waht was communism, what kind of society did they wish, what was the purpose of the revolution, and how did they achieve the goal, which made Marx & Engels write the Manifest. We have to learn the discussions, the Manifest, and the brave struggles of the revolutionists at that time.
(3)
We are going to hold the rally for celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Manifest in order that we face the current problems of the communist movement according to Internationalism of the Manifest. The rally will be the starting point to revaluate our experiences and to improve Marxit theory which lead us to the socialist renewal.
The day might come when another depression hits the world. We want to challenge the establishment to a bout in Japan, one of the heart of the modern capitalist system, and in the world arena. We are going to hold the rally where we cooperate with you in being reborn "haunting spectre."
We would like you to share our stand points, promote, approve, and attend the rally.
April 12, 1998
Promoters of the Rally for Celebrating 150th Anniversary of Manifest of the Communist Party
the Rally for Celebrating 150th Anniversary of Manifest of the Communist Party