Madurai CPI(M) Secretary complains to CEC

Cash distributed by DMK to the voters

R. ANNADURAI

District Committee Secretary

CPI(M) Madurai Urban District Committee

4.05.2009

The Chief Election Commissioner
New Delhi
Sir,

Since the process of elections for the 15th Lok Sabha started, we have been compelled to send letters of complaint which are as many as 26 on various types of violations by the ruling DMK party in the Madurai Lok Sabha Constituency. Of these 26 letters, most of them were addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer – Tamilnadu. Copies of some complaint letters written to the District Election Officer/District Collector were also marked to the CEO-Tamilnadu. After the Central Election Observers were posted to Madurai copies were sent to them, apart from making personal representations to them. The violations brought out by us were on a number of aspects and we would quote a few:CampaignØ A number of flex boards and posters were displayed by the DMK. The hoardings even obstructed traffic in the public roads. Ø DMK Election offices were put up at unauthorized places. Despite the DEO ordered for removal of such unauthorised occupations, they were put up again caring too little for the Election authority. Ø When Maha Kumbabihsekam of Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple was telecast live by a local TV Channel, there was a scroll advertisement seeking vote for the DMK candidate. Though the District Administration was immediately informed of this, it took three hours for the channel to stop the telecast.Ø Posters for Sri Lankan Tamils put up by the DMK included the Election symbol.Bribing the Voters by the DMKØ Token for performing arathis for the candidate were distributed by the DMK people during the campaign of the candidate. Later they gave money for this token. This was captured in camera and a CD shown to the press and also sent to the Election Commission. Ø Saris were distributed to women voters through Self Help Groups. The SHG members were given money for distributing the saris. Ø On the Akshaya Thrithaya day, arrangements were made to distribute gold/golden ornaments through jewellery shops.Ø The DMK distributed Advance tokens using the party manifesto with the name and serial number of the voter for which money was guaranteed. This was done, despite the practice banned by the DEO. Ø On 2nd/3rd May midnight, money was distributed to the voters in many parts of the Constituency with the help of goondas mobilised from various parts of the neighbouring areas. Known anti social elements including those who were earlier detained under the Goondas Act were pressed into service for this purpose. Attack on the cadres of AIADMK alliance Ø Even before the Nominations were filed, the DMK started indulging in violations of the Model Code. When such violations came to be resisted by the AIADMK alliance cadres, they were either attacked by the DMK or false cases were foisted on the very complainants. Ø Mr.N. Nanmaran, CPI(M) MLA of the Madurai East Constituency was attacked with lethal weapons right in front of his house.Ø The major attack was on 2nd/3rd May midnight, when AIADMK alliance cadres resisted the move of DMK men distributing money to voters. The hooligans brought from various parts of the neighbourhood brutally attacked our cadres. More than 20 of them with serious injuries had to be hospitalised. While a Corporation Councilor was a victim of the attack, interestingly the list of attackers included the Deputy Mayor of the Madurai Municipal Corporation. Apathy of the District Administration and the PoliceØ Right from day one, the Madurai District Collector has been quite indifferent to whatever complaints on violations by the DMK that were brought to his notice. This even went to the nasty extent of the Public Relations Officer attached to the District Collectorate allowing his Office to be used for sending electoral advertisement through e-mail seeking vote for the DMK candidate Azhagiri.Ø Despite many complaints to the Police Stations in the Constituency, especially in the Madurai City limits, no action has been taken against the offenders of law. This was manifest in the major violation of Model Code i.e., distribution of money. Detailed information regarding the modus operandi of distribution, the name of persons involved, registration numbers of vehicles used was given to the Commissioner of Police. He also assured to do everything in his power to prevent the distribution of money. But to our dismay, what happened later is diametrically opposite of what was assured. As we write this letter to you, the entire city of Madurai is now witnessing an interesting scenario in which the DMK is distributing money to the voters in almost all the wards of Madurai Corporation, with the Police escorting the DMK men. Popular media coverage would simply bear testimony to this fact.Ø As matters stand to day, we have come to the inevitable conclusion that we cannot anymore count upon the District Administration and the City Police for a free and fair election in Madurai Lok Sabha Constituency. As we have already written to you in our previous letter, the District Collector and the Commissioner of Police are either afraid of the ruling DMK or they are willing partners in the DMK’s electoral game – for whatever reasons.In such a situation that is not conducive for free and fair elections, our earnest appeal to you is as follows:1. It is gathered that some criminals released from Madurai Central Prison in the recent times are likely to be used by the DMK to incite violence in the Constituency before and during the poll. Therefore we would request you to have a list of such known rowdies and take suitable preventive action.2. We feel that the present size of the security forces may not match the present needs. So we would request you to see that additional forces are deployed for poll duty. 3. We sincerely feel that free and fair elections are simply impossible with the present leadership in the District Administration and the City Police on whose attitude and approach the lower officials are sold upon. Therefore, we would request you to arrange to replace these officials with those who would fit the bill.We hope, you would appreciate the enormity situation that is confronting us and do everything possible of you in order to ensure free and fair poll.

Thanking you,

yours faithfully,

(R. ANNADURAI)

Copy to Sri Naresh Gupta, CEO-TN, Chennai

Copy to Central Election Observers of Madurai LS Constituency

A Leftist against the royals

In an arena contested by “Rajas,” the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is making its debut this time in the high profile parliamentary constituency of Mandi, in Himachal Pradesh. Senior CPI(M) leader and State secretariat member. Onkar Shad is the party nominee from Mandi. He will be taking on the candidates of the Congress and the BJP, royals from Rampur and Kullu states of this constituency.

Dr. Shad, a Ph.D. in Botany gave up an illustrious academic career to join the Left student movement during his college days in Rampur. “Long ago I made up my mind to challenge the rule of Rajas and to work among the backward farmers,” says Dr. Shad who has finished campaigning in the tribal belt.

He says that the people, when offered an alternative to the Congress and the BJP, are responsive; but they do not seem to be aware of any options other than the “Rajas.”

The hill State has a bipolar polity and the Left is considered part of a bigger secular coalition against the BJP, he says. “The biggest problem we are facing in the villages is to make people understand that there is a third alternative and its possibilities of becoming a part of the power sharing process at the centre,” says Dr. Shad.

“Raja Sahib [Virbhadra Singh of the Congress] has told us to either vote for him or the BJP, but never to the CPI(M) or any third force. Instead throw your votes into the Sutlej,” Dr. Shad quotes villagers in the Sutlej basin as saying.

According to them, the BJP nominee Maheshwar Singh, who belongs to the former Kullu royal family, also says the vote should remain with the royals, whether the BJP or the Congress, but not go to the third front.

Some of the villages in the area are so backward that their residents cannot even conceive that someone other than a royal can be elected to Parliament, says the Left leader. “Sometimes it appears that they have been deliberately kept people backward so that the status quo should not be disturbed,” he says.

The villagers are quite willing to discuss unemployment, price rise, lack of roads, poor health and education facilities and the need for change, but fear incurring the wrath of the Rajas, who they see as the incarnations of local “devtas.”

(Source: The Hindu)

May Day demonstrations around the world

May day rally in Russia led by Communist Party

Millions of workers marched in May Day demonstrations around the world Friday, celebrating international proletarian solidarity.

In Greece, 6,000 people marched in a peaceful demonstration in Athens. In central Athens, 4,000 policemen were deployed, as authorities feared a possible replay of the December riots that followed the shooting death of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos. Police fired teargas at a group of demonstrators from Athens Polytechnic, which had been at the center of the December demonstrations.

An estimated 1 million people (450,000 according to police) marched in hundreds of demonstrations in France. The demonstration in Paris drew 165,000 marchers, carrying banners reading “Sarko [President Nicolas Sarkozy] promised us, Sarko lied” and “We won’t pay for the bankers.”

There were also marches in big cities in Spain, burdened with the highest unemployment rate in Europe — 17 percent. More than 65,000 people, according to organisers, gathered in the centre of Madrid in a demonstration run by the country’s two largest trade unions.

In Italy, union leaders shifted rallies from major cities to the earthquake-stricken town of L’Aquila, as a sign of solidarity with the thousands who have lost their jobs since last month’s deadly quake.

In Germany, the DGB trade union federation mobilised its entire organisation this May Day to proclaim its willingness to work with the government to ensure that the traditional demonstrations proceeded peacefully. However, there were reports of violent clashes and injuries in demonstrations in Berlin and Hamburg.

According to its own figures, the DGB organised around 400 demonstrations and rallies across Germany. Participation at the rallies was increased in a number of cities by large delegations of foreign workers.

The main event of the DGB took place in the northern port city of Bremen, where DGB chief Michael Sommer addressed a crowd of around 2,500. Sommer repeated his warnings of social unrest, but then offered the cooperation of the trade unions to the government, advising the implementation of new government stimulus programmes.

The German Social Democratic leaders did not speak at the main meeting in Bremen. But SPD chairman Franz Müntefering spoke at the DGB rally in Wuppertal and SPD foreign minister and chancellor candidate Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke in Ludwigshafen.

The May Day meetings and rallies in Germany have been traditionally used by the trade unions and the SPD to cover their political tracks and talk “left.” But as the financial crisis deepens—and the active role of both organisations in the destruction of jobs, wages and working conditions becomes evident—such a balancing act is becoming increasingly difficult. Despite the rapid growth of unemployment in Germany in the past months the low participation at the rallies in Germany is testimony to the growing credibility crisis of the trade union bureaucracy.

In Russia, 25,000 marchers gathered for rallies in Moscow, led by trade unions and the Russian Communist Party. They rallied around a statue of Karl Marx and called for the resignation of the government. Police arrested 120 marchers at a demonstration in St. Petersburg.

Rally in Turkey

In Turkey, 2,000 demonstrators marched into Taksim Square, for the first May Day demonstration since the government legalized the holiday last year. Police fired tear gas and water cannon and charged hundreds on the square—the site of a May 1, 1977 massacre of demonstrating workers by unidentified gunmen.

Latin American countries celebrate May Day

Latin Americans held marches, rallies and other events on Friday to mark the May Day, during which workers also expressed their demand and concerns.

In Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, thousands of workers marched to the city center near the Miraflores Palace, headquarters of the Venezuelan government, from three separate locations.During the march followers of President Hugo Chavez shouted "we are majority, we are joyous."

May day rally in Caracas

Panama, unions celebrated May Day with marches and rallies in the historic Cinco de Mayo Square in Panama City. During the events, workers demand salary increase, freedom of unions, better working condition and called for a constitutive process for Panama's May 3 elections. The Single Workers union of Construction and Similar (Suntracs) urged the Panamanian government to raise the workers' salaries.

Cuban leader Raul Castro, along with more than 2,000 friends of Cuba from 70 countries and 200 unions across the world, attended the May Day celebration with a slogan "united, productive and efficient" in Revolution Square in Havana.

General Secretary from the Workers Central of Cuba (CTC) Salvador Valdes Mesa reaffirmed Cuban workers' support for the Socialism under the leadership of Cuban former leader Fidel Castro and leader Raul Castro.

Meanwhile, a traditional parade, led by professors, students as well as health care workers, which are considered important parts of the Cuban Revolution, was held.

In Honduras, thousands of workers shouted "Entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs pay a good salary", "people want to talk, let's hold a people's consultation" during a march to celebrate the May Day. The workers also demanded more safety and price cuts in basic products.

In Uruguay, the single workers Union (PIT-CNT) called for unity of the Latin American people and governments in order to tide over the global economic crisis.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said one of the challenges for her government is to create more jobs amid the world economic crisis at a May Day breakfast with a group of "home advisors" in the Santa Zita foundation.

In Pakistan, there were May Day demonstrations in all the major cities in three provinces, including Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad.

In Sindh, the Pakistan People’s Party-led provincial government banned all May Day demonstrations, using as a pretext the ethnic violence that erupted in Karachi on April 29 and resulted in more than 30 deaths. The People’s Labour Bureau, the trade union wing of the PPP, supported the ban.

In the Philippines, 7,000 demonstrators marched in Manila to Mendiola and the US embassy, as police blockaded the streets in central Manila. Protesters denounced President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s offer for the unemployed to join the armed forces, noting that the daily cost of living for a family is pegged at 922 pesos, while the minimum wage is 382 pesos per day. Protesters also held rallies at Olongapo City and Subic Bay.

On thesame day, a government-run job fair offered 200,000 overseas jobs in construction, engineering and other work, attracting thousands of applicants in cities across the country.

In South Korea, 16,000 demonstrators converged on the National Assembly in Seoul, demanding job protection, employment and the resignation of conservative President Lee Myung-bak. Several protesters were detained after clashes with riot police.

In India, workers took part in a May Day march in New Delhi protesting job and wage cuts. The protest was organized by the Indian Federation of Trade Unions. Workers all over the southern state of Kerala observed the day, holding marches and meetings.

In Kolkata, the capital of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, workers participated in a May Day rally and meeting. They carried placards denouncing India’s foreign policy, imperialism and communalism.

In Chennai, the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, about 2,000 workers participated in a May Day rally and about 3,000 gathered for the meeting at the conclusion of the rally. They were organized jointly by the Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), union federations affiliated to two main Stalinist parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)—CPM—and the Communist Party of India (CPI) respectively.

Perambur, where the rally and meeting were held, is a working class area in the city. Workers from the Chennai port and docks, as well as railway and municipal workers, bank and insurance workers, rickshaw drivers and workers from various auto manufacturing plants, took part in the rally and meeting. There was also a group of women workers from the unorganized sector. The groups marched under their respective union banners.

In Andhra pradesh also various functions were conducted by trade unions in commemoration of May day. In Karnataka too rallies and meetings were conducted

The day of the poor of the world

REFLECTIONS BY COMRADE FIDEL

Karl Marx made a call for unity: "Workers of All Countries, Unite," although many poor people were not proleterian. Lenin called more broadly still for the peasants and colonized peoples to struggle united under the leadership of the proletariat.

The celebratory date was chosen as homage to the martyrs of Chicago, when on May 1, 1886, they initiated a strike in a capitalist country whose working masses suffered unemployment and other calamities associated with economic crises that are inseparable from the system.

Their rights were not recognized, and the the bourgeoisie regarded the unions as if they were terrorist organizations, enemies of the people of the United States.

Later the capitalists resorted to their best weapons: division and economism to dismantle the revolutionary struggle. The workers’ movement divided, and for many, in the midst of reigning poverty, union demands were the principal objective, more than change in the society.

The United States became the imperialist country with the greatest difference in income between the rich and the poor. In the shadow of its hegemony, Latin America became, for its part, the area of the Third World where the inequalities between rich and poor were more profound. The rich enjoyed levels of life comparable with those of the bourgeoisies of the developed European countries. The notion of Homeland had disappeared in the richest strata of the population.

A collision between the superpower of the North and the Cuban Revolution was inevitable. The heroic resistance of the people of our tiny country was underestimated.

Today they are prepared to pardon us if we resign ourselves to return to the fold as slaves, who after knowing freedom, accept anew the whip and yoke.

Today the planet is debating amidst economic crises, pandemics, climatic changes, dangers of war and other concurrent problems. The political task becomes more complicated, and there are still many who have illusions that the peoples can be manipulated like puppets.

The last word has not been said about the future evolution of the current U.S. administration. There are new elements, both of an objective as well as subjective character. We carefully study and observe each one of its steps. We are neither incendiary as some imagine, nor dumb as to be easily fooled by those who believe that the only thing that matters in the world are the laws of the market and the capitalist system of production. We all have the duty to struggle for peace; there is no other alternative. However, the adversary should never have the illusion that Cuba will surrender.

We hope that every May Day thousands of men and women from all corners of the planet will share with us the International Workers Day that we have celebrated for the last 50 years. Not in vain, long before January 1, 1959, we had proclaimed that our Revolution would be the Revolution of the humble, by the humble, and for the humble. The successes of our Homeland in the sphere of education, health, science, culture and other branches, and especially in the strength and unity of the people, have shown this, in spite of the cruel blockade.

Fidel Castro Ruz
April 30, 2009

(Source : Granma)

CITU May Day Manifesto - 2009

On the occasion of May Day – 2009, the day of the international solidarity and unity of the working class, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) extends warmest revolutionary greetings to the entire working class and the toiling people of the country and the world as a whole. The CITU re-affirms its commitment to class struggle and complete emancipation of the human society from all forms of exploitation.

Fight the Imperialist Machinations

On this May Day the CITU condemns the aggressive hegemonic machinations of the imperialist forces led by US imperialism. Iraq and Afghanistan continues under US military occupation. While in Iraq resistance is growing from within, the US occupation of Afghanistan is contributing in deteriorating political situation in Pakistan.

Israel continues to occupy Palestinian and Arab territories. The recent Gaza massacre by Israeli military forces is the latest examples of imperialist brutality against humanity. Moreover, the US is continuing with its conspiracy to attack Iran, Syria, DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea).

On the issue of deployment of Missile Defence System in Europe, contradiction between USA and Russia is getting aggravated despite change of guard in US Administration.

Special Significance of This Year's May Day

This year's May Day shall be observed by the working class all over the world at a time when neo-liberal economic ideology under finance capital driven imperialist globalization has collapsed and the world is in the grip of a worst ever capitalist economic crisis since the Great Depression of 1930s. According to Cuban President Fidel Castro, "But it is not the usual crisis that happen every certain number of years, or even traumatic crisis of 1930; rather, the worst of all since the world started to pursue this model of growth and development."

True, neo-liberalism has been totally exposed and "the crisis has certainly destroyed the credibility of the neo-liberal ideology." The neo-liberal policies must be reversed and the struggle must march forward towards the ultimate goal of a new people oriented progressive social order. We must understand that the birth of a new social order over the graveyard of neo-liberalism is not automatic but depends on how far the working class movement would successfully organize the fight against the system in strict adherence to ideology of class struggle.

Impact of the Crisis on Working People

According to a ILO forecast in January this year, by the end of 2009 world unemployment could increase by 5 crore (50 millions) over 2007 alone reaching to 23 crore (230 millions) and besides that the number of working poor increasing by 20 crore (200 millions). Closure, lay offs, retrenchment, wage freeze, withdrawal or reduction in social security measures etc has been pushed to a dangerous dimension by the employers' class. Already 3.8 crore (38 millions) people have lost their jobs over last couple of months whereas job creation is going to be far below compared to what it was two years ago.

Private business houses are given huge financial support at the expense of Government exchequers in the name of bail-out packages. Huge concessions are doled out to the capitalist class through repeated reduction in capital cost, interst-rate, tax cuts etc. instead of job protection and employment generation. Around 32 governments, which had spent about 1.19 trillion US dollars on stimulus packages, had spent a meager 9.2 per cent on relief to suffering people. The so called stimulus packages are mainly aimed at heating the financial markets for the benefit of the speculation and finance capital and the amount flowing for real economy are a meager less than one fifth of the total financial bailout packages. The Director General of ILO has commented, "People, Families and Communities did not create the crisis and yet they carry the highest human costs. And they are legitimately protesting."

World-wide Wave of Strikes

The world is reverberating with Strikes and militant Street Demonstrations as well as different other forms of struggles participated by millions and millions of worker to protest against brazen neglect of toiling people by the Governments in handling the economic crisis. It is a situation of "billions for banks, pennies for people."

The countries under the European Union have witnessed the maximum protest action. Eight national Federations of Trade Unions of France have jointly organized two giant strikes in quick succession. On 29th January and on 19th March this year hundreds of thousands of French workers marched through the streets of the cities of France including Paris. The next action is on the May Day in which ten lakh (one million) workers will take out 200 rallies all over France.

On 13 February the Metal Workers’ Union had strike work in Italy. In solidarity with the strikers, "In Rome 700,000 blue and white collar workers marched side by side, in a unity that has not been seen in Italy for some time." Russia also witnessed militant street rallies in almost every major city in January. In Britain sectoral strikes took place in different industries. More than one hundred thousand workers from different Eurepean countries jointly staged millitant demonstration in London on 2nd April 09 at the venue of meeting of G-20 leaders including Obama, Gordon Brown, Sarkozy, Manmohan Singh.

Shocking Acts of the UPA Government

In our country the neo-liberal policies were introduced by the Congress Party-led Government headed by late Narsimha Rao with Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister. And the BJP-led NDA Government pursued the same policies more vigorously and caused maximum damage to the economy. During NDA regime, many blue chip capital rich CPSUs were sold out almost free of cost and involving deep corruption. After the defeat of BJP-led NDA in the hustings, the Congress party-led UPA Government that followed thereafter also tried to follow the same path leading to the present crisis.

In India the export-oriented sectors like textile and apparels, information technology and ITES segments, gems and jewelleries, leather, tea, automobile parts, construction, aviation etc. have already been seriously affected. Moreover Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) have been hit hard. There has been full or partial closure of industrial units, particularly the export oriented ones, then cut in production in the industries due to down turn in the market and resultant retrenchment, lay off etc. The official figure of job losses so far is only five hundred thousand but the actual figure of job-losses are many times more and this is increasing by leaps and bounds every day.

The bail-out packages of the UPA Government are still prioritizing on pumping funds to financial market to allure foreign and Indian speculators and not at all on protecting employment, promoting public investment in agriculture, infrastructure, public services and material production and expanding social security and public distribution system – which alone can improve purchasing power of the people, expand domestic market and save the national economy and the mass of the people from the onslaught of the crisis. By their perverse actions, the Congress led UPA has clearly demonstrated that their commitment is not to the people and the country's interest but to the big Corporates and their strategic partners in the imperialist block.

The Ongoing Parliamentary Elections

This year May Day is being observed by the Indian working class in the midst of the on going parliamentary elections. The political parties in the electoral fray are mainly identified into three combinations. A major set back suffered by the UPA and the NDA led by the Congress party and the BJP respectively is that some of their major constituents have deserted them. On the other hand the Left parties have succeeded in launching the Non-Congress non-BJP Third Alternative. Reckoning fact is that the right from the inception the Third Alternative is continuously strengthening with support from different political parties. With every passing day the possibility of formation of an Alternative Government without BJP or Congress party at the centre after the elections is becoming more and more brighter.

The country needs a Government at the centre that would completely reverse the economic policies which have created the crisis and adopt new policies concretely directed to address the sufferings of the people inflicted by the economic crisis. Need of the hour is protection of jobs, generation of new employment, stimulating domestic market by empowering the people economically. Speculative economic activities must be rejected. In other words, not only dismantling of public sector must be stopped but further strengthened by fresh investment by Government.

This year's May Day calls for intensified campaign by working class to fight communalism and religious fundamentalism. The BJP-led NDA is dangerous for their rabid communal and divisive agenda. The election manifesto of BJP has revived its 'hindutva' agenda and made the 'Ram Mandir' an election issue. The Gujarat and Kandhmal (Orissa) carnage apart, communal riots has become the hall mark of the BJP ruled states. The BJP’s game plan is to divide the working class and divide the people.

Moreover, the fight against terrorism and the casteist forces are also very much important. On this May Day the working class of India has to take the pledge to relentlessly fight the forces pausing serious threat to national integrity, communal amity and unity of the working class till these forces are decisively defeated.

On this May Day let us remember that crores of Indian worker participated in 12 nation-wide general strikes, scores of industry-wise strikes and innumerable agitations, demonstrations and other forms of action against neo-liberalism in the country. But for these struggles of the Left Parties against UPA Government's move to privatize banking sector and opening up insurance sector to foreign insurance companies, privatize the pension and social security funds etc, the impact of the meltdown of stock market and consequent financial crisis would have been much more severe than what the country is experiencing today. Enactment of PFRDA Bill aimed at facilitating speculation with pension funds could be stalled by the Left Political Parties and Left Trade Union movement and has saved the social security savings amounting to thousands of crores of rupees belonging to lakhs of workers from the great risk of being wiped out anytime due to down turn in stock market, as has happened in USA and European countries. Unfortunately access to Provident Fund money has been granted to private mutual funds including Reliance Capital by the UPA Government. The working class will have to fight to reverse the decision.

This May Day enjoins upon the toiling people of the country a vital responsibility to ensure the defeat of the Congress-led UPA and the BJP-led NDA in the on going parliamentary elections. At the same time the victory of the Left, Democratic and Secular Alternative must be ensured so that an Alternative Government is formed after this elections at the centre.

The Pledge of May Day 2009

This year's May Day pledge must be to intensify class struggle at the level of nation states and to consolidate the international unity of the working class to fight the menacing burdens of the economic crisis – principally, job losses, wage freeze, casualisation of employment, deterioration in quality of employment, social security, protection of the rights of migrant workers.

Long Live International Solidarity of the Working Class
Down with Imperialist Globalisation
Down with Neo-liberal capitalist Path
Down with Capitalism
Forward to Socialism
Workers of the world, Unite!

First May Day In India

"There will come a time when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today!"

August Spies
Haymarket Martyr

Although internationally, mainly in the West, observance of May Day began in the year 1890, its observance in India started at a much later. Labour movement itself began in India much later than that in the west european countries and the USA because of extremely delayed growth of industries in colonial India. In 1889 whe the world socialist leaders met in Paris and formed the Second International and on that occassion called upon the working class to observe May Day Internationally, they did it from an ardent international outlook. Even though Western newspapers and certain Indian newspapers published the news of Haymarket tragedy and execution of the May Day heroes, hardy anybody in India at that time had that extent of political and social awareness as to grasp the significance of those events.
May Day with all its revelutionaly significance was first observed in India in 1923. The AITUC was formed in 1920 and along with the formation of the emigre Communist Party in the same year, Some Communit groups were formed in India. Even the AITUC did not call for May Day observance before 1927. But itall goes to the credit of revolutionary spirit of Singaravelu Chettiar that he took the first individual initiative in organizing May Day Rally in Madras in 1923. Singaravelu chettiar was one of the earlies believers in Marxism. He formed Hindustan Labour Kisan Party in 1923, correspondance with M N Roy, who was in charge of emigre Communist party contributed to the formation. He also published Labour Kisan Gazette and Thozilalan wwekly. He was also arrested in the Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case of 1924.
The Hindu published from Madras covered the news of May Day celebreations. According to the report 2 may day meetings were held in Madras - one presided over by Singaravelu chettiar aa the beach opp. High Court and the other at Triplicane beach presided over by S Krishnaswamy Sarma. Hindu reported there was an enthusiastic gathering of labourers. The Hindu summed up Sigaravelu's speech of the May day meeting at Madras sea beach in the following words:

M Singaravelu Chettiar in explaining the significance of the day, said that the 1st May was a sacred day for the worlkers all over the world. The labourers in India also should celebrate the day ina amanner befitting their position and signify their coopration with their comrades in other parts of theglobe and also lay the foundation stone of a laboru office so that inthe years to come it might attain its full growth and be a source of strenght othe suffering labourers in this coutnry. It should also make them realise that they belonged to one class...Further the party aimed at the solidarity of labour for a common end. In the natural process of evolution labour would ultimately wield power after putting forth a great struggle.

Singaravelu also hoisted red flag in his residence on that day. However after this first inidvidual effort by Singaravelu to observe May Day, in some other centres also May Day was observed subsequently on the basis of local efforts.

Source : May Day and 'Eight Hours' Struggle in India" by Sukomal Sen

Com Prakash Karat visited P Mohan in hospital

CPIM General Secretary Com. Prakash Karat today visited P Mohan, CPIM MP and candidate from Madurai consituency in hospital. Mohan, seeking re-election from the constituency for the third time, has been admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai and undergone surgey after he developed pain in his stomach while campaigning last night, CPI(M) said in a statement .

"The candidate is not in a position to meet the people to seek votes. Under this circumstances, AIADMK, CPIM and leaders of allies will canvass for Mohan," CPI(M)'s Madurai Rural and Urban District Secretaries V Sundaram and R Annadurai said.

Com Prakash Karat enquired with the doctors on the health condition of P Mohan and wished him an early recovery. Com Prakash Karat was accompanied by The Editor of Hindu Newspaper Mr. N Ram and T K Rangarajan MP.

Lal Lal Laherayega, Amra Delhi Jayega

CPIM Rally in Sikar

The writing on the wall is quite clear, Amra Ram,CPI(M) central committee member and four-time MLA's entry into the electoral struggle in Sikar parliamentary constituency had become a nightmare to the BJP and Congress. Sikar is considerd to be the bastion of communist movement in Rajastan. As Frontline denotes:

"Unlike the dominant parties in the State and some others who are trying to get a foothold on the basis of “social engineering”, the Left parties do not bother about “caste calculations”. In fact, the CPI(M) managed to win the three Assembly seats, for the first time, on the basis of the movements and struggles it had organised",

CPIM made foothold in the region through numerous struggles for the cause of the people. Comrade Vasudev, CPIM State Secretary said, CPI(M) had launched many a struggle in this region on the question of electricity and water. At least eight of its workers, including a woman, had lost theirlives in the police firing by Rani's (Vasundhara Raje’s) government. The successful struggle for the implementation of the NREGA in Sikar district has also helped in widening the base of the Party among the landless and rural poor. Whether it was the struggle of peasants and youth or whether it was the struggle against the price rise or any thing, Amra Ram and CPI(M) had been in the forefront supporting their issues and forcefully raising them in Rajasthan state assembly for fifteen years. He futher added "In the last election, CPI(M) gave a call to defeat BJP and Congress and to increase the number of Left representation from 'ek to anek'. People had supported us and increased our strength from the usual single MLA to three MLAs. With the six members of the BSP who got elected joining Congress en bloc, the CPI(M) has become the third largest party in the assembly.This time around our slogan is "Kam Se Kam Ek". He appealed to the people of Sikar saying that the time has come for them to support to send Amra Ram to Delhi to raise the voice of the poor and downtrodden and kisans, not only of Sikar but of Rajasthan because no one raises those issue in the Lok Sabha from Rajasthan.
Sikar parliamentary constituency consists of dhod, dantaramgarh, sikar, laxmangarh, khandela, srimadhopur, neemkathana and chomu assembly segments. In the 2008 assembly elections CPIM won the assembly segments of Dhod and Dataramgarh. Pema Ram and Amra Ram were elected from there. Party polled 47,840 and 45,909 votes respectively from these 2 constituenceis. In Lakshmangarh and Sikar party lost the battle by narrow margin. In Khandela and Srimadhopur party polled around 17000 and 20000 respectively. We didnt contested neemkathana and chomu segments. The party and its machinery is working to make inroads in the last two assembly segments by concentrating more and according to reports there is overwhelming responce from the people. The campaign is in full peak now and popular party leaders from other districts too are campaining in sikar. More than 7000 people attended when our candidate submitted his nomination form.The workers are fully charged and we are also get ting good financial support from people . Forseeing the defeat the dissatisfied bjp members are siding with congress. But our party workers are quite confident that Lal Lal Laherayega, Amra Delhi Jayega

President Rafael Correa Consolidates Revolution in Ecuador

Quito, April 27 — The re-election of Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa in Sunday’s election is an example of the people’s support for change in the country.

While not yet official, the election results confirm survey findings: Correa would win in the first round. A rapid recount by the Participación Ciudadana nongovernmental organization, with 71.5% of the votes counted, places Correa of the Movimiento Alianza País in first place with 51.7%, and Lucio Gutiérrez of the Partido Sociedad Patriótica second, with 28.4% of the vote, EFE reports.

These figures motivated Correa, leader of the Alianza Pais Movement, to announce his victory in the first round of the general elections, characterized as historic in the South American nation. No other candidate has won in the first electoral round since 1976. The triumph allows Correa to govern until 2013.

For the Head of State, this was an “overwhelming victory” and committed himself in advancing in his Citizen’s Revolution in favor of the poor in Ecuador who, said Correa, “we will never deceive”.

In his opinion, these elections are an example that the population supports reforms in the country in “order to advance in the construction of 21st Century Socialism”.

President Rafael Correa surpassed the hardships and once again buried the traditional parties and representatives that inflicted political instability in the past.

Correa’s victory strengthens his policy against the US imposed Free Trade Agreement, US presence the Manta military base and free trade.

It consolidates Latin American integration, the diversification of socio economic relations with the nations to the South.

Correa stressed that “the Revolution is underway and nothing will stop it, the majority voted for a better future”.

(COURTESY : Granma)

Coimbatore For a Repeatition of 1967

P R Natarajan on campaign

South Indian Manchester, as it is commonly called, The south Indian city of Coimbatore holds the legacy of many a glorious struggles before and after independence.Coimbatore has for long been a bastion of working class movement and struggle. It had been known as ‘South Indian Manchester’ in view of the large cluster of textile mills that sprang up here during the British Raj. The late lamented freedom fighter V O Chidambaram Pillai laid the foundation of the trade union movement here by forming the first ever union in 1920. The textile workers under the red flag had waged many a heroic struggle on this soil. Comrades K Ramani, P Ramamurti, P Jeevanandam and A S K Iyengar had taken the leading role in organizing these workers and leading their struggles. Many have become martyrs during such struggles. Notable among them are the four mill workers of Chinniyampalayam (who were falsely implicated in a murder case and hanged to death in 1946) Abhai, Uppilipalayam Muthu, Selvapuram Poosari, Rackiannan and others. Tirupur Kumaran who laid down his life for the cause of our national flag belonged to this Coimbatore district .
Way back in 1967, on the occasion of General elections to the parliament Coibatore constituency saw a unique fight. Between a Big Industrialist and a Humble Mill worker. Pollachi alias Mahalinga who was a big textile industrialist and Mill owner was one person. The other person was Com. K Ramani one of the stalwarts of communist movement in Tamil Nadu, was a mill worker. In that electoral battle between the odds K Ramani became victorious by a huge margin of more than 1.5 lak votes. Such is the legacy of that consituency.

Com. K Ramani

Now Coimbatore had become a graveyard for industries. The globalization policies which started by 1990's and the recent economic meltdown had resulted in the closure of many industries in the district. Due to this closure of textile industries around 2 lakh people lost there jobs and around 1.5 lakh people lost jobs due to the closure of motorpump production units. Around 1 lakh people who were engaged in gold related works too have to leave there jobs. Adding to the burden DMK government's policy of Power cut increased the cut down in jobs.
It is in this context that the 15th Lok sabha election is going to be held. This time around, the constituency is seeing a repeatition of the 1967 elections. On the one hand CPIM candidate, Com P R Natarajan, who is worker is facing congress candidate and sitting Nilagiri Mp and also the owner of many mills, R Prabhu. PR Natarajan is among the people for the last 36 years in their struggles and activities. He is quite a familier face to the people of coimbatore. Another striking coincidence to the 1967 election is that PR Natarajan is the son in law of Com. K Ramani.
Palladam, Sullur, Kounderpalayam, Coimbatore South, Coimbatore North and Singanellure Assembly constituencies make up the Coimbatore Parliamentary constituency. Third front is quite confident that the people of coimbatore will uphold the great legacy of this constituency by voting Com. P R Natarajan with a huge margin.