International Communist Movement and our role by C P Gajurel "Gaurav" Vice Chairman of CPN Maoist
Democracy and Class Struggle welcomes this article by Comrade Gajurel has it outlines a path for International Communist Unity not only rejecting Prachanda's Neo Revisionism but also RCPUSA's New Synthesis.
The Anti Imperialist character of the Bolivarian Movement in South America is noted has is importance of Nepal establishing friendly relations with North Korea, Cuba etc.
Democracy and Class Struggle agrees with comment of Comrade Gajurel that :
"Therefore,
the need of the hour is to carry on the positive discussions and
debates aiming to unite all genuine Maoist forces in a single centre and
forge new unity in the new basis.
It
is necessary to change the negative situation of non-functional
condition of two centres into a positive step of forging a new and
single centre.
We should utilize this opportunity to unify the Maoist forces in a single centre rather than to make effort to revive the old centre or centres."
Communist
Movement is an international movement in itself. Because of the common
guiding principle, common ideology, common goal et al it is quite
natural that it contains international character. Therefore, communist
movement of a single country is also an international communist
movement, side by side. All the communists of the world should realize
the essence of communism that 'either we all will reach or none of us'.
Our
glorious party, CPN (Maoist) being a vanguard of international
proletariat, the revolution of Nepal being most advance revolution in
the contemporary world, it is obvious that our party should play more
important role. Based on the present situation of the international
communist movement, the question of how we can make our role more
effective and how we can seek cooperation or how to strengthen unity is a
question of vital importance for all genuine communists. The course
that the world revolution can be advanced is by making revolution in one
or some countries, communist revolutionaries would be advancing the
world revolution by accomplishing revolution in their own country. We
are advancing the task of making revolution in Nepal, we are also
advancing world revolution side by side. The neo-revisionist
Prachanda-Baburam group has not only betrayed and deceived the Nepalese
revolution, but also betrayed the world revolution as well. This is the
reason why communists of many countries are criticizing and exposing
them.
In
the historic Seventh Congress of our Party which was successfully held
on January 9-15, 2013, the delegates from various fraternal and friendly
parties all the way from Canada, USA, Turkey to India expressed their
solidarity expressing that 'you advance the Nepalese revolution, we are
always with you' and also congratulated for breaking with the renegade
Prachanda-Baburam group. It was a contrast that the foreign delegates
who attended the Hetauda congress of neo-revisionists "congratulated"
them for giving up the revolutionary path and for being degenerated to
revisionism. These events also confirm that the Nepalese revolution
assumes international character.
An
organization of international level is essential and unavoidable to
lead and conduct this international movement. This is the reason why
First International was established under the initiative and leadership
of great Marx himself. As its continuation, Second and Third
Internationals were successively established under the leadership of
Engels and Lenin, by breaking relation with opportunists.
Imperialism is also an international phenomena and its character had been so right from the beginning.
Imperialism has further broadened and internationalized itself while arriving at the end of 20th Century.
It
has formulated parliamentary multiparty system in politics, human
rights in social sector; liberalization, globalization, World Bank,
international monetary fund in economic sector, 'international court of
justice' in judicial sector and NATO in military sector. It is all the
more necessary for the communists to establish proletarian international
centre and to strengthen it. The genuine communist revolutionaries of
the world should realize this fact.
Absence of International: a broken chain
We
have already stated about the international character of communist
movement. Commonness in ideology, philosophy and aim demand
international organization to advance communist movement. Marx, Engels
and Lenin not only realized it in principle but put into practice as
well. "Communist League" was established in 1847 as an international
organization of communists. Marx himself had taken initiative and
leadership of this organization.
It
gave responsibility to Marx and Engels to prepare its manifesto.
"Communist Manifesto" the first authentic document of communists came
out in 1848. First international was dissolved on 1876 due to various
reasons. After that, the Second international was reestablished on 1889
under the leadership of Engels. In course of time the leadership of
second international was usurped by the right opportunists and third
international was reestablished under the leadership of Lenin. Despite
his poor health, he continued to lead it as a powerful instrument to
advance the world revolution.
Stalin
led the international communist movement after the demise of Lenin.
United front against fascism was forged at the initiative of Stalin
during the Second World War. The imperialist countries demanded the
dissolution of the Communist International (Comintern) as a precondition
to forge anti-fascist united front with them. Eventually it was
formally dissolved on 1943. Stalin initiated 'Cominform' in place of
Comintern after the end of the WW 2. But it was limited as simply centre
of exchange of information. The debate is still going on in the
international communist movement about whether it was correct to
dissolve the communist international at the cost of defense of socialist
state of Russia and for the sake of forging unity with the imperialist
countries.
After
that Com. Mao emerged as outstanding leader of international communist
movement. He provided leadership to the ICM, however concrete initiative
for establishing New International could not take place. Definitely
there are various reasons behind it, nevertheless it is a matter of
debate in the ICM till today. In this way there is a break of chain in
the ICM. The negative experience that the Comintern was functioning
as a "world party" and "imposing decisions to the parties from above",
might have caused problem in its initiation. Correct and important idea
is to discard the negative experiences of the Commintern and create the
basis for the formation of international organization of genuine
communist parties by applying the positive experiences. In this way, to
link the broken chain of ICM is important task of the communists today.
Establishing 'RIM' as an international centre
As
an effort to link the broken chain, Revolutionary Internationalist
Movement (RIM) was formed as it was called "the embryonic centre", in
1984 at an International Conference of Marxist-Leninist parties and
organisations consisting of 19 parties and organisations including the
then Communist Party of Nepal (Mashal), Communist Party of Peru,
Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, CRC, CPI(ML), TKP (ML) etc. The
Conference also adopted 'Declaration of RIM' which laid
ideological-political basis of unity at the international level.
Committee of RIM was formed to provide the leadership to the Movement.
The 'RIM' has played quite a significant role in a short span of time as
follows:
(a)
Marxism-Leninism-Mao Thought was considered as the ideological basis of
unity right at the time of its inception. In a significant development
the expanded meeting of the RIM in 1993 decided to develop its guiding
ideology from Marxism-Leninism-Mao thought to Marxism –Leninism-Maoism.
This decision proved to be so historical that the genuine communist
parties which were not included in the RIM also adopted and implemented
it later.
(b)
the task of carrying out propaganda and support campaign—the act of
carrying out propaganda in favour of the People's War led by the
Communist Party of Peru and People's War advanced in Nepal under the
leadership of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) deserves to be praised.
(c)worldwide campaign was conducted to save the lives of those comrades who were captured by the reactionary states.
(d)
role played by the RIM in forging communist parties in different
countries and efforts being made to bring the communist parties within
the fold of RIM.(e) Important contribution in ideological-political
area—RIM used to publish 'A World to Win' a theoretical Maoist journal
in various languages and also brought out 'News Service' an online
political bulletin, thus making important contribution in MLM ideology
and politics.
(e)
Organizing an international mass organization—In the later period,
international mass organization, World People's Resistance Movement
(WPRM) was organized in various countries of the world under the direct
or indirect leadership of the RIM. But, it is a matter of worry that now
'RIM' has not only become passive, but also heading to a situation of
zero. Therefore, reorganization of an international centre comprising of
genuine communists has become an urgent task for us. Therefore, this
task has become an agenda of priority for us.
Difference relating to the inception of RIM
During
the time of inception of the RIM in 1984, the then Communist Party of
India (ML)(PW), Maoist Communist Centre of India and Communist Party of
the Philippines were not included, which was biggest weakness.
In
the contemporary International Communist Movement, CPI(Maoist) and
Communist Party of Philippines have significant position and role. Both
the parties are constantly waging people's wars in their respective
countries.
The
inception of RIM without incorporating the two Maoist parties was an
incomplete task. The debate of international centre of this type should
be started or not was going on during the time of its formation and the
same debate is still continuing in different ways. In this context the
opinion that there are some negative examples in the latest period when
Stalin was leading, such as, the International was acting as a "world
communist party", "the centre dictating the small parties" leads to the
conclusion that such International should not be formed. Apart from that
there was an argument regarding the question of forming anti-fascist
united front and defending socialist Russia, which was the base area of
the ICM, at the cost of dissolution of the Third International was
correct or incorrect. It has been proved to be correct that the
inception of 'RIM' with an understanding that the debates should be
accepted as debates within the ICM and should be continued in a friendly
way.
C
P I (Maoist) and Communist Party of Philipines have already adopted
Marxism-Leninism-Maoism as the guiding ideology of the party. Both the
parties are continuing armed struggle to advance the New Democratic
Revolution. Both the parties opined that Moist International Centre is
essential. In this context, keeping them out of the 'RIM' will certainly
hinder the efforts of strengthening and raising it higher.
Why was the unity within the RIM declining?
Two
parties, namely CRC,CPI(ML) of India and TKP (ML) of Turkey which were
in the RIM Committee decided to stay in the RIM but withdraw from the
Committee. Also the Communist Party of Peru had decided to send its
representative in a status of observer not that of a delegate. These
events definitely played a role of weakening the RIM.
In
course of time Communist Party of Peru (PCP) decided to add "Gonzalo
Thought" in its guiding ideology. Many parties including our party
opposed this decision. After a couple of years of arrest of its chairman
Com Gonzalo in 1992, a proposal of "peace accord" was floated from
inside the prison stating that it "was from the Party". The dispute of
who was the author of this proposal entered in the RIM as well. One
section of the PCP blamed "right opportunists" of the party who
capitulated with the enemy for this act and called it a "hoax". Another
section, especially who were languished in prison claimed that Gonzalo
himself was the author of this proposal. Gonzalo's opinion could not
come out officially because he was completely kept in isolation. RCP
which represents in the Committee advocated that Gonzalo is behind the
"peace accord". It further helped deteriorating the relation of PCP with
the RIM.
When
our party, CPN(Maoist) decided to add "Prachanda path" in the guiding
ideology of the party, all other parties were against it. It caused some
rift in the relation of CPN(Maoist) and the RIM. But it is wrong to say
that it was the only reason for the RIM to be passive. The main reason
of division and situation of RIM to go through a crisis is the
liquidation of Prachanda-Baburam to right opportunist line. It was a
good thing
that we continued to establish relation with our fraternal and friendly
communist parties when we were in the same party with the renegades
Prachanda and Baburam and so we are now in a situation of forging
international unity and working actively to carry out joint activities
with all these parties.
Apart
from all this, a new debate is going on the question of "New Synthesis"
propounded by Com Bob Avakian, Chairman of RCP,USA. It seems that we
should be firm in standing against the idea that "it was a new dimension
in the development of MLM" and trying to impose it as a basis of unity
in the ICM. What we have discussed above makes clear that the efforts to
impose different types of "synthesis" has merely bred split in the ICM.
It is necessary to take lessons from the past mistakes and to be
careful about such wrong trends.
ICML as another Centre
In
spite of many rounds of talks between representatives of RIM and
CPI(Maoist), CPP, incorporation of the two parties could not be
materialized. In the later period, one side was not accepting the
nomenclature of 'RIM' and its organization and other side was sticking
to the nomenclature and organization, which also became main hurdle for
the unity.
International
Conference of Marxist-Leninist parties (ICML) was organized in the
initiative of CPI(Maoist) and CPP, which incepted a centre. Its
influence became very limited. It also decided to organize an
international mass organization called 'International League for
People's Struggle' (ILPS). It is amalgamation of so many loose
organisations that to take collective decisions was not possible let
alone implementing the decisions.
It
is true that RIM is more influential than ICML,however division of the
Maoist parties in two different centres is quite bad. We have to pay
serious attention to this point.
Two Centres and question of new initiative
The
point of how Maoist Parties are divided into two different centres has
already been mentioned above. At this point of time both the centres
have become passive and very weak. None of them are functioning. It is
reflection of the fact that the idea of two different centres of Maoists
is not correct.
Some
parties and organisations are also taking initiative to reorganize the
RIM forces. Reality is that anyway if it succeeds, again all the Maoist
parties and organisations t will not come together and same problem will
recur. Therefore, the need of the hour is to carry on the positive
discussions and debates aiming to unite all genuine Maoist forces in a
single centre and forge new unity in the new basis. It is necessary to
change the negative situation of non-functional condition of two centres
into a positive step of forging a new and single centre. We should
utilize this opportunity to unify the Maoist forces in a single centre rather than to make effort to revive the old centre or centres.
We
should come out of the prejudice of who was in which international
centre. We should utilize our efforts in organizing all genuine Maoist
forces in a single centre and strengthen it for advancing the world
revolution.
Anti-imperialist Movement
There
are many parties and organisations in various parts of the world
including India, which were parts of the Marxist-Leninist Movement. Some
parties are cadre based and have some mass bases and some organisations
are confined in bringing out their organ through which they are
identified. Though all of them are not Maoists, but most of them are
anti-imperialists. They cannot make any significant contribution in the
revolution of their own country and for the world revolution if they
remain isolated. If they are united in a loose anti-imperialist movement
a significant energy can be accumulated by their collective strength.
We should consider them as friends and help them to be organized in
support of revolutionary struggle and anti-imperialist,
anti-expansionist struggle.
The
people of the oppressed countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America are
still fighting against the domestic reactionaries and foreign
imperialism in their own way. It is not possible for them to fight and
get victory individually against stronger reactionary forces. It is
quite necessary to help them organize by forging front at international
level. Only a genuine Maoist party can fulfill this task. Other forces
cannot fulfill this task.
Presence
of the representatives of various friendly parties and organisations
all the way from Canada, USA, Turkey to India during the historic
Seventh National Congress of our party which was successfully completed
in the last January reflects such a possibility.
Relation with states
Once,
almost two third of the world population was under the banner of
socialism. But due to the events of counter revolution staged by the
leadership of communist parties and socialist states, the socialism went
on squeezing and now it is confined at the stage of strategic defence.
The
anti-socialist "democratic movements" designated by the imperialist
powers swept away the "socialist states" of East European pro-soviet
block during the '90s. The governments of communist parties and
socialist states have been reduced to quite few.
If
we can have a good relation with those survived, it can be of great
help to the revolutionaries and the people against the onslaught of
domestic and foreign reactionaries.
This
relation can play significant role for the development of revolutionary
movement, to protect the revolutionary parties and to bring the balance
of power in favour of the revolutionaries. It is necessary to develop
relation with countries like China, North Korea, Cuba, Latin American
countries. In the context of Nepal, the relation with China attaches
great importance.
The
wave of Bolivarian revolution in Latin America can be considered as
anti- US imperialist wave. The "socialism" that has been achieved in
Latin American countries differs from the scientific socialism and
communism envisaged by communist parties. However it is necessary to
salute the revolutionary changes that the people have brought after
heroic struggles. We should make serious efforts to develop friendly
relation with them. We should understand the significance of balance of
power in favour of revolutionary movement.
Prospect of revolution is bright
In
the present situation, making revolution in any country is a very
challenging task. In today's world it is necessary to make international
situation favourable in order to accomplish the revolution. The
international situation is not readily favourable, it should be made
favourable by formulating a correct line and implementing it with hard
work. Now what a favourable situation we have, was not with us during
the period of People's War. We should be able to utilize this situation
perfectly.
It
is not possible to complete the revolution by unleashing only our
force. It is necessary to accumulate strength by making long term or
short term united front with the forces which can stand in favour of the
people and nation.
We
have to pay attention in all the possibilities of forging such united
fronts at national and international level. We are advancing in the
direction of forging united fronts with all the forces with whom we can
do and establish good relation with them at the national and
international level, especially after we broke the relation with the
Prachanda-Baburam group which has betrayed and gave in the revolution.
Great possibility to achieve success in this task has been appeared.
The
way Prachanda and Baburam presented themselves during their so called
Seventh Congress that they have made a "strategic shift" to the
reactionary camp, have made clear to those who had a bit of confusion
that they still have some amount of revolutionary will. It was necessary
for us to expose them clearly, thanks, they have exposed themselves.
Ground is open for us. Many favourable factors have emerged in support
of Nepalese revolution. We are moving forward cautiously. Because of our
maturity some positive results have been achieved in practice. Practice
has proved that our assumption and decisions are correct. Let us move
forward with full confidence and firm determination, the future of Nepal
and Nepalese people is bright. The future of Nepalese revolution is
bright.
Source:
Peoples Voice
A Monthly Bulletin of International Department, CPN-Maoist
