Sunday, November 30, 2008

[Marxistindia] Polit Bureau communique

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news from the cpi(m)
November 30, 2008

Press Communique

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from November 29-30, 2008. It has issued the following statement:

Mumbai Terror Attacks

The Polit Bureau had already adopted a statement on the horrific terrorist attack in Mumbai on November 29. The statement's main conclusion is as follows:

"The lessons from this grim incident has to be drawn correctly and promptly. The continuous and widespread terrorist attacks which have occurred in the country have shown up the weakness in our intelligence and security systems. The country expects the Government to immediately take effective steps to revamp and strengthen the intelligence and security set up. A beginning has to be made by identifying and taking steps against the forces with external links who have perpetrated this crime.

"This is the time for all sections of the people and political circles to rise above any sectarian interests and ensure that the unity and integrity of the country is safeguarded by curbing all forms of terrorism whatever their source."

After investigation, when the evidence of the links in Pakistan of the persons who committed this terrorist outrage is established, the government should take up the matter with the United Nations Security Council. As per the UN Security Council Resolution against terrorism (1373), all states have obligations to take steps against terrorist activities and to deny "safe havens to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts". The Security Council can decide on the measures to be adopted to identify and curb such terrorist activities.

Tackling the Impact of the

Global Economic Crisis

The Polit Bureau discussed the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on India. There is an economic slowdown. The export-oriented sectors like garments, hosiery, carpets, handicrafts and financial-linked IT services have been hit. There is a fall in the prices of certain commercial crops. The slowdown is leading to loss of jobs in the form of retrenchments and layoffs, wage cuts and loss of livelihood for lakhs of people in the services and unorganised sectors.

The main concentration of the government has been to provide liquidity for the banks and the markets without paying attention to boosting demand in the economy by large-scale public expenditure. The UPA government is more concerned with protecting the interests of the big financial companies and the corporate sector.

The CPI(M) demands urgent steps to be taken to tackle the unfolding economic crisis. These should include:

· A special fiscal package to increase public expenditure in a manner which will increase income and consumption of the working people

· Expand fiscal deficit of Central and state governments. Scrap the FRBM Act

· Massive public investment in sectors which are employment intensive, expansion of NREGA

· Protection of jobs by announcement of moratorium on jobs and wage cuts in the organized sector

· Boosting of foodgrains production and public procurement

· Strengthening and expansion of the Public Distribution System and increase the allocation of rice and wheat to the states

· Scrapping the increase in petrol and diesel prices

· Adequate relief packages for export oriented sectors

· Credit for medium and small scale enterprises and tariff protection.

The Polit Bureau demands that the government halt moves for further financial sector liberalization. The government should not proceed with the legislations such as Banking Regulation Amendment Act, the Bill for increasing the FDI cap in Insurance and Pension Bill.

The Polit Bureau has directed its Party units to urgently take up the struggles to defend the livelihood, jobs and rights of the working people. The Party appealed to the trade union movement and other mass organisations to take up the immediate issues arising out of the impact of the economic crisis and to fight for steps to provide relief to the working people.

Reduce Petrol and Diesel Prices

With the international oil prices going below $ 50 a barrel, the Manmohan Singh government has no justification whatsoever not to reduce the prices of diesel and petrol which are increased by Rs. 5 per litre for petrol and Rs. 3 per litre for diesel in June 2008. The Polit Bureau endorsed the call of the Left parties, the JD (S) and the TDP to hold a `protest day' on December 2 to demand the immediate reduction of petrol and diesel prices.

Maoist Violence Condemned

The Polit Bureau strongly condemned the continuing violent activities by the Maoists in West Bengal. After the attempt on the life of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya through a landmine blast, the Maoists are trying to create problems in Binpur block in West Midnapur district. The CPI(M) will firmly stand by the interests of the tribal people of the area while opposing the violent tactics of the Maoist groups.

Electoral Tactics

The Central Committee had decided in its October meeting to approve the decision to have an electoral understanding with the Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh in the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The Polit Bureau welcomed the decision of the CPI to have an understanding with the Telugu Desam. With this, the CPI(M) and the CPI will jointly work for an understanding with the Telugu Desam.

The Polit Bureau discussed the electoral line to be adopted in Tamilnadu for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The understanding of the PB will be conveyed to the Tamilnadu state committee, so that a decision can be taken.

Central Committee Meeting

The Polit Bureau decided to hold the next meeting of the Central Committee on January 8-10, 2009 at Kochi, Kerala.

eom
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Saturday, November 29, 2008

[Marxistindia] CMKP Strongly Condemns the Terrorist Violence in Mumbai

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news from the cpi(m)
CMKP Strongly Condemns the Terrorist Violence in Mumbai

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CMKP strongly condemns the barbaric and heinous acts of planned murder and
destruction carried out by terrorists in Mumbai India. We express our
sincerest condolence with all the people who fell victim to this savage
crime.


We also salute the entire Indian Left that is doing its utmost to reign in
reprisals by Hindu fundamentalist forces against the Muslims of India.


We strongly feel that the role of the Left in Pakistan is to expose and
organize against right-wing forces, both inside and outside the Pakistan
Military, that harbor an agenda against harmonious relation between Pakistan
and India.


The Left and the people of both countries should not let Mumbai terrorist
attacks undermine the Pakistani India peace process. Such a development will
provide the Pakistan Army with an excuse to continue a heavy deployment on
the Pak-India border and play in the hands of religious extremists to carry
on with their deadly vendetta against the people of both countries in the
name of religion, race and caste.


The people of both Pakistan and India have been a victim of religious
terrorism. It is for the people to understand that such terrorist
organizations and action sprout from the ideology of hate and divide on
religious grounds which is preached by both the Hindu and Muslim
Fundamentalists. People should not allow any agenda put forward by such
organizations to further the oppression of religious minorities.

Crimes of such barbarity must make people realize that the moment has
arrived for the people of both India and Pakistan to develop a unified
commitment towards peace and harmony in the world and combat extremism and
terrorism in all its shades and colors.

Also posted at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cmkp_pk/message/13162
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[Marxistindia] Unitedly Face Threat of Terrorism

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news from the cpi(m)
November 29, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) now in session in New Delhi has issued the following statement:

Unitedly Face Threat of Terrorism

The country has experienced a sense of relief at the successful conclusion of the security operations against the armed men who had perpetrated the terrorist outrage in Mumbai. The clearing of the Taj Hotel on the 29th morning and the rescue of the people trapped there has ended the three day ordeal which saw the terrible toll of over 200 dead and several hundreds injured in the multiple strikes in the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Trident-Oberoi and Taj Hotels and the Nariman House.

The Polit Bureau pays its homage to the officers and men of the security forces, the National Security Guard, Anti Terrorism Squad, the Mumbai Police and other forces who laid down their lives fighting against terrorists. The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt sympathy to all those who have lost their family members in these dastardly attacks.

The lessons from this grim incident has to be drawn correctly and promptly. The continuous and widespread terrorist attacks which have occurred in the country have shown up the weakness in our intelligence and security systems. The country expects the Government to immediately take effective steps to revamp and strengthen the intelligence and security set up. A beginning has to be made by identifying and taking steps against the forces with external links who have perpetrated this crime.

This is the time for all sections of the people and political circles to rise above any sectarian interests and ensure that the unity and integrity of the country is safeguarded by curbing all forms of terrorism whatever their source.

end
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Thursday, November 27, 2008

[Marxistindia] Condolence message on V P Singh

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 27, 2008

Press Release

Shri Prakash Karat, General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), has issued the following statement:

Condolence Message on V. P. Singh

I am deeply saddened at the passing away of Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh, former Prime Minister of India. Shri V. P. Singh was one of the few contemporary political leaders who stood for principled politics. His was a voice for the downtrodden people and he led many struggles for their cause. His bold stand in implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations was such an example. He had to give up his Prime Ministership because of his firm stand in defence of secularism. The country has lost a leader of rare distinction and commitment.

On behalf of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), I pay homage to his memory. I convey my heartfelt condolences to his wife, sons and family members.

eom
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[Marxistindia] reflections by Fidel castro

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news from the cpi(m)

Reflections by comrade Fidel

ESTELA CALLONI

Her book Operation Condor denounces a number of atrocious crimes recently committed by the United States against the Latin American peoples. It is a basic text to understand the true meaning of the Yankee imperialism. It is the most objective and detailed denunciation I've read to this day, written with great style and eloquence. She offers an impressive list of outstanding figures, both military and civilian, vilely murdered inside and outside their respective countries, including such prestigious personalities as the Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the Chilean Generals Schneider and Prats, presidents of other nations, and the conspiracy in Chile which led to the death of Salvador Allende and the establishment of a fascist government. There were U.S. Presidents directly involved, like Nixon, Reagan and Bush, sr. Estela is known in our country for that work.

But it was the paper presented by the Argentinean author to the International Conference "Revolution and Intervention in Latin America", recently held in Caracas, that drew our attention to her again. She sent a copy of the paper to us in Cuba.

She refers to a silent invasion in many areas: disinformation as a weapon, the neocolonization of Latin America, the "backyard" as the "strategic reserve" of the empire, operative counterinsurgency, the "soft" blows, the informatics intoxication, the actions of leftist groups in coordination with the extreme right putschist sectors; the powerful enemy deliberately assaulting the soul of the peoples, their culture and identity; advanced colonialists and belated colonialisms.

The author reminds us of the brutal invasion of Panama on December 20, 1989, preceded by a disinformation campaign which in this case made roads into progressive and leftist sectors. She recalls the manipulation by the media of the reasons advanced by the United States to invade the small nation of little more than two million inhabitants, --a country divided by a colonial enclave sustained there by the hegemonic power since the first years of the past century-- and to the still puzzling reaction of Latin America which paralyzed before that incredible and flimsy excuse. She says that it is ignored until today that thousands of people died there. "Panama was the Guernica of Latin America."

Then she points out that the United Nations was a "paper presence in all those conflicts."

Al-Qaeda, spawned by the monster itself, is the typical example of an enemy located by the hegemonic power where it needs it to justify its actions, the same way that throughout history it has produced enemies and attacks to favor its domination plans. The pretext of the National Security of the United States as a justification for its crimes preceded the attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001.

Thus she goes on raising irrefutable arguments and proofs. Her paper presents a short summary in no more than 20 pages. She expresses sincere admiration for the revolutionary processes in Cuba and Venezuela and their courageous struggle in the vicinity of the neocolonial metropolis.

The meaning of that struggle can be understood just by recalling some words said by George W. Bush, a President with only 58 more days to complete his term as leader of the empire.

While the crisis is battering the world, he stated at the APEC summit in Lima that:

"Over the decades, the free market system has proved the most efficient way...

"The third great force for economic growth in this region is the limitless potential of free peoples [...] any government that is honest with its people [.] will have a partner in the United States of America.

".our partners can be confident that the compassion agenda of the United States of America will continue.

"We shall continue to inspire the world.

"God bless you."

Only an incurable cynic could make such statements. And while he said that in Lima, news kept coming in from the United States on the seriousness of the crisis and the rising unemployment. The car industry companies urgently asked for a share of the $700 billion allocated to tackle the most severe crisis in scores of years. It has been said that the bankruptcy of only one of the big enterprises in that sector would leave two and a half million workers unemployed. These are skyrocketing sums of money and of people affected in the country pretending to be a market beacon.

The elections in Venezuela today are complex due to the situation created by the rainfall, the number of polling stations, the high number of registered voters in each of these, the use of the media and the great amount of money used by the oligarchy and the imperialists to bewilder the voters. But the Bolivarian government acts with dignity as it cares about the damages caused by the excessive rains while fighting with the firmness and determination inspired by the just causes.

Whatever the results of the elections at the regional and local levels, it will not be easy to put out the flames of the Revolution.

We believe in the truths said by Calloni as much as we distrust the cynical lies said by Bush.

Fidel Castro Ruz

November 23, 2008

11:36 a.m.

THE G20, THE G21 AND THE G192

As if there were not enough reasons to go mad, the proliferation of acronyms related to the crisis is such that one can hardly understand them. The first was the G20, a selected group meeting in Washington that pretended to represent all. The second was the also selective APEC group which met in Lima. There was the richest country, the United States; this is number one, with a per capita GDP of 45 thousand dollars a year. But there was also the number 100 country, the People's Republic of China, with a per capita GDP of 2,483 dollars; this is also the number one investor in US Treasury bonds.

Now, G192 is the way that Leonel Fernandez, President of the Dominican Republic, which is not a member of either of the two, calls the member countries of the United Nations attending an economic conference with Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate of Economics.

George Soros, an immensely rich magnate of Hungarian descent and an American citizen, was one of the attending personalities.

One would have to be a chess player to disentangle the arguments of so diverse national and business interests as are represented in the G20 and the G21.

The truth of the matter is that if a Third World country signed free trade agreements with eight or ten developed or emerging countries, --some of them traditional producers of abundant and attractive low cost goods or sophisticated industrial products, such as the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, etc.-- the nascent industry of a developing country would have to compete with the sophisticated products of the most developed countries' industries or the hard working hands of their powerful partners, one of which handles world finances wantonly. The only thing left to them would be to produce inexpensive raw materials requiring large investments ultimately owned by foreign companies fully protected from nationalizing whims. They would only have their extended hands waiting for a pious development support and an eternal debt to be repaid with their children's sweat. Isn't this what has been happening until today?

That's why I don't hesitate to show my solidarity with Chavez's position as he said that he disagreed with Lima's recipe. There are plenty of reasons. Let's see how the situation unfolds, and keep demanding our rights without ever bending our knees.

Fidel Castro Ruz

November 23, 2008

7:30 p.m.

ABSOLUTE TRANSPARENCY

Who can doubt it? Observers from all parts and varying shades have attended the elections in Venezuela on November 23, 2007. They have reported with absolute freedom. The oligarchy cried out like mad to the world the coarse slander that the extension of the voting hours at the polling stations, giving the citizens the possibility to cast their vote, was intended to commit fraud, even though the National Election Council had previously decided to do so and had announced it.

This is a correct measure when adopted by the United States to facilitate the indirect election of the President of that nation, which is the model for the Venezuelan oligarchy, but it is wrong in Venezuela, even though these are not presidential elections, which are direct elections, the same as all the others for executive positions.

The only thing honorable and clean to them is the contemptible submission to the empire, the flight of capital amounting to billions of dollars every year, and the prevalence of poverty, illiteracy and over 20% unemployment.

I would not dare utter an opinion with regards to any other country of this hemisphere, if I forgot that we are brothers and that Marti, who fought and died for Cuba and for Our America, said one day as he stood before the statue of the Liberator Simon Bolivar: "Venezuela only needs to tell me what to do for her, for I am her son."

At the moment, 40 thousand highly qualified compatriots are working in that sister nation. They are willing to give their lives for Bolivar's people with which they share the risks of an imperialist sweeping blow.

I am not an intruder giving an opinion in the country of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).

Venezuela has the potential to become a model of socialist development with the resources formerly extracted by the multinationals from its rich nature and the efforts of it manual and intellectual workers. No foreign power shall determine its future. The people are the masters of their destiny and they march on to attain the highest levels of education, culture, health and full employment. It is an example to be pursued by other sister nations in this hemisphere and it does not give up: it does not wish to lag behind a plundering empire. Venezuela rightly claims with dignity that the UN General Assembly should design a new international financial structure, and Cuba supports it in that endeavor.

Reading the international news, it would seem that the USSR disintegrated just yesterday. As Stella Calloni would say, this Monday the media terror spin broke loose. But after the storm has passed, the truth will come up again.

Yesterday's elections meant a qualitative step forward for the Bolivarian revolutionary process that can be measured by many aspects. It was not as the massive disinformation machinery would have it: "Castro says that the Revolution in Venezuela will continue despite the elections." No, it's not that! But rather that an analysis of the basic data provided by the National Election Council in its bulletins showed me clearly the great victory that has been attained.

The data were precise; an unquestionable victory of the candidates to governors in 17 of the 22 states, all of these members of the Venezuelan Socialist United Party. The voters turn out was higher than ever; 1.5 million more votes than those obtained by the opponents running for such positions, and 264 posts of mayor of the 328 up for election. There is no opposition party but a group of oppositionists with half a dozen parties, and absolute transparency. That's why I said and now repeat that it will be very difficult to put out the flames of the Revolution in Venezuela.

Fidel Castro Ruz

November 24, 2008

6:35 p.m.

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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

[Marxistindia] Terrorist Strike in Mumbai

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 27, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

On Terrorist Strike in Mumbai

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its deep shock and outrage at the multiple attacks in Mumbai city which have led to the loss of more than a hundred lives and injuries to many. These attacks targeting a railway station, hotels and other places by groups of heavily armed men accompanied by explosions, bear the hallmark of a carefully planned terrorist strike.

The country expects the government and the security agencies to uncover the full scope of this nefarious attack and the forces behind it. Given the recurring and widespread pattern of terrorist attacks occurring in the country, the Central Government has to assure the people that concerted efforts are being made to tackle the problem.

The immediate need is for the people to face this grim situation with fortitude and foil any sectarian attempts to exploit the situation. The entire country expresses its solidarity with the people of Mumbai in this difficult situation.

The Polit Bureau conveys its heartfelt sympathy to all those who have lost their loved ones including the police personnel who have died. The loss of Hemant Karkare, the brave officer who was heading the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad and other police officials is especially grievous.

eom
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Sunday, November 23, 2008

[Marxistindia] Reduce Oil Prices -- Protest day on December 2

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news from the cpi(m)
November 24, 2008

Press Statement

The CPI(M), CPI, TDP, JD(S), AIFB and RSP have issued the following joint statement:

Protest Day on December 2

Reduce Petrol & Diesel Prices

The Manmohan Singh government is refusing to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel despite the steady fall in the international oil prices. The international oil prices have fallen below $ 50 per barrel in the past week. The administered price of petrol and diesel was increased in June 2008 by Rs. 5 and Rs. 3 per litre of petrol and diesel when the international oil prices had reached a level of $ 123 per barrel. There is no justification for refusing to make a substantial cut in the prices of petrol and diesel when the government itself has admitted that the administered price of petrol and diesel are based upon an Indian basket calculated at $ 67 a barrel.

The Manmohan Singh government has been prompt in reducing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) used by the airline companies in five phases in the past four months. The prices of aviation fuel has been brought down from around Rs. 71,000 per kilo litre to around Rs. 43,000 per kilo litre as of now. The ATF has also been exempted from import duty of 5 per cent.

Neither the Prime Minister nor the Finance Minister considered the losses suffered by the oil marketing companies when providing such a largesse to the private airline companies.

The Manmohan government is adopting a callous stand by refusing to cut the prices of petrol and diesel and providing relief to the people who are suffering from all round price rise of essential commodities. Reduction of petroleum prices will have a beneficial effect on the economy and bring down prices of all other commodities.

To demand that the government should immediately bring down the prices of petrol and diesel and provide relief to the people from price rise, we are giving a joint call for observing a Protest Day on December 2, 2008 by holding protest demonstrations and dharnas all over the country

Prakash Karat

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

H.D. Deve Gowda

Janata Dal (Secular)

N Chandrababu Naidu

Telugu Desam Party

A.B. Bardhan

Communist Party of India

Debabrata Biswas

All India Forward Bloc

T.J. Chandrachoodan

Revolutionary Socialist Party
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Saturday, November 22, 2008

[Marxistindia] Reflections by Fidel Castro

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news from the cpi(m)
THE WASHINGTON MEETING

According to recent statements, some supportive governments do not cease to say they want to facilitate transition in Cuba. What kind of transition? Transition to capitalism, the only system they have absolute faith in. They do not say a word about the merits of our people, which for almost half a century of harsh economic sanctions and aggressions, has defended a revolutionary cause that together with its morale and patriotism, has given it the strength to put up a resistance.

They seem to forget that after laying down lives and making sacrifices in defense of sovereignty and justice, Cuba cannot be expected to end up on the side of capitalism.

They ingratiate themselves with the United States hoping that it will help them face their own economic problems injecting huge amounts of paper money to their shaky economies which maintain unequal and abusive terms of trade with the emerging nations.

This is the only way they can ensure the multimillion profits of Wall Street and the US banks. The non renewable natural resources of the planet and its ecology are not even mentioned. There is no claim for the end of the arms race and the banning of the potential and probable use of weapons of mass destruction.

None of the participants in the conclave hurriedly convened by the sitting President of the United States has said a word about the absence of over 150 nations facing the same problems or even worse. These will not have the right to speak on the international financial order as the pro tempore President of the UN General Assembly Miguel D'Escoto had proposed, even when they include most of the countries from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

The G-20 meeting will open in Washington tomorrow. Bush is delighted. He has stated that a new international financial order will result from the meeting and that the institutions set up at Bretton Woods should be more transparent, accountable and effective. It's as much as he would admit. Referring to Cuba's prosperity in the past, he said that it had once been full of sugarcane fields. By the way, he failed to mention that it was manually cut and that, for over half a century, the empire has deprived us from our quota. Also that this action was taken when the word socialism had yet to be spoken in our country, although we had certainly proclaimed: Homeland or Death!

Many seem to dream that after a simple change of leadership in the empire, this would be more tolerant and less hostile. Apparently, contempt for the incumbent ruler makes some entertain illusions about a probable change in the system.

The innermost ideas of the citizen who will take over the issue are yet unknown. It would be extremely naïve to believe that the good will of a smart person could change what is the result of centuries of selfishness and vested interests.

Let's watch attentively what everyone says in that major financial conclave. There will be plenty of news. We shall all be a bit better informed.

Fidel Castro Ruz

November 14, 2008

5:35 p.m.

THE BIRTH OF THE MOUNT

Bush seemed happy to have Lula sitting to his right during dinner on Friday. On the other hand, Hu Jintao, whom he respects for the enormous market in his country, the capacity to produce consumer goods at low cost and the volume of his reserves in US dollars and bonds was sitting to his left.

Medvedev, whom he offends with the threat of locating strategic radars and missiles not far from Moscow, was assigned a seat rather distant from the White House host.

The King of Saudi Arabia, a country that in a near future will produce 15 million tons of light oil at highly competitive prices was also sitting at his left, at Hu's side.

Meanwhile, Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and his most faithful allied in Europe, could not be seen close to him in the pictures.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who is rather disappointed at the present architecture of the financial order, was far from him looking embittered.

The President of the Spanish Government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a victim of Bush's personal resentment attending the conclave in Washington, I could not even see in the television images of the dinner.

That's how those attending the banquet were sitting.

Anyone would have thought that the following day there would be a profound debate on the thorny issue.

On Saturday morning, the press agencies were reporting on the program that would unfold at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Every second was covered. There would be an analysis of the current crisis and the actions to be taken. It would start at 11:30 a.m. local time. First, there would be a photo op, or "family picture" a Bush called it, and twenty minutes later the first plenary session would start followed by a another one in the second half of the day. Everything was strictly planned, even the fine sanitary services.

The speeches and analysis would last approximately three hours and 30 minutes. Lunch would be at 3:25 local time, immediately followed by the final declaration at 5:05. One hour later, at 6:05, Bush would be leaving for Camp David to rest, have dinner and have a pleasant sleep.

Those following the event were impatient to see the day going by and trying to know how the problems of the earth and the human specie would be dealt with in such a short time. A final declaration had been announced.

The fact is that the Summit's final declaration was worked out by previously chosen economic advisors, very much in line with the neoliberal ideas, while Bush in his statements prior to the summit and after its conclusion claimed more power and more money for the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other world institutions under strict control of the United States and its closest allies. That country had decided to inject 700 billion dollars to bailout its banks and multinational corporations. Europe had offered an identical or even higher figure. Japan, its strongest pillar in Asia, has promised a 100 billion dollars contribution. In the case of the People's Republic of China, which is developing increasing and convenient relations with Latin American countries, they are expecting another contribution of 100 billion dollars from its reserves.

Where would so many dollars, euros and pound sterlings come from if not from the deep indebtedness of new generations? How can the structure of the new world economy be built on paper money, which is what is really circulating in the short run, when the country issuing it is suffering from an enormous fiscal deficit? Would it be worthwhile traveling by air to a place on the planet named Washington to meet with a President with only 60 more days left in government and signing a document previously designed to be adopted at the Washington Museum? Could the US radio, TV and press be right not to pay special attention to this old imperialist game in the much-trumpeted meeting?

What is really incredible is the final declaration adopted by consensus in the conclave. It is obviously the participants' full acceptance of Bush's demands made before and during the summit. Some of the attending countries had no choice but to adopt it; in their desperate struggle for development, they did not want to be isolated from the richest and most powerful and their financial institutions, which are the majority in the G20.

Bush was really euphoric as he spoke. He used demagogic phrases which mirror the final declaration.

He said: "The first decision I had to make was who was coming to the meeting. And obviously I decided that we ought to have the G20 nations, as opposed to the G8 or the G13. But once you make the decision to have the G20 then the fundamental question is, with that many nations, from six different continents, who all represent different stages of economic development, would I be possible to reach agreements, and not only agreements, would I be possible to reach agreements that were substantive? And I'm pleased to report the answer to that question was, absolutely."

"The United States has taken some extraordinary measures. Those of you who have followed my career know that I'm a free market person -until you are told that if you don't take decisive measures then it's conceivable that our country could go into a depression greater than the Great Depression."

"[.] we just started on the $700 billion fund to start getting money out to our banks."

"[.] we all understand the need to work on pro-growth economic policies."

"Transparency is very important so that investors and regulators are able to know the truth."

The rest of what Bush said goes more or less along this line.

The final declaration of the summit, which takes half an hour to read in public due to its length, is clearly defined in a number of selected paragraphs:

"We, the leaders of the G20 have held a first meeting in Washington, on November 15, in the light of serious challenges to the world economy and financial markets."

"[.] we should lay the foundations for a reform that will make this global crisis less likely to happen again in the future. Our work should be guided by the principles of the free market, free trade and investment.."

"[.] the market players sought to obtain more benefits failing to make an adequate assessment of the risks and they failed."

"The authorities, regulators and supervisors from some developed nations did not realize or adequately warned about the risks created in the financial markets."

".insufficient and poorly coordinated macroeconomic policies as well as inadequate structure reforms, led to an unsustainable macroeconomic global result."

"Many emerging economies, which have helped sustain the world economy, are increasingly suffering from the world brakes."

"We note the important role of the IMF in response to the crisis; we salute the new short-term liquidity mechanism and urge the constant reviewing of its instruments to ensure flexibility."

"We shall encourage the World Bank and other multilateral developing banks to use their full capacity in support of their agenda for assistance."

"We will make sure that the IMF, the World Bank and other multilateral developing banks have the necessary resources to continue playing their role in the solution of the crisis."

"We shall exercise a strong monitoring of the credit agencies through the development of an international code of conduct."

"We pledge to protect the integrity of the world financial markets by reinforcing protection to the investor and the consumer."

"We are determined to advance in the reform of the Bretton Woods institutions so that they reflect the changes in the world economy to increase their legitimacy and effectiveness."

"We shall meet again on April 30, 2009, to examine the implementation of the principles and decisions made today."

"We concede that these reforms will only be successful if they are based on a serious commitment to the principles of free market, including the rule of law, respect for private property, free trade and investment, efficient and competitive markets and effectively regulated financial systems."

"We shall refrain from erecting new barriers to investment and trade in goods and services."

"We are aware of the impact of the current crisis on the developing nations, especially on those most vulnerable."

"We are certain that as we advance through cooperation, collaboration and multilateralism we will overcome the challenges and restore stability and prosperity to the world economy."

This technocratic language is beyond grasp of the masses.

The empire is treated courteously; its abusive methods are not criticized.

The IMF, the World Bank and the multilateral credit organizations are praised despite the fact that they generate debts, enormous bureaucratic expenses and investments while supplying raw materials to the large multinationals which are also responsible for the crisis.

This goes on like that until the last paragraph. It's a boring declaration full of the usual rhetoric. It doesn't say anything. It was signed by Bush, the champion of neoliberalism, the man responsible for genocidal wars and massacres, who has invested in his bloody adventures all the money that would have sufficed to change the economic face of the world.

The document does not have a word on the absurd policy promoted by the United States of turning food into fuel; or the unequal exchange of which the Third World countries are victims; or about the useless arms race, the production and trade of weapons, the breakup of the ecological balance and the extremely serious threats to peace that bring the world to the brink of annihilation.

Only a short four-word phrase in the long document mentions the need "to face climate change."

The declaration reflects the demand of the countries attending the conclave to meet again in April 2009, in the United Kingdom, Japan or any other country that meets the necessary requirements --nobody knows which- to examine the situation of the world finances, dreaming that the cyclical crisis with their dramatic consequences never happen again.

Now is the time for the theoreticians from the left and the right to offer their passionate or dispassionate criteria on the document.

Form my point of view the privileges of the empire were not even touched. Having the necessary patience to read it completely, one can see that is simply a pious appeal to the ethic of the most powerful country on earth, both technologically and militarily, at the time of economic globalization; it's like begging the wolf not to eat up little red riding hood.

Fide Castro Ruz

November 16, 2008

4:12 p.m.

MEETING HU JINTAO

I didn't want to speak much, but he forced me to elaborate. I asked a few questions but I mostly listened to him.

He related the exploits of the Chinese people in the past 10 months. The enormous nation with a 1.3 billion population has been hit by heavy and out-of-season snow, and an earthquake which devastated areas three times that of Cuba; in addition to the most serious international economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

I could see in my mind the great efforts of the Chinese people, its workers, its peasants and its manual and intellectual workers; the traditional hard-working spirit and the millennium-old culture of that country that preceded by thousands of years the colonial period imposed by the West, the same West where the current G-7 powers sit today with their force and wealth, playing a hegemonic role in the world economy.

What a great challenge for this leader in these times of globalization who in a gesture of goodwill came to visit our blockaded, harassed and threatened homeland! Are we not one a rogue state among 60 or more that can be the target of a pre-emptive attack? That much was said by the insane leader of the empire six years ago, the same man who just five days ago met in Washington with the G20!

China is the only member of that group whose State can regulate a high growth rate, at the pace it chooses, no less than 8% in 2009. The idea raised during the last Party Congress was to quadruple the per capita Gross Domestic Product between 2000 and 2020, measured in 2007 present values; that was the year the Congress was held. He spoke to me about that in detail. Thus, in conditions of peace, China will reach by the end of that period the figure of no less than 4 thousand dollars per capita income. I think that it should not be forgotten that China is an emerging nation whose per capita income at the time of the revolutionary victory --with a smaller population- hardly reached $400 per capita, and the country was completely isolated by imperialism. Just compare this with the $20 thousand per capita, or more, that developed capitalist countries such as Japan, the Western European nations, the United States and Canada currently enjoy. The per capita income in some of these exceeds the $40 thousand annually, even if their distribution in society is far from fair.

It is only by using $586 billion from its foreign reserves amounting to almost $2 trillions, accumulated through much hard work and sacrifices that this country is facing the present crisis and advancing. Is there any other country as sound as this?

The President of China, Secretary General of the Party and Chairman of the Party and Government Central Military Commissions, Hu Jintao, is a leader who's aware of his authority and exercises it to the full.

The delegation he headed signed with Cuba twelve draft agreements towards a modest economic development in an area of the planet where the small territory in its entirety can be battered by increasingly intensive hurricanes, an evidence of true climate changes. The area affected by the earthquake in China is hardly 4% of the total area of that great multinational State.

Under certain circumstances, the size of an independent country, its geographical location and the size of its population can play a major role.

Would a country like the United States, which robs already trained minds everywhere, be in a position to apply an Adjustment Act to the Chinese citizens similar to the one it applies to Cuba? Obviously not. Could it apply it to the entire Latin America? Of course, it couldn't there either.

Meanwhile, our marvelous, contaminated and only spaceship continues to circle around its imaginary axis, as one popular Venezuelan program likes to repeat.

It's not an everyday occurrence for a small state to have the privilege of receiving a leader of Hu Jintao's stature and prestige. He shall now continue his trip to Lima. There will be another great meeting there. Again, President Bush will attend, this time seven days closer to the end of his mandate.

It is said that in Washington, with only 20 leaders of the attending nations, the local security measures and those required by the host to thwart any attempt at physical removal, changed the habits and every day life in that city. How would it be in the great city of Lima? The city will surely be taken over by the security forces. It will be difficult to move around it because the well-trained members of the US supranational bodies will be there, and their interests and plans will only be known many years after the presidential terms of the eventual leaders of the empire are over.

I summed up for him some of our country's assessments on the habits of our neighbors to the north, which tries to impose on us its ideas, its mindset and its interests with its fleet full of nuclear weapons and fighter planes; also our views on Venezuela's solidarity with Cuba from the most critical days of the Special Period and the hard blows dealt by the natural disasters. Likewise, that President Chavez, a great admirer of China has been the steadiest advocate of socialism as the only system capable of bringing justice to the peoples of Latin America.

In Beijing, they treasure good memories of the Bolivarian leader.

President Hu Jintao reaffirmed his wishes to continue developing relations with Cuba, a country for which he feels great respect.

The conversation went on for 1 hour and 38 minutes. He was warm, friendly and modest, and his affection was obvious. I found him young, healthy and strong. We wish our distinguished and fraternal friend the best in his endeavors. Thanks for his encouraging visit and the honor of showing an interest in a personal meeting with me!

Fidel Castro Ruz

November 19, 2008

1:12 p.m.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Sunday, November 16, 2008

[Marxistindia] BJP Support for Terrorism Accused

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 17, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

BJP Support For Terrorism Accused Condemned

The BJP President, Rajnath Singh, has openly declared support for the persons being investigated for the Malegaon blast and other terrorist attacks. Whether it be the case of Lt. Col. Purohit or Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJP President has virtually absolved them.

The BJP President and some Chief Ministers belonging to the party participated in a RSS-VHP sponsored meeting of sadhus in Panipat. Statements to the effect that Hindus cannot be terrorists and claims that Hindu religious figures are being targeted were the common refrain in this meeting.

The BJP leadership is making the dangerous argument that no person affiliated to the Hindutva organizations can be investigated for terrorist offences. This has blown up the BJP's stance against terrorism and exposed its rabid communal outlook. The BJP and the RSS are mounting a campaign to pressurize the police and administration not to pursue the cases of terrorism which have assumed serious ramifications with the arrest of a serving army officer.

The police investigation into the Malegaon blast and the coordinated enquiry with other states where related terrorist offences took place, must be conducted with vigour and the terrorist network and the culprits brought to book.

end
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Saturday, November 15, 2008

[Marxistindia] press invite

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news from the cpi(m)


Anveshan, Delhi Science Forum & Economic Research Foundation
invite all for a Symposium:

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL & ECONOMIC CRISIS?

Speakers:

Comrade Sitaram Yechury

Polit Bureau Member, CPI (M)


Prof. Prabhat Patnaik
Deputy Chairman, Kerala Planning Board

Prof. Samir Amin

Director, Third World Forum

Prof. C.P.Chandrashekhar

Centre For Economic Studies and Planning, JNU

Prof. Jayati Ghosh

Centre For Economic Studies and Planning, JNU

Chair:

Shri S.P.Shukla

Former Finance Secretary, GoI

Monday, 17

th November, 2008
4.00 p.m.

Speaker's Hall,

Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

[Marxistindia] Refusal to Reduce Prices of Petroleum Products

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 12, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Prime Minister's Refusal to Bring Down Prices of Petrol & Diesel

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly disapproves the refusal by the Prime Minister to reduce the price of petroleum products which are affecting the daily lives of the "aam admi".

The Prime Minister's categorical refusal on his way back from Qatar only underlines his insensitivity and at the same time distorts the facts pertaining to the pricing of the petroleum products. He has made out that the oil marketing companies are making losses due to the under pricing of the products. But the fact of the matter is that retail prices of petroleum products in India are higher than in many other countries because of the high taxes charged by the government on them.

The government had decided to increase the administered price of petrol and diesel when the international crude oil prices were reaching astronomical levels of $ 147 per barrel in July 2007. But now when the international prices have come down to $60 a barrel, the Prime Minister refuses to bring down the retail price on the specious plea that "the Indian oil companies have to bear a very heavy burden". In contrast the Government has bailed out the private airlines by reducing the price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).

The government has reduced the price of ATF in four phases during the last three months i.e. from Rs. 71,028 per kilo litre in August 2008 to Rs 44,968 per kilo litre as of now which amounts to Rs. 26 per litre approximately. ATF has also been exempted from import duty of 5 per cent. As a matter of fact the excise duty levied by government on ATF is Rs. 1.80 per litre whereas the same on diesel is Rs. 3.60 per litre and on petrol it is Rs. 13.35 per litre. Did the consideration that oil marketing companies are losing out prompt such a largesse to the private airline companies?

While the Prime Minister has defended the bail out package to the private airline companies on the ground that they provide employment he appears to be blissfully oblivious of the cascading effect of the petrol and diesel prices on essential commodities particularly foodgrains.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) demands that the government immediately bring down the administered price of all petroleum products which will go a long way in bringing down the runaway prices of essential commodities and ensure relief to the harassed "aam admi".


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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

[Marxistindia] Brinda Karat's letter to Health Minister

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news from the cpi(m)
November 11, 2008

Press Release

The text of the letter addressed to Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss by CPI(M) MP Brinda Karat concerning the shortage of vaccines in various states in the country is being released to the press.

For CPI(M) Central Committee Office

*****************************

11th November, 2008

Dear Dr. Anbumani Ramdoss,

Please refer to the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on 21-10-2008 on The Drugs & Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, when I had specifically mentioned that there is severe shortage of supply of vaccines for the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) in various states including West Bengal. You had assured the House that there were only one or two instances of shortages which are not gross shortages and the issues have been sorted out. ( extracts below )

On further enquiry I have found that the information you had given to the House was not factually correct, the shortage still continues and it concerns a range of vaccines not just "one or two."

The shortages for West Bengal from April till October 27th are as follows:

Vaccines Quantity available Quantity Due Percentage of shortage
TT-PW 3092260 9875240 68.69

BCG 3798900 4339100 12.45

DPT 1533500 13325094 88.49

HEP B 2394000 6583500 63.64

MEASLES 1075750 1916750 43.88

DT 8000 3152750 99.75

In the first week of November an additional 3 lakh doses of DPT was supplied of the 1.33 crore doses of DPT required. Thus the shortage continues to be severe.

But it is not only Bengal which is suffering the shortage. In Tripura, whereas the annual requirement of six antigens is 3.80 lakh doses, till October 31, the total number received is only 1.25 lakh doses, a shortage of 67.11 per cent. Shockingly of the 93,000 doses of DPT required, the State has received not a single dose till October.

In Orissa, the annual requirement of some of the antigens is as follows: DPT: 56.79 lakhs; Quantity provided 11 lakhs Percentage of shortage 80.63 .Measles Total annual requirement 13.63 lakhs; Quantity provided: 4.5 lakhs. Percentage of shortage: 66.98. DT: Not a single dose has been provided

In Kerala the short supply against the total requirement of last seven months (including buffer stock) is BCG 15.31 per cent; DPT 40.53 per cent and DT as high as 88.42 per cent.

Thus it would appear that the UIP is severely compromised because of the failure of the Central Government to provide the required vaccines. It would also appear that the DPT and DT programmes are virtually scrapped at least in these States. I believe that other States are also badly affected. This is a matter of grave concern.

I request you to kindly ensure that the vaccines reach the States according to the requirement without any further delay as the shortages jeopardise the health of infants and children. I would appreciate it if you could kindly furnish me the information of the dispatch of the vaccines as soon as it is done.

Kindly grant immediate permission for production of vaccines in the three public sector vaccine producing units. Clearly the stoppage of production in these units is one of the reasons of the present severe shortage, particularly in DPT and DT.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

BRINDA KARAT

Extracts from speech of Minister in Rajya Sabha

" My colleague has said that that there has been acute shortage of vaccines and all that. All these issues have been sorted out. In fact a delegation had come. About 20 MLAs had come along with their Health Minister. We have sorted out the problem not only for West Bengal but for the entire country. There were not gross shortages as the Hon. Member has said. There were some shortages of one or two things, which have already been sorted out. I don't see there is a problem anywhere in the country currently due to that."

Dr. Anbumani Ramdoss

Hon'ble Minister for Health and FamilyWelfare

Government of India

New Delhi
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Friday, November 7, 2008

[Marxistindia] Suggestions on Protecting Indian People From Global Economic Crisis

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 7, 2008

Press Release

CPI (M)'s Suggestions On

Protecting Indian People from the Global Economic Crisis

Introduction

It is clear by now that the global financial crisis has graduated into a global economic crisis of serious proportions. The advanced economies are set to experience a protracted recession and the developing countries across the world, including the Indian economy, will also be adversely affected.

The UPA Government's responses to this evolving situation, however, have been extremely disappointing. Ever since the Government has come out of its initial state of denial, the measures adopted by it reflect on the one hand a sheer lack of comprehension of the causes behind and the proportions of the current crisis and on the other hand a proclivity towards appeasing myriad financial interests and corporate lobbies. The fact that the UPA Government is relying upon only one policy instrument, namely the interest rate, to both control inflation as well as reverse the growth slowdown betrays the illogic behind its policy paradigm. It is a rudimentary lesson in economic theory that two policy goals cannot be achieved using a single policy instrument.

The UPA Government has so far chosen to meet only the corporate bigwigs and bankers in order to discuss policy responses; neither have the State Governments nor other political parties, trade unions, farmers' organisations and other organisations representing crucial stakeholders been consulted. It is indeed strange that at a time when the neoliberal vision of putting corporate profits over peoples' interest and relying upon 'trickle down economics' is getting discredited across the world, the economic managers of the UPA Government are clinging on to it. In this backdrop, the CPI (M) is putting forward a set of concrete suggestions in order to tackle the adverse impact of the global recession on the Indian economy and protect the interests of the people.

Broad-based Growth through Fiscal Stimulus

v A special fiscal package should be announced by the Central Government directed at increasing public expenditure in ways which increases the income and consumption of the working people, especially the vulnerable sections, and ensure broad-based growth.

v This is an appropriate time to expand the fiscal deficit not only by the Central Government, but also the State Governments. The FRBM Act should be scrapped and a comprehensive debt relief scheme for the State Governments adopted to encourage them to adopt expansionary fiscal stances.

Protecting Existing Jobs

v Protection of domestic jobs must be the priority of the Government in the backdrop of the global recession.

v The Government should announce a moratorium on job or wage cuts in the organised sector, in the interest of the national economy, since such job or wage cuts would further depress demand and aggravate the situation. The extant labour laws should be duly invoked by the State Governments to prevent retrenchments and lay offs.

v The burden of cost adjustment should first fall on profits and executive pay, which have ballooned during the recent period. India requires an Inco3mes Policy whereby executive pay is linked to prices and the minimum wage earned by workers.

Specific Measures to Boost the Real Economy

v The Government has to undertake massive public investment directed at sectors which are employment intensive and capable of creating employment demand for those likely to lose jobs in the export-oriented sectors.

v Employment Guarantee: The NREGA should be strengthened and extended to the urban areas. Extending the period of guaranteed employment beyond 100 days should also be considered.

v Agriculture: Foodgrains production has to be encouraged and public procurement operations expanded for all major crops across the country. The allocations for the Food Security Mission and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana should be enhanced substantially. Public investment in irrigation also needs to be stepped up substantially. For cash crops like cotton and oilseeds, import protection should be accorded through higher tariffs. Protection should also be extended to cash crops like rubber, cashew etc. to prevent sharp falls in prices.

v Food and Fuel Prices: The hikes in the prices of diesel and petrol by Rs.4 and Rs.2 respectively, must be withdrawn without further delay, in view of the sharp fall in international oil prices (which have fallen below $60 per barrel). The PDS needs to be universalized and strengthened drastically by reducing the issue price so that subsidised foodgrains can reach every settlement in the country. This is essential for boosting consumption demand in the economy.

v Retail Trade: With slower growth in consumption, the businesses of small and unorganised retailers are bound to be hit, affecting their livelihood. In this backdrop, allowing big organised retailers to expand their businesses and capture greater market shares would only aggravate the situation. A policy to strictly regulate the operations of domestic corporate retailers and restrict their unbridled expansion is urgently required.

v Small-Scale Industries: Crisis affecting the small-scale industries would cause massive job losses and affect livelihoods on a massive scale. The Government needs to devise sector specific relief packages, especially for export-oriented and labour intensive sectors like garments and leather, keeping the interests of the small-scale industries and their workers in mind. The relief packages should include rescheduling of bank credit as well as direct subsidies and should also incentivise job protection.

v Tariff Protection: In order to ensure that the demand injected into the economy through public investment does not leak out through increased imports, increasing customs duties should be considered. Further tariff concessions under NAMA or entering into structurally unequal trade agreements like the proposed EU-India FTA should be ruled out.

Tightening Financial Regulation and Reviving Development Finance

v Regulation should be strengthened in the financial sector and state control over finance need to be reasserted in order to revive development finance. While curbing reckless flow of credit to fuel elite consumption and asset price bubbles, credit should be directed towards employment intensive sectors like agriculture and small-scale industries.

v Capital Account Convertibility: Measures undertaken to liberalize the capital account as per the Tarapore Committee recommendations need to be reversed and strict controls reimposed on the outflow and inflow of capital.

v Participatory Notes: PNs, which are non-transparent derivative instruments used by the FIIs to invest money in the Indian capital market on behalf of undisclosed entities and individuals, should be prohibited. Allowing speculative hedge funds and other dubious entities to invest in Indian markets without any adherence to disclosure norms is the antithesis of prudential regulation.

v Banking and Insurance Sector Deregulation: The Government should abandon the moves to further deregulate the banking and insurance sectors through legislation like the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, the State Bank of India (Amendment) Bill and increasing the FDI cap in the insurance sector from the present 26% to 49%.

v Pension Reforms: Pension reforms should be abandoned by the UPA Government and the PFRDA Bill scrapped. The Pension Scheme for Government employees should be reworked to ensure minimum guaranteed pension.

eom
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Thursday, November 6, 2008

[Marxistindia] Take Firm Action Against Extremist Elements

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 7, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Take Firm Action Against Extremist Elements

The investigation into the Malegaon bomb blast have revealed the involvement of certain extreme Hindutva organisations and elements. The role of some retired army officers and the case against a serving army officer have disturbing implications for national security.

The new dimension to the growing terrorist threat must be fully investigated and the entire network and persons involved uncovered. Instead of strongly coming out against such extremist groups resorting to terror, the BJP has dismissed the serious development as a "sponsored investigation". The RSS and its outfits are making absurd statements that Hindus cannot be terrorists. These are the same people who go on talking about "Islamic terrorism".

What needs to be recognized is that some extremist elements both amongst the Muslims and Hindus are resorting to terrorist violence. They will have to be dealt with firmly and their networks dismantled irrespective of the community they belong to. The Central Government must take the reports of Hindutva infiltration in the army seriously. The role of the Bhonsala Military School has to be investigated. No private educational institution can be allowed to provide military training. This must be immediately stopped and the school should conform to the regular educational curriculum.

eom
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[Marxistindia] CPI(M) Delegation Meets Uttarakhand CM

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 6, 2008

A delegation of the CPI(M) met the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj. General (retd) B.C. Khanduri along with a group of leaders and religious functionaries of the Christian Solidarity Society in Dehradun yesterday (Nov.5) to protest against the increased attacks on the Christian community by the sangh parivar. The delegation included Brinda Karat (Member CPI(M) Polit Bureau and MP), Tapan Sen (MP and member, Central Committee) State leaders B.Kanswal, Indu Naudiyal, newly elected Zila Parishad member of the area P.Devli along with the victims of the recent attack, Pastor Hemant and his family members and other community leaders. Earlier, the CPI(M)leaders had gone to Choila village on the outskirts of the town, where on November 3 morning, a mob of about 40 to 50 men armed with rods and sticks forcibly entered the small church and destroyed copies of the Bible, religious books, musical instruments, furniture etc. Shockingly, when the police finally arrested the attackers, it was the Mayor of Dehradun, a BJP leader, who went to the Thana and misutilised his official position to get the men released. The delegation saw the destruction caused and met many members of the congregation mainly daily workers including women. They wept when they related the violence they had faced. In the attack a pastor Asher Waska was badly injured and had to be hospitalized. His ear drum has been punctured due to the beating. The pastor Hemant has been threatened not to hold any services in the church or the church will be burnt down and he will be killed. In the recent panchayat elections, Com. Deoli who is a State Committee member of the CPI(M) was elected the Zila Parishad member from the area. He along with the block pramukh and the ward member assured the congregation that they will be present at the time of the Sunday service to ensure that there is no disturbance. There is a temple nearby and many people of the area also met the delegation and the affected Christian community members and assured them of their support. This instilled a sense of confidence in the congregation who were visibly appreciative of the visit of the CPI(M) leaders. Not a single other party has visited the area.

In the evening, the leaders of the community and the local pastor accompanied the CPI(M) delegation led by Brinda Karat to meet the Chief Minister. The CM expressed his regret for the incidents and assured the community members that he would ensure that there was no political pressure to help the accused.

It will be recalled that ever since the BJP Government took office different sangh parivar fronts have increased their attacks on the Christian community. Even though the attackers have alleged forced conversions not a single case of such "forcible" conversions have been mentioned. Details of the previous attacks were given in a detailed memorandum to the Chief Minister by the Christians for action.
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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

[Marxistindia] Hold Enquiry Into Spectrum Allocation

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 6, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Big Scam in Spectrum Allocation: Hold Enquiry

The manner in which the 2G spectrum was allocated by the Communications Ministry has led to a huge scandal.

It is now clear from the sale of shares by Swan and Unitech that more than Rs. 60,000 crore has been lost to the national exchequer by giving away scarce spectrum at a fraction of the market price. The CPI(M) is shocked that the UPA government, instead of addressing the huge scam that has taken place on the allocation of the fourth licence in 2G mobile services has taken the position that nothing needs to be done.

For the release of the fourth licence and the spectrum required, the Communications Ministry adopted a completely inexplicable principle of `first come first served' for allocating the licence as well as a licence fee based on 2001 price. These 2G licences were priced at 2001 levels allegedly to keep the costs low for the consumers. However, this was not ensured through the licence terms and conditions. As a result, the parties who had secured these licences have sold or are selling their shares at huge profits.

The deal between UAE's telecom operator Etisalat and Swan Telecom, and Unitech and Talenor (of Norway) has brought out the magnitude of largesee that has been doled out. Swan Telecom bought a licence for 13 circles along with the necessary 2G spectrum for a paltry Rs. 1,537 crore. Subsequently, it has sold 45 per cent of its stake to Etisalat for $900 million, taking its book value to $2 billion. This is without putting up any infrastructure, let alone starting operations. The Unitech-Talenor deal is no different. Unitech like Swan had not spent a single paisa for executing its licence. It has now sold 60 per cent of its stake to Talenor for Rs. 6,120 crores while paying only Rs. 1,651 crore as licence fee. The government has actually got only one-sixth of what it would have got, had it gone through a fresh auction route - a loss of Rs. 10,000 crore to the exchequer on Swan and Unitech licences alone.

The total loss to the exchequer of giving away 2G GSM spectrum in this way, including to the CDMA operators, is over Rs. 60,000 crore and must rank as one of the biggest financial scam of all times in the country.

Instead of redressing what has become an open scandal, the Government has dealt with the question as to whether these companies can sell their shares legally. This is not the issue. The issue is if scarce national resources are given away at throwaway prices and these are then sold at many times that price, what should the Government do? It should either invoke fair trade practice/anti-monopoly sections, or look at other operative sections of the licence to see how this can be prevented. If no other recourse is available, it must levy a windfall tax on such speculative transactions. The CPI(M) demands the holding of an enquiry to find out how a scam of this magnitude could be carried out and to put in measures in the licences so that this does not recur in the future.

The Polit Bureau warns the government that the 3G licence issue also needs to be addressed properly. Otherwise, the government will lose huge revenue shares from the existing 2G licensees, as they switch from 2G and 3G spectrum. Already, one company is reported to be using the difference of revenue shares between different applications -mobile, long distance and internet - to under report its earnings in some segments. This is seriously impacting Government's revenue share. The 3G licence has similar potential. With the 2G experience, the Government must ensure that adequate provisions are now put into the licence terms and conditions so that another fiasco can be avoided.

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[Marxistindia] on restructuring centre-state relations

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 5, 2008

Press Release

On Restructuring of Centre-State Relations

The CPI (M) has prepared an Approach Paper on Restructuring of Centre-State Relations. This is being put forward to initiate a discussion among political parties and organisations to enable the emergence of a common platform in and bring about a restructuring of Centre-State relations.

The CPI (M) has always held that the Indian Constitution, while being federal in form, is more unitary in character. The basic structure remains to be one where legislative, administrative and financial powers are disproportionately concentrated in the Union Government with the States having a large number of responsibilities without sufficient autonomy. Strengthening the federal system is necessary for meeting the aspirations of the people who are governed through State Governments and for preserving the unity of India.

The CPI (M) has put forward a set of demands for restructuring of Centre-State relations on legal, administrative, financial, institutional and other matters. Some of the major demands are listed below:

Legal and Administrative Issues

Articles 356 and 355: Articles 356 and 355 of the Constitution should be amended, in order to incorporate safeguards to prevent their misuse.

Appointment of Governors: The current process of appointment of Governors by the Central Government should be changed. The Governor should be appointed by the President from a list of three eminent persons suggested by the Chief Minister of a State.

Legislative Powers for States: Residuary powers of legislation should be placed in the State List. A process of consultation between the Centre and the States needs to be institutionalised on legislations under the Concurrent list.

Financial Issues

Devolution of Central Taxes to States: 50% of the total pool of collection of Central taxes should be devolved to the States.

Residual Powers of Taxation: The States should be allowed to tax certain services including some services which are currently being taxed by the Centre. A suitable model for the proposed Goods and Services Tax should be evolved to ensure a fair share for the States.

Market Borrowing by States: Article 293 of the Constitution should be amended to provide more flexibility and autonomy to the States in regard to market borrowing. The share of market borrowing of the States should be increased from about 15% per cent currently to 50%.

Debt Relief and Conditionalities: Debt relief for the States on account of the Central loans should not be tied to any conditionality. Conditionalities imposed upon the States like the passage of FRBM Act should be withdrawn. Debt relief should be worked out in a State-specific manner, especially with regard to loans from the NSSF.

Centrally Sponsored Schemes: The formulation and implementation of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the State subject should be transferred with funds to the States along with broad guidelines and minimum conditions. Conditionalities like reduction of stamp duties as required under the Schemes like JNNURM should be withdrawn.

Devolution to Local Self-Governments: A target minimum level of Local Self-Government expenditure to GDP should be set. Funds devolved to the local bodies should mandatorily be routed through the State Governments.

Institutional Issues

Inter-State Council: The Constitution should be amended to make the decisions of the Inter-State Council binding on the Union Government. All major issues involving Centre-State relations have to be discussed and decided by the Inter-State Council.

NDC and Planning Commission: The National Development Council should be granted Constitutional status. The Planning Commission should act as an executive wing of the NDC.

Finance Commission: In determining the terms of reference of the Finance Commission, the views of the States should be taken into account. Any difference of views on the terms of reference should be settled in the Inter-State Council. There should be adequate representation of the States in the Finance Commission.

Special Category States: The differential benefits given to these States in terms of the non-Plan Gap Grant and Normal Central Assistance should continue. The debt of these State Governments should be settled in a one time manner without any conditionality. The release of funds to the Special Category States under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes should be done in a timely manner without stringent conditions on fund utilization.

click on the following link for the full text of the document: http://www.cpim.org/documents/2008-oct-centre-state relations.pdf

click here for the CPI(M)'s response to the questions from the Commission on Centre-State relations http://www.cpim.org/documents/2008-oct-response to commission on centre-state relations.pdf

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Sunday, November 2, 2008

[Marxistindia] Attack on Convoy of Buddhadeb Bhattacharya

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)
November 3, 2008

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the attack on the convoy of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya through a landmine blast in West Midnapur district. The Union Minister for Steel and the Minster of State were also traveling on the same route.

The Maoists have targeted the Chief Minister and have killed a number of CPI(M) cadres and activities in the recent period. The Maoists have opposed the setting up of a steel plant at Salboni. Firm action should be taken against these disruptive elements who are inimical to the interests of the people and the development of the state.

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