Mumbai Resistance-2004 - Against Imperialist Globalisation & War



1. The MR-2004 is an event, scheduled for January 17-20, 2004, and
will run parallel to the World Social Forum (WSF) Mumbai programme.
It is an international event, part of the process of building a
strong worldwide anti-imperialist movement, that seeks to take the
people of the world, including those attending the WSF, beyond the
limits of "reflective thinking and debate" towards organised
resistance against imperialist globalisation and imperialist wars. It
is based on clear and unambiguous premises. The MR-2004 considers
itself as a continuation of the militant traditions set in the anti-
globalisation and anti-war movements that assumed a new intensity
after Seattle.



The MR-2004 was conceived of at the International Camp, Thessaloniki
Resistance 2003, and Greece in June 2003. It took a more concrete
form following a decision of the International Co-ordinating Group of
the International League of Peoples' Struggles, ILPS, (a coalition of
over 100 struggling people's organisations from different parts of
the world), which at its meeting in the Netherlands on July 18-20,
2003 resolved to organise an event at the same time as the WSF "co-
sponsored with other groups .. to consolidate and strengthen the anti-
imperialist movement", and subsequently through discussions with
other international and Indian organisations.



2. MR-2004, being held in Mumbai, in particular seeks to take the
anti-imperialist movement in India one step forward, as part of the
international mobilisation against the growing concentration of
capitalist forces across the globe and the ravages of their
imperialist globalisation. This is seriously harming the socio-
economic fabric of all backward countries of the world, causing acute
devastation to peoples' livelihoods, and actually depriving them of
the very Right to Life.



3. MR-2004, seeing a futility in the amorphous presentation
of "Another Possible World" by the WSF, seeks to concretely define an
alternative socio-economic structure, as one built on a basis of self-
reliance, with a total break from all controls, domination and
subjugation by imperialism and the institutions of the world
capitalist system – such as World Bank, IMF, WTO, TNCs, etc. It
believes that prosperity and growth in India, as with all other
underdeveloped countries, can be achieved only through a self-reliant
economy, moving towards a genuine socialist order. It is of the
opinion that this can be achieved through struggle, not endless and
often not so meaningful debates.



4. MR-2004 seeks to vehemently oppose the rapacious plunder of the
backward countries of the world --- their economies, natural
resources, agriculture, enormous wealth, and, primarily, of their
people --- by the TNCs as a result of the pro-imperialist policies of
the governments, masquerading under the signboard of `economic
reforms'. It firmly believes that the battle against imperialism and
the global system of capital cannot be fought without also targeting
the local ruling classes within countries who support and actively
implement these policies.



5. MR-2004 is totally opposed to the privatisation and disinvestment
policies of governments, especially in the resource based basic
industries, and in all public utilities, health, education, welfare
and other social sectors, which is actually the contrived open sale
of the nation's assets.



6. MR-2004 unequivocally rejects the foreign debt accumulated by the
anti-people rulers of the oppressed nations from the imperialists,
with its onerous servicing liability, and calls for its unilateral
liquidation.



7. MR-2004 opposes the massive attack on the working class throughout
the world, taking place under the signboard of globalisation. Faced
with a severe economic crisis, capital is seeking to stem the falling
rate of profit through, privatisations, job-losses, wage-cuts,
contract labour/labour flexibility, cut in benefits, pensions, etc
and even increasing attacks on the right to organise and strike. In
India, as in many other parts of the world, the living conditions of
the working-class have reached unimaginable depths.



8. MR-2004 opposes also the back-breaking attack on the lives of the
peasantry of the backward countries through the 'globalisation' of
agriculture. In India the entire rural populace is being ruined by
unbridled heavily subsidised cheap imports, plummeting of prices of
all crops, absence of any price-protection mechanism, withdrawal of
bank credit for peasants, growth of usury, slashing of public
investment in agriculture, increased prices of inputs, increased
dependence on MNC inputs, increased concentration of land, handing
over vast tracts of land to MNCs etc. along with droughts and floods
ravaging the country, and thousands being sent to their death each
year because of these policies.



9. MR-2004 stands against the trend of growing fascism throughout the
world, which has taken a menacing form and launched numerous attacks
especially on the minorities in various parts of the world in the
post 9/11 period in the name of fighting terrorism. These attacks are
nothing but attempts to curb the struggling people from seeking their
basic rights and just demands. In India this has taken different
shapes, though by far the most prominent is that of Hindutva Fascism,
which terrorises the minority communities while utilising and
strengthening the highly oppressive caste system and whipping up
national chauvinism. Its most deadly form was witnessed during the
Gujarat pogroms in 2002 and also in the draconian legislations being
framed by the state and central governments like POTA, ESMA, etc,
which continue the highly undemocratic and repressive traditions of
the centralised state apparatus inherited from the colonial powers.



10. MR-2004 believes that the present cultural degeneration, crass-
consumerism, religious bigotry, is the direct product of a fusion of
backward/feudal and capitalist/imperialist values nurtured on the one
hand, by the extreme market fetishism of globalisation, and, on the
other, by the religious fanaticism promoted by the rulers of the
various countries. It seeks genuinely democratic values and culture,
through a systematic countering of this growing deterioration in the
cultural life of the people.



11. MR-2004 is of the view that the enormous environmental
destruction taking place in the world, including India, is the direct
result of the principle of primacy of the market and the
capitalist/imperialist concept of development that leads to the
commoditisation of natural resources as well as corporate greed that
seeks the maximisation of profits at the cost of the ecological and
human life of the people of the earth. Protection of the environment
is impossible without eradicating the root cause of this depredation.



12. MR-2004 seeks to fight the increasing marginalisation of all
sections of the oppressed masses under imperialist globalisation,
particularly the socially oppressed groups and indigenous people. In
India, the Adivasis, who constitute 7% of the population, are being
systematically driven off their lands, their natural habitat, and
pushed further and further to the fringes of this system.



13. MR-2004 fights against all forms of social oppression. In India
particularly caste plays a significant role in the overall system of
exploitation even today. MR 2004 stands for the complete eradication
of the centuries-old, inhuman caste-based social system in all its
political, economic and socio-religio-cultural facets, which are
getting accentuated under the impact of globalisation. Whether one
terms it upper caste chauvinism or Brahmanical fascism, the
reactionary assault on the people of the most oppressed castes has
become even fiercer. MR 2004 strongly opposes all forms of upper
caste domination and chauvinism and casteist discrimination including
the horrendous practice of untouchability, which is still seen in
parts of the country.



14. MR 2004 seeks to fight the patriarchal oppression of women, and
opposes the vulgar and degenerate imperialist culture that breeds
violence against them and views them as commodities.



15. MR 2004 stands against the growing communalisation of society,
and opposes all forms of communal violence, but most particularly the
majority form of Hindutva communalism which has targeted the
minorities including Christians, Sikhs and Dalits, but most
particularly the Muslims. In this context it will support and unite
with progressive forces of people belonging to each religion who are
struggling against imperialist sponsored fundamentalist and fascist
forces.



16. MR 2004 seeks justice, equality and liberation for all,
irrespective of caste, nationality, religion or gender and believes
that the struggles of all these oppressed sections of society are an
important part of the anti-imperialist movement and will play a
crucial role in the building of a new world.



17. MR-2004 unites strongly with the millions of struggling people
fighting US-led aggression and war throughout the world. It stands
firmly with the fighting people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and
all the other countries that are being crushed under the jack-boots
of US-led imperialist/Zionist aggression. It stands for the
unilateral withdrawal of all US bases from various countries in the
world. It also stands against the military interventions and
expansionist strategies of the other imperialist powers.



18. Finally, MR-2004 appeals to all the genuine anti-imperialist
forces from India and abroad, including those who will be attending
the WSF in Mumbai, to join and strengthen the MR-2004 trend of true
resistance to imperialist globalisation and war.



19. MR-2004 is of the strong opinion that justice, equality and
liberation can be achieved only through peoples' struggles. In this
process we do not exclude any form of struggle that the situation may
demand. The achievement of justice, equality and liberation is the
primary objective, and the people choose the method of struggle
according to the specific situation. Any restriction based on the
forms of struggle can only serve to divide the forces standing up
against imperialism.



20. We appeal to you all to attend our plenary sessions, workshops,
seminars, cultural festival and rally, and thereby lend weight to the
growing resistance in India and throughout the world. The MR-2004
will be inaugurated at 9.00 am on January 17, 2004. This will be
followed by a series of workshops (primarily on issues that affect
the lives of the people) on January 17th and 18th. January 19th will
be witness to a cultural festival; and January 20th to a mammoth
rally.



21. We, the initiators of MR-2004, call on all democratic mass
organisations to join the MR-2004 process, democratic individuals to
lend their name the Reception Committee, and for all to donate funds
for this effort. It firmly believes that funding from
imperialist/capitalist governments, corporates or foreign
institutional sources can never help the peoples' movements, and will
not get funds from these sources. It will declare its sources of
funds and expenditure. With the MR-2004 process being initiated from
now itself, not only in India but in many countries of the world, we
call on all people to participate in this new process culminating in
the January 2004 event.



September 5, 2003



Initiators of MR-2004 are:



International League for Peoples' Struggles (ILPS)
World Peoples' Resistance Movement (WPRM), South Asia.
Anti-Imperialist Camp (Austria)
Bayan (Philippines)
Confederation of Turkish Workers in Europe (ATIK)
Militant Movement (Greece)
All India Peoples Resistance Forum (AIPRF)
AP Forum for Secularism and Democracy
Bahujan Mukti Mahasangh
Bharat Jan Andolan (BJA)
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Haryana
Chattisgarh Mukti Morcha (CMM)
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS)
Kashtakari Yuvak Sanghatana
Lokshahi Hakk Sanghatana
MY India -- Muslim Youth of India
Movement for Implementation of Land Reforms, Chittoor District,
Andhra Pradesh
Samajik Nyaya Morcha
Struggling Forum for People's Resistance (SFPR)
Telengana Jana Sabha
Yuva Bharat


Contact:

 Mumbai_resistance@indiatimes.com

 aiprf@rediffmail.com

 aiprf@hotmail.com



011-27675001, 011-35970862, 022-26857083, 09892370462



Room No 1163, 6th Floor, `Ekta', Mahada Colony, Vanrai, Western
Express High Way,

Goregaon, (East), Phone: 022-26857083, Email:
 mumbai_resistance@indiatimes.com





Formation of a Reception Committee

For The

Mumbai Resistance – 2004: Against Imperialist Globalisation and War
(MR-2004)



Dear Friends,

You would be aware that the World Social Forum is due to hold its
yearly conference in January next year outside Porto Allegro (Brazil)
for the first time in its three-year history. It is scheduled to be
held at Mumbai between January 16th and 21st 2004. Due to the
limitations of this body we are organizing an independent 4-day
function on that occasion, in order to focus more explicitly on
Imperialist Globalisation and the War-mongering of the US aggressors
and the growing worldwide resistance to it.

To the chagrin of the imperialists, peoples throughout the world are
increasingly taking to the path of struggle in a big way. The
militant mass demonstrations since Seattle are symbolic of the
intensification of the anti-imperialist mood among all sections. A
variety of forces have participated in these movements, with varying
ideologies and ideas about the way in which globalisation can be
fought. While some have been seeking merely some reforms in the
policies of the IMF, World Bank, etc. and of the imperialist
governments, others have been linking the process of globalisation to
imperialism and are clear that to fight globalisation there is a need
to fight and defeat imperialism itself.

The US imperialists have, since 9/11, launched their war against so-
called `terrorism', as a euphemism for a war against people's
movements and all those who are opposed to their policies. To further
their imperialist designs they have their war-mongering and the
devastating consequences are visible all over the world. This has
further given a boost to people's struggles worldwide – as has been
evident from the wide protests against the Iraq war and the growing
militant resistance of the people of Iraq and Palestine. MR-2004
considers itself as a continuation of these gigantic mass movements,
initiated at Seattle, against imperialist globalisation and war.

There is an urgent need for those who are opposed to imperialist
globalisation and imperialist led wars of aggression to rally
together, share experiences, analyse imperialist strategies, and
develop a perspective that will take the movement forward to confront
and ultimately defeat imperialism.

But we find that the WSF, as it is structured - only for "reflective
thinking" without conclusions and plans for action - does not allow
for the development of a clear anti-imperialist perspective.

Though the WSF claims through its charter to be against `all forms of
imperialism', it has in fact no clear understanding regarding this,
nor are those in the leadership of WSF actually against imperialism
in practice. The WSF is being led by `Left' parties who are or have
been in power either at provincial or central level in Brazil,
Western European countries and even India. These parties have
themselves been implementing the policies prescribed by the IMF, WB
and other imperialist institutions, leading to tremendous hardships
to the people. These parties cannot be relied upon to lead the anti-
imperialist movement ahead. The other leading constituent of the WSF
are major NGOs who are active in raising demands to reform the
imperialist system and give, in their words, `globalisation a human
face'. Given this domination of WSF by elements who are not opposed
to imperialist globalisation itself, it is clear that the task of
developing the anti-imperialist struggle cannot be undertaken freely
in this forum.

Further the charter of the WSF itself restricts constituent
organisations to non-violent forms of struggle. It specifically
closes the door on all other forms of struggle. At a time when the
growing aggression of the imperialists has forced the masses in
numerous places to resort to more and more militant forms of
struggle, such restrictions can only serve to divide the forces
standing up against imperialism.



The WSF is being funded largely by donations obtained either directly
from imperialist agencies (e.g. the Ford Foundation) or indirectly
through NGOs funded by such agencies or governments. Such funds are
given with the express purpose of institutionalising dissent and
diverting genuine activists into channels harmless to imperialism,
thus harming the growing movement.

It is for these reasons that we, the undersigned organisations, have
taken the initiative to organise an independent event under the
banner `Mumbai Resistance – 2004: Against Imperialist Globalisation
and War'.

It is proposed to be a four day programme including seminars,
workshops, a cultural festival and a mass rally. It is expected that
even those committed to and participating in the WSF process will
join in the MR-2004 programme. We hope you support this endeavour to
strengthen and take forward the struggle against imperialism and wars
and join us to make this effort a success.



MR 2004

Mumbai Resistance 2004

Against Imperialism and War






Date: September, 2004

Dear Friends,



On account of the WSF having chosen Mumbai, India as its destination
for its fourth annual conference and on account of the "limitations"
of the WSF in focusing the real nature of Imperialist Globalization,
AIPRF had circulated among various organisations two draft documents
titled:



1. Formation of the Reception Committee for the Mumbai Resistance
2004 against Imperialist Globalization.

2. Introducing MR 2004.



On 5th September 2003 a meeting was conducted by AIPRF at Mumbai, to
discuss these documents. The following organisations attended:

1) Yuva Bharat - Shashikant Sonawane.

2) Muslim Youth of India - Feroz Mithiborwalla.

3) Bhujan Mukti Mahasangh- Jambuka.

4) Samajik Nyay Morcha - Thomas Matthew.

5) Vidrohi- Avinash Kadam, Subodh More*

6) Bharat Jan Andolan - Dr. B.D. Sharma.

7) Kashtakari Yuvak Sanghtana - Ramu Pawar.

8) Telengana Jana Sabha - Bhoomaih.

9) Naujawan Bharat Sabha - Sampat.

10) Lokshahi Hakk Sanghtana - Anthony Samy

* Vidrohi attended as observers, they are yet to discuss in their
committee regarding joining MR-2004



Besides these organisations the following organisations who agreed
with the draft documents, though not present at the meeting, have
consented to be part of the organisations initiating MR-2004.

1) International League for People's Struggles (ILPS).

2) World People's Resistance Movement (WPRM) - South Asia.

3) Anti-Imperialist Camp- Austria.

4) Militant Movement - Greece.

5) BAYAN - Philippines.

6) Confederation of Turkish Worker's in Europe (ATIK).

7) Raita Rajya Sangha - Prof Najundswamy.

8) Chattisgarh Mutki Morcha - (CMM).

9) Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) - Haryana.

10) Struggling Forum for People's Resistance (SFRP).

11) AP Forum for Secularism and Democracy.

12) Movement for Implementation of Land Reforms.



Amendments were suggested by different groups from amongst those who
attended as also those who couldn't make it to the meeting. These
amendments were discussed by the meeting and on the basis of points
of consensus they were incorporated into the documents by a sub-
committee authorized by the meeting. Please find copies of the final
documents enclosed with this letter.



There was a discussion on the choice of the name, 'Mumbai
Resistance'. It was broadly agreed that the name was appropriate and
so should be continued.



Besides this the other decisions taken are:-

* That we should carry the documents back to our states and mobilize
the Reception Committee and as also bring other organisations to
participate in our programme based on agreement with the two
documents.



* It was decided that the programme is to be held in January 2004.
The tentative programme was proposed as under:-

a) January 17th 2004 Morning Session- Inaugural - Plenary Session.

Proposed Inaugural Speakers- James Petras / Edward Said.

Sub Themes:

1) Globalization is an issue-capitalism / imperialism is the issue.

2) Can multilateral institutions be reformed?

3) Strategies of imperialist control.

4) Military face of imperialism



17th afternoon and 18th morning sessions: proposed topics for
workshops:



1) Hindu fascism as an instrument of Globalisation

2) Imperialism and environment

3) Globalisation and working class

4) Dalit question and Globalisation

5) Imperialism and patriarchy

6) Imperialism and Tribal/ Indigenous people

7) Imperialism and state repression

8) Imperialism and National liberation

9) Imperialism and the peasantry



Afternoon- Closing sessions.



Jan 19th -Cultural Festival.

Jan 2oth - Rally and Public Meeting.



Besides this various names of national and international speakers
were proposed and discussed.



It was agreed that we must have both intellectuals a well as leaders
of struggling people's movements.

It was agreed that a bank account should be opened and donations
collected from people.

An office of MR-2004 has been opened at Goregaon and the address and
phone no. is:

Room no 1163,

6th floor, Bldg no 11,

Ekta co-operative society,

Vanrai, MHADA Colony,

Near Mahananda Dairy,

Goregaon-(e),

MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA.

Ph no. 26857083.

Email:  mumbai_resistance@indiatimes.com



Besides this a website is to be started as well as a newsletter on e-
mail.



Resolution were passed on:

1) Opposing the visit of Ariel Sharon to India.

2) On Cancun WTO ministerial level meeting, demanding scrapping WTO.



A press realease is to be prepared incorporating the contents of the
meeting as well as the resolutions.



Finally the participating organisations at Mumbai level formed a
committee for logistics and they are to meet on 15/9/2003 evening 6
p.m at the nrmu office at Dadar (e).



The next meeting of the initiators together with new participating
organizations is to be held on 10th October 2003 at Mumbai.



The meeting ended with a song by Sambhaji. The song he said was
about "knowing the enemy!"



We will keep you updated please send us e-mail id's of people you
feel we should be mailing this letter to.



Holding high the banner of Resistance!