Marxism Day School December , 2009
Struggles in Balochistan Riaz Ahmed International Socialists (Pak)
Balochistan • Immense Contradictions • Powerful Resistance to State • Liberation Armies, • Student Revolts, • Youth Risings/Protests/Strikes
• Revolting People
Why Rebellion?
• State Intervention
• Development Projects • Port, Highway, Pipeline • Rs 52 Billion Per Year on Gawader • Rs 50 Billion Per Year Balochistan
• 200 Point Rise • in KSE = Rs 60 billion
State Repression • Anyone Demanding Rights is a Terrorist Planting Bombs • Officially over 4000 arrested • Unofficially over 8000 arrested • Hundreds languishing in Jails • Thousands Without Trial
State Repression
• Disapperances Normal • Karachi, Hub, Khuzdar, Jacobabad, Quetta, Turbat…
Balochistan Package
• Capitalist mega projects continue • Fundamental question: Liberation? • Imposed from above….refrendum? • Amnesty, Disappearances continue? • Class: Attempt to reinstall Sardars • No one asking opinion of Sarmachar • Like Swat…Operation/Package/Operation
Aims of Repression • Silence Opposing Mega Projects • Projects… Billions of Dollars for Capitalists • Pakistani, Chinese, Iranian, Indian, • Afghanistan, US
• High Stakes
Aims of Repression • Usurp Fundamental Rights • Massive National Oppression • Response • Resistance • Attack the State – Terrorism
Implications of Repression • State Terrorised Balochistan • Police/Military Methods • Military Operations • Iraq Like Situation
Implications of Repression • If Society Remains Passive • State Attack Fund Rights in All Provinces • Examples of Wazirstan, Bajur, Swat
• Left/Working Class Remains Passive • Divisions Among Working Class • Workers of Quetta, Karachi, Lahore divided in workplace
Passivity on Balochistan Helps State • Passive Masses
• Other Projects at Other Places Justified – Bhasha, Kalabagh • Destruction Becomes Justified
Passivity on Balochistan Helps State • Passive Working Class • Attacks on Workplaces Easier • Military Operation in Kohlu • opposed by ordinary Baloch in Karachi, Supported (passively) by non-Baloch in same workplace in Karachi – Divided Working Class
• Liberalisation • Privatisation, Deregulation, Inflation
Implications for Working Class • Passive Working Class on National Question • Weaker Working Class on Worker Related Questions
Implications for Working Class
•Stronger State – Neoliberal Policies • More Projects • More Imperialist Investment/Intervention • More Repression • Further Divided Working Class • Easier Privatisation, Liberalisaton, Inflation
Ways to Fightback • Nationalist Struggle
• End to Mega Projects • Autonomy • Particiaption of Baloch • Development? Yes • Balochistan is Poor/Backward
• National Liberation/Autonomy
− Similar Mega Projects on Different (beneficial) terms
Development = Capitalist Development • All Capitalist Development • Purpose – More Trade, More Transportation, More Profits • Profits for whom?
• Pakistan Capitalists Benefitted
• Gas to Industries, Thermal Plants • More Profits for Capitalists – Local/Multi
Ways to Fightback • Marxian Position • Support
• Right of Self Determination of Baloch • Right of Secession of Baloch • Right of Balochistan people to decide for their future
• All Democratic Rights
Ways to Fightback • Development? Capitalist? NO • Fight Capitalist Profit – Capitalism • National Oppresion Due to Capitlaist Development not Vice Versa • Real National Liberation, Democratic Rights of Suppressed Nations Not Realizable in Capitalist System
Fight Capitalism • Resisting National Oppression
• is Resisting Capitalism – but not all
• Against Imperialism
• Imperialist Powers not Asking Help • Look at Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine
• Support Imp….Attack Hazara, Punjabi • Emancipation of Working Class
• Act of Working Class – Working Class Nationally Suppressed Fights National Suppression
Marxian Position • • • •
Marxists are not Nationalists Marxists are Internationalists Right of Nations International of Nations
• Capitalism -- Global with National Divisions • Socialism -- International without National Oppression
• Oppose suppren of all nations • Hence Right of Secession
Marxists Position • • • • • • •
Marx on Ireland Marxists on Poland Indian Liberation - Problems Anti-Colonial Struggles Eastern European Satellites Yogoslavia Kashmir
Marxism & National Consciousness • Lenin: National Question Not a Clutural/Ideological Question • A Political Question
• i.e.
• In Suppressing Nation • Against Patriotism
• In Suppressed Nation
• – As Part of Struggle Against National Oppression
Time to …. • Time to Organise Students of Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore…. • Against Military Operation in Balochistan • Agaisnt Capitalist Development
Conclusion • Oppose Nat Oppress of Baloch • Support Right of Self Determn • Fight Capitalist Development • Fight Imperialism • Organize Students/Workers • to Resist National Oppression
Books to Read • Marxism and National Question by Alex Callinicos • Right of National Self Determination by V I Lenin • Deflected Permanent Revolution by Tony Cliff • Socialist Urdu