StrugglesInBalochistan

Marxism Day School January 14, 2007

Strugles in Balochistan

Balochistan • Immense Contradictions • Most Powerful Resistance to State • Liberation Armies, Student Revolts, Youth Uprisings, Protests, Strikes • Revolting People

Why Rebellion?

• State Intervention • Development Projects • Port, Highway, Pipeline

• Rs 42 Billion Per Year on Gawader • Rs 42 Billion Per Year Balochistan

• Single Day 200 Point Rise in KSE = Rs 40 billion • All Types of Opposing Groups

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 • Disapperances Normal • Karachi, Hub, Khuzdar, Jacobabad, Quetta, Turbat, Kalat…..

• Recntly JWP Saleem Baloch Released After months, appeared in press, rearrested again

Aims of Repression

• To Silence all Opposing Mega Projects • Projects Bringing Billions of Dollars for Capitalists • Pakistani, Chinese, Iranian, Indian, • Afghanistan, US

• To Much at Stake • Resulting in Usurping of Fundamental Rights • Result: Massive National Oppression • Response • Resistance • Attack the State – Terrorism

Implications of Repression • • • •

State Terrorised Balochistan Police/Military Methods Military Operations Iraq Like Situation

• If Society Remains Passive

• Attack on Fundamental Rights of People in All Provinces • Examples of Wazirstan, Bajur, Dr Sarki, Alleged Al-Qaida Linked Arrests

• 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

by State – Bhasha, Kalabagh • Mega Project Related Destruction Becomes Justified

• 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

Passivity on Balochistan Helps State • Passive Masses

• Other Projects at Other Places Justified

by State • Mega Project Related Destruction Becomes Justified

• 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 Implies Weaker Working Class on Worker Related Questions • Stronger State – Neo-liberal 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 • Gawadar, Coastal Highway, Iran-PakIndia Pipeline, Sui Gas • All Capitalist Development • Purpose – More Trade, More Transportation, More Profits • Profits for whom?

• Not the Ordinary – See Major Areas of Balochistan Witout Sui Gas • Sui Gas Income – Balochistan Remained Backward

• 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

• 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 Them for Help • Look at Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine

• 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 • 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 Suppressin Nation – Against Patriotism • In Suppressed Nation – As Part of Struggle Against National Oppression

Time to Form Defence of Baloch Peoples Front • We Remain Passive – State Terror Increases • Fightback of Working Class -- Organically Linked to Fightback for National Rights, Against National Opression • Time to Organise Students of Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore….

• Against Military Operation in Balochistan • Agaisnt Capitalist Development

Conclusion • Oppose National Oppression of Baloch • Support the Demand of Right of Self Determination • Fight Capitalist Development • Fight Imperialism • Organise 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