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