[Marxistindia] 11th International Meeting of Communist & Workers Parties Begins

[news from the cpi(m)]

                                            New Delhi: November 20, 2009


Press Release



Intensify popular struggles and expand solidarities in the wake of
current world capitalist crisis. This seems to be main direction
emerging from discussions on the inaugural day of the 11th International
Meeting of the Communist and Workers Parties, being jointly hosted by
the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of
India. 

In the brief inaugural session, CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member and head of
International Department of the Party, Sitaram Yechury presented the
main theme of the meeting, 'The International Capitalist Crisis, the
workers and people's struggle, the alternatives and the role of the
communist and working class movement'. CPI(M) general secretary Prakash
Karat and CPI general secretary A B Bardhan were also present along with
scores of other leaders from the Cps of the world.


The delegate session began at 12:15 a.m. Discussion began with countries
of American continents. In pre-lunch session Oscar Martinez Cordoves (C
P Cuba), Jose Reinaldo Carvalho ( C P doB), Patricio Echegaray ( C P
Argentina), Antonio Pavel (C P Mexico) and Scott Marshll (C P USA)
addressed the session. Manzurul Ahsan Khan (C P Bangladesh) also
addressed the delegates.


All speakers from parties of Latin American countries underlined that
for the progressive forces and processes in their region, the coming to
power of Obama in USA does not indicate any favourable change. It
represents only new and more intelligent tactic of Empire to stall the
march of progressive forces in the region. They underlined various steps
taken by US under Obama to strengthen forces of reaction in the region.
The coup d'etat in Honduras was repeatedly mentioned in this context.


Cuban representative specifically debunked this media created impression
that Obama administration has begun dismantling the half century old
criminal blockade against Cuba. He underlined that Obama has powers but
no political will to change US imperial methods. Scott Marshal of CP USA
said that Obama's victory in the election was an outcome of the struggle
to defeat the reactionary right regime of Bush. He also underlined the
significance of largest US trade union organisation, AFL-CIO,
rediscovering its working class roots, as represented by its 2009
convention.


CP Bangladesh representative underlined the fact that imperialism
encouraged and supported fundamentalist and reactionary forces in their
country, including the two year long military supported dictatorial
rule, that working class and people of Bangladesh had to defeat to
restore democracy in the country.


International meeting is to continue it's discussion in the evening
session which would see Manik Sarkar speaking on behalf of CPI(M) and S
Sudhakar Reddy of CPI, Ai Ping of Communist Party of China and Pak Gyong
Son of Workers Party of Korea among others.