Account of the Rally against US Imperialism on 20th March 

LAHORE DISTRICT

Saturday, March 20, 2004  

March 20^th was celebrated the world over as a Global Day of Action against US Imperialism. In Lahore ( Pakistan ), the political parties of the left, not surprisingly, were the only parties to protest against US imperialist mercantile policies in the Iraq and Afghanistan . Among other activities, a rally had been planned by the left parties and organizations. It had been planned to begin the rally from Nasser Bagh, and march along Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam to express public discontentment and anger at the policies of the US government, and the active approval of those policies by the Government of Pakistan. The Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party had pledged its support for this cause, and true to our promise, we were able to galvanize a contingent as a result of the conduction of a massive mobilization drive from all segments of society that included laborers, women and students.  

The CMKP contingent reached Nasser Bagh at 2.30 p.m. where a large number of supporters had already assembled. What we witnessed at the time was a fairly muted atmosphere, inspite of the presence of the large number of protestors and a plethora of banners and placards. This subdued tone could perhaps be attributed to the overwhelming presence of armed police personnel. We were told that that the Police had vowed not to let us march at all, let alone march towards Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam. The CMKP leadership present held discussions with leaders from other groups, and as a result a decision was taken to continue the march, but take an alternative route. We would now march from Nasser Bagh to Data Darbar instead.

The CMKP contingent then set about increasing the momentum and mood of proceedings in Nasser Bagh. Proving to be by far the most vociferous lot among the supporters of the rally, the CMKP contingent managed to attract supporters from other organizations due to their attractive, vociferous and effusive chanting. Dressed mostly in red or white, a lot of CMKP members got their faces painted red to announce the active disapproval of the imperialistic policies both home and abroad. The CMKP also raised attractive slogans, which got the members of the procession involved. Popular slogans raised were

This boisterous activity of the CMKP contingent attracted supporters from the Millat Factory Union workers, members of the People’s Rights Movement, members of the Labor Party as well as supporters from the Pakistan Social Forum and the Aurat Foundation. As the chanting became more voluble and enthusiastic, a contingent of Tabqati Jadojehad also joined the procession at Nasser Bagh. Not only did the CMKP chant slogans against the Chanting slogans this way, the 1500 or so protestors of the rally began their march against US Imperialism.

Instead of marching towards the Punjab Assembly, the protestors of the rally began their march towards Data Darbar. We were joined along the way by more students as well as members belonging to the lawyer community. The CMKP distributed 4000 pamphlets regarding the ruthless and inhumane treatment of the Iraqi people by the US government and its allies, both to the participants of the rally as well as bystanders along the way. Gradually, as the procession approached Data Darbar, the count of the supporters of the rally increased to about a thousand. The supporters of the rally culminated their march in front of Data Darbar, where the leadership of participating parties was scheduled to address the gathering. Unfortunately, members of the Tabqati Jadojehad, in conjunction with members of the Pakistan Social Forum, monopolized proceedings refusing to allow members from other parties to express their opinion to the gathering present. Whereas it had been agreed upon in the organizational meetings of the rally that all leaders will address the participants of the rally against US Imperialism, Tabqati Jadojehad committed an open violation to the unsaid accord that that had been agreed upon in the organizational meetings. Similarly, while the route of the rally was reconfirmed in conjunction with the leadership of all parties convened at Nasser Bagh, Tabqati Jadojehad and Pakistan Social Forum turned the procession into an exclusive one with their tact of political alienation of other parties present.

The CMKP believes in the unity of the left-based parties in Pakistan as a stepping tone towards the path of Socialist Revolution in Pakistan . The CMKP vows to preserve the solidarity of those who pledge support for the cause of proletarian power in Pakistan . Unfortunately, instances such as these, where opportunist elements hijack collective interests for personal gain and popularity, lead to the deviation from the spirit of unity and solidarity, and ultimately towards the discontent and disenfranchisement of the masses in general. The rally against US Imperialism might have been a relative success, but the ultimate objective of creating a united left to fight against the global US imperialism, and to resist and remove the domestic pawns of US Imperialism in the face of Musharraf and Co. has certainly not been realized.

Lenin asserted about the Mensheviks and Social Democrats in 1917:

‘Their position is so false, and they are so badly confused and bewildered, that  they are unable to "recover" this truth they have lost’

We must rid ourselves of the same influences that Lenin warns us against.