ASF Calls For Fight Against Globalisation

M Venugopala Rao

THE opening plenary of the Asian Social Forum commenced at the Nizam College grounds in Hyderabad on January 2 with a clarion call to fight against imperialist globalisation. Several prominent personalities called upon people to tirelessly wage struggles against exploitation, discrimination and hegemony. They asserted with firm belief and commitment that another world is indeed possible.

Divergent cultures, diversity of movements, different varieties of attire – in short the diversity of life in Asia, was reflected at the venue of the meeting.  In all 14,426 delegates representing 42 countries, including from Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa participated in these meetings. All of them assembled with a common aim - to build another Asia, another world and oppose imperialist globalisation.

The opening session started in an electrifying atmosphere with the rendering of a famous Telugu song “maro prapancham, maro prapancham, pilichindi” (another world, another world is calling) in Telugu, penned by the revolutionary poet, Sri Sri, in the background of a venue decorated with banners proclaiming inspiring slogans like “Fight back imperialist globalisation”, “Annihilate IMF and World Bank”, “Down with American Imperialism”, “Safeguard Ecology” and other slogans against communalism, fundamentalism and globalisation.   Portraits of Bhagat Singh, the revolutionary who sacrificed his life in the fight against British colonialism, were displayed at various locations, conveying the message that ‘Bhagat Singh is our ideal and inspiration’.

Mirroring the culture of Andhra Pradesh, artists of the Praja Natya Mandali entered the venue dancing and playing on dappus (a special type of drum). The song-dance displayed by this group, explaining the purpose and significance of holding the ASF meeting, gripped the attention of the audience. Members of the organisation, ‘Yuva’, displaying the local culture of Maharashtra, danced with their traditional musical instruments. Reflecting dalit culture, members of the organisation ‘Chindu’ presented their art forms.  

They were followed by members of Women’s Working Association, who are fighting the violence against women in Tamil Nadu, who attracted the audience with their totally black attire. A representative of the Association informed the audience that they convey their protest against the attacks on women, every Thursday, in the same way. 

The refusal of permission by the Indian government to the delegation from Pakistan to attend the Forum was strongly denounced by the organisers and delegates alike.

Welcoming the delegates, speakers, participants and the media, Dr D Narashima Reddy, member of the host committee, pointed out that though Hyderabad was being projected as the emerging IT hub in India, this historic city was also well-known for being the political centre of the historic Telangana Armed Struggle.  It is here at Hyderabad where the anti-feudal Telangana struggle started, giving it the shape of mass movement against the oppression of the oligarchies.

OPPORTUNITY IN CRISIS

Amongst the wide range of speakers, Walden Bello, a leader from Philippines, stated in no uncertain terms the commitments and objectives of the WSF/ASF process to take globalisation head on. He stressed the need to resist all sorts of militarisation and nuclear warmongering. Saying that there was an opportunity in every crisis, Walden Bello concluded his speech with these words: “Imperialism will crumble. Indeed it will, and altogether we will make it happen”.

Medha Patkar, the leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, the movement to save the river Narmada, and along with it the right to life and livelihood of natural resource dependent communities, pleaded that we assess the crisis in which we have to struggle against the global forces of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. “Today people are not merely getting displaced; they are being slaughtered with the venom of communal hatred spreading rapidly”, she said. She appealed to cultural artists to bring out people’s culture and art in their performances to celebrate plurality and diversity and root out fundamentalism which advocates hegemony and monopoly. 

Notable mong the speakers was  Nora De Cortinas, co-founder of Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the May Plaza), Argentina. Economist and psychologist from the University of Buenos Aires, Professor Cortinas is one of the hapless mothers who lost her son during the ‘Disappearance Scheme’ executed by the then military regime in Argentina. She has been an activist since then, not only against the unfair kidnapping of children, but also against any kind of social injustice.

Recollecting the Argentine struggles against the neoliberal policies of the government, which had led to widespread poverty, hunger and unemployment, she commented that she represented and stood for, not only the struggles in Argentina, but elsewhere as well. Recalling that nearly 30000 children had disappeared during the military regime of the 70s, she commented emotionally that she found each one of them today in the soul of each member gathered here to attend the inaugural session.  Irrespective of region she emphasised that any move to privatise the social infrastructure must be fought tooth and nail. Underlining the need for peace and security she stressed that we must not allow the US to go ahead with its war plans against Iraq and other countries, and concluded with her slogan ‘Say No to War, No to Racism and No to Neo-Liberalism’ 

INDIA IN DANGER

Talking on the present economic situation of India in the context of world economy, Professor Prabhat Patnaik of JNU, New Delhi, pointed out that global capital was ensuring that economic policies were framed in such a way that capital did not move from North to South, and in the same process that labour did not move from South to North.

Referring to the Andhra Pradesh, UP and Kerala governments’ direct dealings with the World Bank and ADB, Prabhat Patnaik expressed the fear that if this phenomena of states directly negotiating with these bodies continues, then India as a nation will cease to exist. Imperialism, he said, always uses its leverage over states. This has been the experience in Yugoslavia where the concept of Yugoslavia being a nation state, ceased with imperialism’s intervention. 

Global dominance does not want states to be  welfare entities and wants governments to dismantle the public sector and withdraw all its welfare measures. He gave the horrific example of nearly 60 million tonnes of food stock lying with the Indian government, which is three times more than the normal buffer stock norms, even as drought conditions prevail in many parts of the country. The government does not use this stock for ameliorating people’s hunger, or any constructive purpose, or for creating employment, for which the government need not invest a single paisa. The rate of growth in rural employment is just 0.6 per cent, which is negligible when compared with the growth of rural population.

The country’s economic crisis is directly leading to the development of communalism, fascism and other forms of movements, which are far removed from the real issues facing the masses. In the speeding up of the reforms process, lies a threat to the national sovereignty of our country, as the government caters more and more to the imperialist interests. With the ‘market’ controlling the economic policies of the state, there was growing inequality. It is this market fundamentalism which Professor Patnaik feels, poses a threat to our national sovereignty.

After 1991, the tax collected from the rich was substantially reduced, and the tax-GDP ratio has gone down. If the tax were to be collected at the prevailing rate of 1991, the government would get 30 million crore rupees, an amount that could be profitably used for the development of the social sector i. e., health and education, which the government is neglecting, resulting in deterioration of social security.

By contrast, having control over capital/financial flows and controlling the trade flows, protecting the peasantry, stopping de-institutionalisation and greater taxation of the rich, would alone make an alternative India possible.

BUILD A SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

Professor Samir Amin from Egypt, a renowned political-economist in the world, known for his development and dependency theories, started with his encouragement for a gathering of such huge magnitude where voices for social justice and equity are being raised. With such initiatives there is no doubt that another world is possible, a world free from oppression and marginalisation.

He graphically described how the three major institutions, i.e., World Bank, IMF and WTO, are nothing but organs of propagating the ideas of the G-7 countries who want global monopoly over financial and capital markets, by exploiting the less developed countries of the Southern Hemisphere.

Calling the US and Israel the leading champion rogue states, he emphasised the need of creating social awareness among people regarding the politics of poverty, hatred and racism being played by the rogue states, and a proper alternative to give a fitting rebuff. The need of the hour is rebuilding a southern hemisphere front involving the Afro-Asian and Latin American countries reasserting our right to freedom, equality and social justice.

Abdul Jawad Saleh from the Palesitine Legislative Council depicted the grim picture of the struggling Palestinians against the autocratic and unjust policies of the Israeli government, with the complete backing of USA. He delineated in clear terms the wall of hatred built by the Israeli government, destroying the land and depriving the citizens of their livelihood. The fascist regime of Sharon even forbids common man the freedom to plant a tree without permission. Any movement or protest against this diabolic torture is being termed an act of terrorism.

It may be recalled that Israel has been cheating Palestine people by providing only 22 per cent of the land it is entitled to and itself illegally occupying the rest 78 per cent through cunning policies.  The recent attempt of Israel to divide even this 22 per cent of land is highly condemnable and their attempt to convert this land through mass killings and demolition of houses and properties into ghettos, is inhuman, said Saleh.

Sharing with the delegates his experience of jail life to which he was exiled for protesting against the military regime, he commented:‘ I was exiled in jail for 20 years for being with peace, not war’.

Saleh concluded with the firm conviction that the battle for freedom is on, and the Palestinians will be victorious.