People's Democracy

 CPI(M) Protests Docking of US Ships

OBJECTING to the permission given to two US ships, which were engaged in the war on Iraq, to dock at the Kochi harbour, the Ernakulam units of the CPI(M) and the DYFI held a protest march at Mattancherry on June 21.

The USS Gary and the USS Vandegrift were returning from the Gulf and were permitted by the Vajpayee government to dock at Kochi, ostensibly for “rest”.  There have been widespread allegations of misdemeanor against US troops, wherever such port calls have been allowed in other countries. Besides the over 400 marines and 30 officers, the ships are equipped with Harpoon and Standard missiles, anti-submarine warfare torpedoes and rapid firing guns.

Braving a heavy downpour, the protesters marched towards the Fort harbour, where a large posse of police prevented them from proceeding further. The meeting that followed was addressed by various district leaders of the CPI(M) and DYFI.

The Vajpayee government, by granting permission to the US warships to dock at Kochi, has once again succumbed to US pressure and acted against the spirit of parliament’s resolution against the war on Iraq, noted the speakers. Earlier the CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet, in a statement issued on June 21, condemned the government’s decision to grant permission for US ships to dock at Kochi harbour. He said that by doing so the Vajpayee government has insulted the sensibilities of the Indian people and has acted against the spirit of the resolution adopted in parliament against the war in Iraq. 

Earlier the CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet, in a statement issued on June 21, condemned the government's decision to grant permission for US ships to dock at Kochi harbour. He said that by doing so the Vajpayee government has insulted the sensibilities of the Indian people. Bowing to US pressure, the Vajpayee government has acted against the spirit of the resolution adopted in parliament against the war in Iraq.