People's Democracy

AGAINST OCCUPATION OF IRAQ

Millions-Strong Human Chain Extends From

ANY programme against imperialism brings out that extra fervour among the people of Bengal. The day when a human chain was formed for ten minutes across Bengal, from the hills of Darjeeling to plains near the Sagar Island, on the coastal inlets of the Sunderbans, the anti-imperial mood of the people was more than evident.

At the call of sixteen Left and democratic parties, the programme held on March 20 was an eminent success with millions of people taking part in forming a chain to show the anger and angst against the misdoings of the forces of imperialism led by the USA and its cohorts across the Atlantic Ocean. The action synchronised with the international observance of March 19/20 as 'Global Day of Protest' on the second anniversary of US war on Iraq.

The principal slogan that rang out of the throats of the masses that packed the human chain was: "Peace loving people! Unite against imperialism and against war!’ Over and above the parties that make up the Bengal Left Front, several other political parties took part in the human chain programme.

The organising parties were: CPI (M), CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc, SUCI, WBSP, CPI (ML-Liberation), DSP, MFB, Biplabi Bangla Congress, RCPI, CRLI, PCCCPI (ML), Bolshevik Party, RJD, and Workers’ Party.

Taking part in the programme were various Left mass organisations as well. Cultural workers as well as stage-and-film personalities took an enthusiastic part in the programme.

A welcome feature of the struggles and movements of Bengal has always been that whenever a call has been given by the Bengal Left Front against imperialism and communalism, and for national unity and integrity, political parties who are otherwise antithetical to the Left Front, its policies, and even its constituents, have come forward in strength and with spontaneity to make the programmes notable successes.

While all the districts have reported large turn outs everywhere, braving the summer sun of the early afternoon, the metropolis of Kolkata witnessed another mammoth turn out on the day. The stretch of human chain extended from Sinthee in the northern suburbs to Garia in the south — a stretch of 25 kilometres.

From Sinthee along the B T Road, via Shyambazaar, Bidhan Sarani, College Street, College Square, Subodh Mullick Square, Lenin Sarani, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road, Tollygunge railway bridge, Deshapran Sashmal Road, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Road into Garia, the human chain extended – with more and more people joining in as the programme got off to a start at five in the afternoon and lasted for ten minutes.

During this time, the chain of hands put together the entirety of Bengal, and the hand clasping hand, at the Sunderbans could feel the pulse of the people of the hill region of the state – all joined together with determination to thwart the aggressive drive of imperialism and saying a loud ‘No!’ to war.

The human chain programme was preceded by the big demonstration organised by twelve students’-youth organisations, including the DYFI and the SFI before the American Centre on Jawaharlal Nehru Road where the speakers condemned the US occupation of Iraq.