Asia

Although there is much talk of economic boom in Asia, there are two sides to this. The deafening blare and bluster of the growth rates in India, China and other Asian countries has become a stigma and a curse for teeming millions being subjected to this rapacious capitalist growth, and with it comes greater social instability and class struggle.

The murder of Benazir Bhutto has led to an explosion of popular anger. Pakistan is convulsed by rioting and mass protests. Society has been stirred up to the depths. Raw human emotion has spilled over onto the streets of every city, town and village. The army and police are powerless to halt the tide of indignation. The government is shaken to the core.

The following leaflet of the Pakistani comrades of The Struggle was distributed on a grand scale in which they demand an end of the cruel capitalist system, its cruel institutions, imperialist hegemony, and religious terrorism.

In this letter the activists of Communist Action League / Rank and File Tendency of Morocco condemn the recent attacks against Pakistani Marxist activists during the election campaign by members of the fascist MQM movement.

Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a suicide bomb attack. The leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had just addressed a rally of PPP supporters in the town of Rawalpindi when the attack took place. First reports talked of at least 100 killed in the attack, but more recent news put the figure at 20. This murderous onslaught on the PPP came in the middle of an election campaign where, after years of military dictatorship, the masses were striving for a change.

After the serious physical threats against PPP activists in Karachi, John McDonnell MP has issued this statement, condemning the attack and warning that if they continue the issue will be taken up in the British and world labour movement.

On the evening of December 18 two comrades putting up posters and canvassing in Karachi were threatened by 10 armed activists of the MQM organization. They attempted to abduct one of the comrades but failed to do so thanks to the intervention of local people. All comrades must be put on alert for any immediate mobilization of support that may be requested.

The radical student union, l'Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ), representing 40,000-50,000 students in Quebec, has officially backed the PTUDC.

Dawn, one of Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspapers, published an article today about Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, “'the only communist member' from the PPP in the last National Assembly”. Manzoor will stand for the elections again in constituency NA-139, Kasur, where he has won in the 2002 election.

We have been told by the media that the January elections in Pakistan will be "free and fair", but this report reveals how the rich and powerful will use all means necessary to keep their seats. A PPP candidate who played a key role in the previous parliament in opposing anti-working class legislation is now facing physical threats.

West Bengal has been governed for many years by the Left Front, whose main component is the CPI(M), one of India’s main Communist Parties. Their past is one of support for Stalinism. Today the leaders of this party have transferred their allegiance to so-called “neo-liberal” capitalism, to the degree that they have actively organised brutal attacks on peasants defending their land from being taken from them.

Islington Constituency Labour Party met on November 21 and the PTUDC motion on Pakistan moved by the Tollington Labour Ward was overwhelmingly adopted by the General Committee meeting. It will be sent to the Foreign Secretary David Miliband.