To Boycott or not to boycott, that is the question

There has been a fervent debate about boycotting the
announced elections. [CMPK] Party members are asking me what
our position towards these elections should be. The
final decision will be taken by the central committee
of the party but I will voice my opinion on the
subject.

First and foremost, the best option for Pakistan would
be if all the opposition parties unanimously decide to
boycott election till the restoration of the Chief
Justice. The boycott should be an active boycott which
means that political parties organize massive
political rallies against military rule. They keep up
the pressure in the streets, just as the lawyers did
for five months, until the restoration of the
judiciary or, better yet, the fall of the current
regime.

However, this is unlikely. Mainstream opposition
parties will, in all probability and despite our best
efforts and pressure, not boycott the elections.
Elections are the bread and butter of bourgeois
political parties and they dread the prospect of being
locked out of parliaments and in a cycle of continuos
extra-parliamentary struggle. Denied the opportunity
to run for elections, leader of bourgeois political
parties often cross over to parties that are slated to
win. Staying out of parliament for such parliamentary
leaders is an anathema.

In the relatively likely event that the main
opposition parties do not opt for boycott and street
agitation, what should be the strategy of the left.
Under such circumstances, the passive boycott of tiny
leftist parties will be completely irrelevant. I do
not believe that anything will be served by an
unconditional passive boycott. None of the Marxist
parties have won a seat in the national assembly and
they are not likely to in the coming elections. So a
passive boycott in a situation where mainstream
parties are participating, will be totally irrelevant.

I would therefore recommend, in the event of an
election in which mainstream parties are
participating, the strategy laid out by Aitezaz Ahsen.
We should work with the lawyers to force candidates to
take an oath for the restoration of the judiciary. We
should work closely in the campaigns of the most
militant representatives of the lawyers movement (e.g.
in Pindi Islamabad we should help with the campaign of
Ali Ahmed Kurd, in Lahore we should help with the
campaign of Aitezaz Ahsen, and so on). In all
constituencies we should help with the campaign of the
most of left of centre candidates and isolate all
pro-government candidates.

Overall, we should utilize the elections to put
forward the demand for the restoration of the
judiciary and for the end of military rule. We should
begin writing a mass leaflet now that should be
distributed in enormous quantity all over Pakistan
calling for the restoration of the judiciary, freedom
of media, freedom of association, release of political
prisoners, restoration of constitution (if it is not
restored by that time) and end of Musharraf’s
presidency, military rule and so on. We should utilize
the elections to hold corner meetings and speak at
every rally, even in constituencies in which we are
not running or not supporting any candidate. We
should, under no circumstances, sit at home under the
illusion that we are boycotting the elections by doing
so. In sum, we should turn the electioneering process
into a campaign against imperialist-military rule in
Pakistan. We should utilize the opportunities
afforded, either by the election or by the campaign
against it, to bring to the fore the democratic
demands of our movement.

In solidarity

Taimur Rahman

CMKP Website:- http://cmkp.tk

CMKP YahooForum:- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cmkp_pk

CMKP News:- http://cmkp_pk.blogspot.com

---

 On APDM and Election Boycott

There has been interesting and important debate on this list re LPP joining of APDM and LPP’s election boycott.

One list member sarcastically commented that LPP did not stand a chance to win any seat, therefore it boycotted. Well , true we did not stand a chance in coming elections. But boycotting them was a principled and strategic decision rather than anything else.

We go to elections, and we have gone to every election since 1988 (as Struggle group beofre LPP was founded in 1997). We were able to get seats in local bodies but no breakthrough in general elections. However, we go to elections to spread our message.

As far success is concerned, left does not stand any big chance unless our ideas get a wide spread acceptance. However, left forces with a better strategy have the potential to offer themselves as an laternative at national level. For instance, LPP was asking to field 100 candidates in these elections. It was likely to achieve it and if we get three to four percent votes nationally, we may attarct voters in future. But let this debate on election stratgies be postponed till another time.

We boycotted because in general the parties contesting these elections are seen as pro-Musharraf, parties that have struck deals and are not ready to fight.

LPP, though relatively insignificant, but has been vocal against military regiem since its inception and has been part and parcel of lawers movement. Now when advocates are asking for a boycott, we can not go against advocates particularly when they are fighting heroically. It is their brave fight that motivated students. There is a relatively big chance that movement will spread. parties boycotting these elections, even if these are small like LPP; will build respect among layers of newly-active members of unfolding movement. And in general, I hope. If a movement unfolds, mainstream parties going along Mush dictatorship wil be isolated.

Already, elections have failed to create any momentum or tempo. Masses seem indifferent to these lections. LPP along with left will build itself respect if it is seen in coming days as a force fighting dictatorship back rather than strengthening it by contesting elections. This is what left needs: an identity as fighting, uncompromising force.

On joining APDM:The following piece will describe LPP¨s general attitude towards Jamaat.

http://www.jeddojuhd.com/mag_2007/06_12_Dec/05_farooq_sulehria.gif

I would also request you to see jeddojuhd’s current issue. We have editorial and a piece by farooq tariq’s on this debate explaining LPP point of view.

We have always been bitter opponent of alliances with fundamentalists. I agree with Com taimur that these parties have an agenda of implementing so called Sharia. Their present flirt with democracy is mere an eye wash. But I do not agree that APDM , after N League’s and MMA’s exit, is a force led by Qazi and Imran.

Imran, in turn is an eclectic person. In no way a radical, but trying to take a distance from beards. A pendulum between right and Centre.

Well, even if he is bracketed with right, it is not the right setting the agenda inside APDM. There are 25 parties in this alliance. major nationalist parties from balochistan and Sindh are part of it. Their combined strength is much bigger than Jamaat and Imrans PTI.

The balance of forces, is in favour of secular forces. Very clearly.

However, it is not merely teh balance of forces that counts. It is the perspective as well that is important.

APDM is the potential platform for democratic struggles in near future. Most importantly, when advocates are part of it , in practice. The question is: should we stay away from a platform playing pivotal role in a struggle because all teh actors on stage are not of our liking.

I think certain situations are difficult to define as black and white. For instance, in French elections, not last but six years ago, the final round had Le Pen and Chirac to chose between. Our LCR comrades in France ( a reasonable force in French politics) told the voters to vote for Chirac while holding their noses. Another left party, LO uselessly called for a boycott.

Well, I would stress that LPP and other left forces inside APDM should insist on its secular character. APDM should be pushed beyond one point agenda of democracy restoration. We should demand rights for minorties, small nationalitites, women and trade unions. In case, APDM becomes a victim of opportunism and gives its demand a religious colour, LPP as well as other left groups should immediately quit it.

Similarly, I fully agree with Com Taimur that we should strive to build left alternatives.

Comradely,

Farooq Sulehria

LPP

---

 A response

Thank you comrade Suleria for clarifying your
position.

However, I still remain unconvinced. In the national
and international press the APDM is seen as an
alliance led by JI and Imran Khan. The other parties
are not well-recognized. And the danger is that all
the credit for their agitation may go to these two
parties.

I support your call to push forward the agenda of
secularism within the APDM. But I suspect that this
will not be met by any kind of support by the alliance
as a whole.

Second, the funny situation now is that the National
Workers Party and the LPP has formed an alliance with
the Jamaat e Islami but is not ready to form an
alliance with the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party.

Do you want to know why the earlier left alliance of
Awami Jamhoori Tehreek was such a flop, it was because
the alliance deliberately included pro-government
parties such as the Afzal Khamosh’s MKP and excluded
anti-government parties such as the CMKP. If you
recall, it was this issue that caused the furthering
of the distance between CMKP and LPP. It is time to
make some self-criticism in this regard, and for left
parties to form a genuine united front of truly
anti-government revolutionary forces.

A united front of truly leftist forces is more
important step than making a united front with the
Jamaat e Islami.

In solidarity

Taimur Rahman

---

 APDM boycott campaign started

Thousands of people attend today on 24^th December, the first national rally held at Pesheen in Baluchistan. Mehmood Achakzai convener APDM declared that there are only two camps in Pakistan one of those who are contesting elections and those who are appealing for boycott. Those contesting the elections are in the camp of General Musharaf who is eager to legitimize all his dictatorial actions through elections. People will boycott and side with the lawyers movement which has become a symbol of struggle, he declared.

More such national public meetings are planned at Quetta, Hyderabad, Karachi Lahore and Islamabad during the next 10 days. The Punjab APDM met here today in Lahore to finalize the arrangements of the public meeting of 5^th January that is to held at Minar_I-Pakistan. The Karachi meeting will be held on 30^th December at Nishter Park.

The Punjab APDM decided to set up boycott camps at all divisional headquarters of Punjab and public meetings at all the cities of Punjab till 5^th of January. It has also planned several corner public meetings in Lahore.

It also decided to participate in all the rallies of the advocates whenever it is been called by them it also announced 3^rd January as a day of action for the boycott campaign.

Labour Party Pakistan is producing its own literature for the boycott campaign alongside with APDM. Posters, stickers and leaflets are being printed to be distributed all over Pakistan during the campaign.

By: Farooq Tariq

Spokesperson labour Party Pakistan

Member national steering committee APDM