MAY 2005
Of good and bad dictators
Why the Uzbek popular movement does not fit US designs
Only two weeks ago Bush, visiting Tbilissi, has been praising the series of what he
happened to call democratic revolutions in Ukraine, Georgia and ultimately Kyrgyzstan.
What he actually meant were palace coups within the pro-US oligarchy using and canalising
the popular discontent with the dictatorial capitalists elites to bring to power puppets
even more servile to Washington but not less corrupt. The most striking example was the
Ukraine where the movement against the oligarch Kutchma, who had sent troops to Iraq to
serve his masters, had chosen as its icon the main figure of the mafia which enriched
herself by stealing state property in connivance with Kutchma, namely Timoshenko. No
different in the other places. Under the guise of democratic revolution opening the
security valve for the popular unrest was used to recycle the regime and to install even
worse figures. This was possible as the popular dissent had no organised form but could be
modelled by US-funded !
NGOs according to the example of Otpor in Serbia half a decade ago.
Now in Uzbekistan everything is different. Karimov is by far the most cruel and corrupt
tyrant of the region being tapped the new Tamerlan. (The legendary last nomadic ruler of
the Central Asian plains used to order pyramids of skulls to be erected after battles to
better terrify subdued populations.) By extinguishing in the name of the war against
Islamic terrorism even the most moderate opposition he has been pleasing his Washington
masters. They have been pouring in year by year hundreds of millions of dollars to
military back the regime which in return handed over the strategic Khanabad air base.
The occasion of the recent revolt in the Fergana valley was the political trial against
quietist Islamic businessmen who by building a network of Islamic charity organisations
frightened the slaughterer of Tashkent. So he cracked down also on those who did not only
have renounced armed struggle but also politics in general. Karimov s dictatorship goes
thus far that he is closing down countless mosques while the population is turning back to
Islam. In this way he is denying the elementary right of religious worshipping.
While Karimov is claiming the eruption of popular unrest as usual on Islamic terrorists it
is actually a genuine expression of the quest of the impoverished masses for livelihood
and elementary political, religious and cultural freedom. The problem for the US is that
different to other former Soviet republics that the movement is led by well-organised
Islamic anti-imperialist forces opposing both the US as well as Russian hegemony. Where
ever the people cannot be any more manipulated according to the imperial designs, brute
force is unleashed and all empty talk of democracy evaporates.
Although the US is engaged in also weakening its allies like Russia wherever possible, the
anti-terrorist alliance prevails. Consequently both Washington as well as Moscow have
confirmed their support to the mass murderer who killed in Andijan alone more than 500
people in cold blood. It is their dictator, thus a good one, according to the old imperial
doctrine.
The US support is not even altered by the fact that Karimov seems to have understood that
the slavish subordination to Washington is neither tenable in front of the popular masses
nor pays for his personal fate. He has seen how easily the US gets rid of former puppets
if they cause them troubles and can be replaced by more functional ones. So he turned back
to Russia for support even starting anti-US rhetoric (he left the pro-US GUUAM pact while
not touching the security co-operation ) which is acceptable for the US as long as they
hope to thus contain a greater enemy that is the popular masses led by Islamic
organisations.
The Anti-imperialists must not fall in the trap to set their hopes on the Russian
capitalist oligarchy led by Putin. He might try to preserve his sphere of influence
against US intrusion but regarding the main question, the global pre-emptive war on terror
that is popular anti-imperial resistance, Washington and Moscow are unified.
Our only hope is the struggle of the popular masses for social and political rights
regardless whether they are Islamic or not. We support them in their battle against the US
empire and its allies like Russia, the EU and even China which is in full support of the
anti-terror alliance when it comes to suppress the popular movements even more when they
are let by Islamic forces.
Support the struggle of the Uzbek and the Central Asian people for democratic, social and
national rights!
Down with the tyranny of Karimov and his regional homologues!
US and Russian military bases out!
Down with the US empire and the Russian hegemonic drive!
Anti-imperialist Camp
May 18, 2005
***
Peasant, workers and student revolt in Afghanistan against US
occupation
Letter from Jalalabad communists
Death with US Government
The recent uprising of peasants, worker and wage labors, University and School students,
teachers and other lower classes of society as well appear as the result of violence,
oppression, invasion and violation of human rights. Despite huge propaganda of US
government, imperialist media and its puppet regime in Afghanistan in order to adulterate
the real causes for the last anti US and allies invasion protests in Afghanistan, the
flames of resistance potential against occupiers, frightened and put in trouble the US
government and Karzai regime and proved that the people of Afghanistan will never tolerate
imperialists to enjoy their interests through the victimizing of our people.
The Karzai administration during last three years failed to stand for its promises. More
than 80% people lives depend on agriculture, but in spite of thousands millions dollars
donation to Afghanistan, the irrigation system is still completely ruined and peasants
have been facing acute agricultural problems and no body attempt to assist them to improve
their live standard. But while the peasants cultivate poppy for its increased income, the
imperialists who indirectly are involved in the trafficking and processing the narcotic
business to make maximum profits to feed the war machine, spraying poison by helicopters
which not only ruin the poor peasants cultivation, but also surely affect human lives and
whole living environment.
The recent demonstration across the country where accompanied by tens thousands of people
chanting slogans against the occupiers especially US. The demonstrators call for stopping
bloody and inhuman attacks and attitude and opposing creating strategic or long term
military basses inside Afghanistan. Indeed the recent demonstrations were a slap on the
face of Karzai administration that called a symbolic grand assembly to pave the way for
the existence of imperialist forces in our country.
We asked all progressive, democratic, anti imperialist and humanitarian parties, unions,
organizations and individuals around the world to express their solidarity with our people
and ask US and Karzai governments to stop the brutal operations, attacks and free all the
detainee demonstrators.
- Death with occupiers!
- Long live anti imperialist movements!
Left Radical of Afghanistan (LRA)
13 May 2005 Jalalabad Afghanistan
Full letter:
www.antiimperialista.com/en/view.shtml?category=9&id=1116189067&keyword=+
Out of the Empire!
The Brigands Festival
14-17 July, 2005
Parco della Pinetina
Riotorto di Piombino (LI), Italy
While protest seems to be withdrawing back into its shell, those wielding power and
bursting with arrogance remain. The US imperialists, with the blessing of their European
allies and the other capitalist powers, remain in Iraq although the popular Resistance is
striking them hard. They remain in Afghanistan despite the fact that vast zones are under
the control of the guerrilla. They keep besieging occupied Palestine, Cuba and Bolivarian
Venezuela. They remain in Italy forcing us under their yoke through their military bases
and their bipartisan puppet politicians. They intend to take steps against the Colombian
revolution and any nation refusing to subordinate to them. They want to imprison us in
their Guantanamo Empire.
But just as they remain, we can RESIST, disobey, fight. We do not struggle for a day or a
season: it is a lifelong struggle which has to be conducted forever. When the dignity of
the oppressed, the liberty of the disinherited and wretched, the destiny of humanity is at
stake, we might be obliged to a withdrawal but not to compromise.
If you feel like the Che every blow suffered by the weakest, you cannot remain inert. One
must revolt. Do it! The revolutionary struggle is no luxury but a necessity.
For further information and booking write to: camp@antiimperialista.org
The cultural and political programme will be announced soon.
***
2) From Assisi to Piombino: organizing re-emerging mass appeal of Anti-imperialism
The Anti-imperialist Camp s meeting every summer in Assisi, Italy, had become something
like an institution. Delegates of anti-imperialist forces from all continents met there
exchanged their views and planned common action. Although successful and appreciated, we
decided to substitute it. Yet we owe an explanation to our friends, co-operators and
interlocutors.
For a certain period the Camp in Assisi was the appropriate from. It started with the
defence of Yugoslavia and Serbia against the NATO aggression in the second half of the
90s, a period of strong isolation of the anti-imperialists which held high the flag. Then
the anti-globalisation movement emerged contesting savage capitalism without attacking
imperialism. We participated, raised the anti-imperialist voice but the mainstream went
ahead with their illusion of globalisation from below . When came September 11 and the US
pre-emptive war. We took side with the Palestinian Intifada, the downtrodden Afghan people
and the Islamic resistance while the movement was faced with the collapse of their hopes
in forcing upon capitalism a human face.
With the Anglo-American war on Iraq and the rise of the popular resistance the premises of
the anti-imperialists were confirmed. Both the attention for as well as the repression
against the Anti-imperialist Camp sprang up. While the Camp remained essentially a
gathering of some hundred leaders, militants and activists from around the world, the
press depicted it alternatively as an underground meeting of terrorists or a big mass
event.
However, those who became curious or even attracted found a kind of international
conference much too heavy for them with its meetings from the early morning until late
night and its Marxist language in Babylonic language diversity. Also a generation problem
came to the fore: the cadres from the 80s and even before met the post-millennium youth.
There seemed no bridge over the 90s, the lost decade of capitalist affirmation.
So we eventually came to the conclusion that a step back forward is necessary to build a
bridge for the timid turns of a new generation towards the anti-imperialist struggle.
The Festival of the Brigands is such an attempt. It will feature musical and cultural
events while during the day the Italian Summer beaches are close. There will be only one
political session each afternoon on the Iraqi resistance, the anti-war and anti-occupation
movement, the threat of the US Empire and the European Union. But the most important thing
is that it will be up to the anti-imperialist youth to decide, to lead this event
according to their ideas.
It is a step forward searching instruments to dialogue with a youth which is not only
disappointed with capitalism but willing to fight imperialism on the side of the
oppressed. Anti-imperialism develops a mass appeal, however, in very timid forms which
requires a step backward.
At the same time we do believe that the political and theoretical exchange, which Assisi s
gathering gave space to, is necessary. Therefore we will organise an International
Seminary scheduled for November in Germany under the motto The American Empire and its
Ideology to which the anti-imperialist forces of the world are invited to participate or
submit their contributions.
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Antiimperialist Camp
PF 23, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
www.antiimperialista.org/en
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