• Manmohan Singh’s visit abroad underscores the imperialist ambitions of the Indian state and its dangers for the Indian people

• Bangladesh Foreign Minister underscores the continuing problems in India-Bangladesh relationship

• Massive demonstration in Netherlands against cutbacks in public spending

• Government fails to quell movement in Manipur Military Collaborations of the Indian State with Imperialist Powers are on the increase

Manmohan Singh’s visit abroad underscores the imperialist ambitions of the Indian state and its dangers for the Indian people

At the General Assembly, the Prime Minister appeared to contend the claims of the United States to be the unilateral global leader and defined, that to the contrary, what is required is for the international community to "successfully" deal with global challenges. “Whether they are security challenges, economic challenges or challenges in the sphere of the environment the existence of international institutions and a culture of genuine multilateralism is the solution.” In effect, the Prime Minister was clearly telling the Assembly that the UN, led by its Security Council had a key role to play in meeting the geopolitical challenges. And at the same time, Singh made it clear that India had an undisputable claim to be in the Security Council as a permanent member.

It is well known that in the recent past, the Indian government has been pursuing most persistently and diligently, its membership in the Security Council. The Indian government has been negotiating and consulting with several governments to strengthen its case; right after his breakfast with Bush, Manmohan Singh joined the prime minister of Japan, the president of Brazil and the vice chancellor of Germany to give birth to the “Group of Four” (G4). The aim of this new group is to jointly take up the case of permanent membership for all these four countries in the UN Security Council. Alongside, the Indian government has secured Russia’s, Britain’s, and France’s endorsement of its claim. According to Blair, “the U.K continues to view India as a natural contender for permanent membership of the Security Council, and will work with India to achieve it.”

During his visit to the UK, Singh and Blair released a joint statement as “partners for peace and security”. They invoked the 2002 New Delhi Declaration, whereby the two governments had agreed “to enhance significantly bilateral co-operation in counter-terrorism, including training, building on the work of the UK/India Joint Working Group on Terrorism.” This time, the two heads of State swore to reinforce their strategic partnership and enhance defence cooperation. “We will build upon, and expand programmes of joint military training and exercises. We will explore the co-production of defence equipment. We will work towards the objective of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery. We will share our experience and augment our cooperation, including operational-cooperation between police, law enforcement agencies and others in our criminal justice system. We will enhance our cooperation to counter money laundering and terrorist financing. The UK will support India to join the Financial Action Task Force.” (This was set up in 2002 by several countries headed by the US and Britain to “gather intelligence and take action against financing of terrorism”!).

The outcome of Singh’s meeting with Bush appears to be exactly what the Indian government desired. The two leaders noted with satisfaction that bilateral relations had never been as close as they were at present, and they set the direction for further development of the India-U.S. strategic partnership. They welcomed the recent implementation of Phase 1 of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership to include the removal of ISRO Headquarters from the Commerce Department's Entity List, as "the beginning of a new era of cooperation and trust". Expanded defense cooperation was perceived as an integral aspect of the expanding ties.

They recognized the importance of working closely together in the "war against terrorism and in combating proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems". It is to be remembered, that President Bush had announced on January 12, 2004 the “Next Steps in Strategic Partnership with India”, which contained a commitment to cooperation on three fronts of civilian nuclear activities, civilian space programs, and high-technology trade and in addition, to expansion of dialogue on missile defense! The talks between Singh and Bush covered, among other issues, developments in Burma, Nepal and Iraq.

It is very clear from the issues discussed, the announcements at the end of the talks, and the official assessment of the visit that the Indian big bourgeoisie’s imperialist ambitions are being consistently pursued by the UPA as it was by the NDA and this is the principle of its foreign policy. Its continuous engagement with the US and Britain, as also with other states like Israel, is also in accordance with this cause. The CMP had clearly stated that the government would follow an “independent foreign policy, keeping in mind its past traditions. This policy will seek to promote multi-polarity in world relations and oppose all attempts at unilateralism.” What we are seeing is assertion of its role in world affairs, sought to be achieved through collusion with the biggest imperialist states.

It is this collusion with US imperialism that portends the greatest danger for the Indian people. When commitments to “shared values”, “acting in concert in international institutions” and similar pronouncements of mutual cooperation are made, it means that the Indian state does not oppose US imperialism, or its violation of the sovereign rights of countries, nations and nationalities around the world; even more serious, it is and wants to be an active participant in such imperialist machinations, and will actively contribute to tension and war. The Indian military has been actively involved in exercises with the US, Japan, Britain, South Africa and Germany. It is flexing its muscles with the military might of the world so that there is no doubt where it wants to stand in the world.

It is thus that in his address to the General Assembly, Singh did not condemn the criminal war on the Iraqi people or the killing of thousands of Palestinians by the Israeli military. He talked of the “suffering of the Iraqi people” and “recognition of their aspirations”, but he did not take a stand against the violation of their sovereignty or their massacre. To be standing with US and Britain and extolling “cooperation and trust” and committing to “strategic partnerships” when the world’s people have clearly expressed opposition to the war and war-mongering, starkly reveals the imperialist nature of the Indian state. The Prime Minster was reported to have been very satisfied with his meeting with Bush and is quoted as having said “the best in the Indo-US relationship was yet to come.'' There is nothing here to cheer about for the Indian people; on the contrary, it is indicative of the disasters being planned for them.

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Bangladesh Foreign Minister underscores the continuing problems in India-Bangladesh relationship

As was to be expected, the Indian government lost no time in showing its displeasure with this kind of straight talk. The Indian Foreign Secretary summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi to register a protest. But the fact is that serious problems are troubling the relationship, and brushing these under the carpet is dangerous for both countries in the long run.

Morshed Khan's remarks were particularly embarassing for the Indian government, because it came just before scheduled talks on the issue of water and on border problems between India and Bangladesh. But these talks also showed quite clearly the lack of agreement between the two countries. There was no major breakthrough on the issue of water in the meeting held in Dhaka on September 14-15. India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, but so far there is an agreement on sharing the waters of only one river, the Ganga, which is known as the Padma in Bangladesh. Bangladesh, as a lower riparian state, is greatly affected by anything India does that affects the natural flow of the rivers that run through both countries. The talk initiated by the former BJP government, about linking the major river systems of India, has caused great alarm in Bangladesh. Adding to the problem is the fact that the Indian government did not see fit to consult Bangladesh or any of the other countries that would be affected, before talking publicly about the river-linking scheme. Bangladesh wants agreement on at least seven of the common rivers, especially the Teesta, which flows through its relatively dry northern region. However, in the latest round of talks, it was said that agreement could not be reached because of “technical issues” and some “divergence in perception”.

Meanwhile, the meeting to discuss border issues began on September 28 in New Delhi. Taking part were representatives of the Bangladesh Rifles and the Border Security Force, as well as officials from the Home and External Affairs ministries of both countries. In this meeting, India submitted a fresh list of 195 terrorist camps allegedly operating from Bangladeshi territory. However, in a joint press conference the spokesman of the BDR reiterated right in the presence of the BSF chief that “We don't have even a single insurgent camp in our territory and the addresses provided by BSF have been found either to be a cantonment area or headquarters of armed forces.”

Other issues discussed in this meeting were India's demand for the deportation of some persons alleged to be involved in terrorist activities, its claim of “illegal immigration” from Bangladesh into India, the question of joint border patrolling, drug smuggling, and construction on either side of the border that the other side finds objectionable. Although both sides claimed that the talks had made progress, the issues raised are serious and capable of leading to flashpoints of tension and hostilities, as has happened on several occasions in the past. India and Bangladesh share 4,000 Kms of border. There are almost no natural demarcations on this border, and those living on both sides are essentially one people, who have historically moved back and forth, even though they were brutally divided by the Partition. The main impetus to migration in this region has been acute poverty. It is these people, mainly the poor and jobless, who have been the real sufferers in the numerous border clashes that have taken place between the armed forces of the two sides in recent years, and in the hysterical campaigns encouraged by political forces in India against the so-called “illegal immigration of Bangladeshis” into India.

The third issue raised by Morshed Khan, regarding trade, has also been a major source of tension. Bangladesh suffers from a huge and growing trade deficit with India. For example, in 2001-02, Bangladesh's imports from India amounted to $1022 million, while its exports to India were only $50.28 million. While Bangladesh has been asking for duty-free status for a number of items which it exports, India, in spite of its huge trade surplus, has been reluctant to concede this, except in a fraction of the items proposed. Instead, it has been putting pressure on Bangladesh to sign a bilateral free trade agreement with it. Bangladesh feels that it can consider a free trade agreement only when the yawning trade gap has been reduced to some extent. They are also concerned by the existence of non-tariff barriers to their exports in India, such as a luxury tax in West Bengal.

Border, trade and water are issues that trouble India's relations with Bangladesh and also Nepal, not to mention Pakistan. The complaint of these neighbours is that the Indian state shows little sensitivity to the problems of these smaller countries, and that talks drag on for years and get bogged down in technicalities. However, the working class and people of India do not want this state of tension between India and the neighbouring peoples and countries to continue. We can see how it is used to justify the existence of a huge military and intelligence apparatus in our country, and to whip up communal politics. It is also exploited by the US and other foreign powers seeking to strengthen their foothold in the region. It is in the interests of our people that issues affecting good relations with the neighbours are resolved speedily, keeping in mind the overall interests of peace and security.

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Massive demonstration in Netherlands against cutbacks in public spending

The streets of Amsterdam were jammed by the enormous demonstration, reported to be the biggest in two decades. The demonstrations were organised by a coalition of trade unions representing workers from all branches of the economy. Protestors came from all across the country and the national rail company was even persuaded by the unions to give free tickets to all those who were travelling to Amsterdam for the protests! They congregated on Museum Square, a large open space in the middle of Amsterdam. They marched militantly through the streets, carrying placards and banners denouncing the governments policies – “Netherlands deserves better”, "To hell with the government", "Throw them in the Rhine" etc.

The government had recently announced cutbacks in public spending amounting to about 6 billion Euros (1 Euro approximately Rs 56). Already two such cuts amounting to 13 billion Euros had been announced earlier since 2003. While the people of the Netherlands, like people in many advanced countries of the world, had won several concessions earlier in the course of their struggles, on the basis of their united strength. These cutbacks seek to negate such concessions. Thus one of the effect of the cutbacks is to make people work for longer hours each week, increasing the working time by about 12 percent. Similarly, public workers would have to work for as much as ten years more before they could retire with full benefits. This has been shown to have a bad effect not only on the workers themselves, but also on the people whom they are supposed to serve and protect. For example, making a fire fighter serve till the age of 65 when he could not be so strong and agile would put people in danger.

The reforms of the bourgeois governments all over the world have the primary objective of shifting the burden of the economic crisis on the backs of the working people, preserving the interests of the imperialists and the big bourgeoisie. Whether these take the form of selling out public enterprises, as in India, or cutting back on public services, as in the Netherlands, their aim is to permit the big bourgeoisie to retain and increase their super profits at the expense of the people. Just as the working people in India stoutly resisted the program of privatisation, the cutbacks are being vigorously resisted in Netherlands.

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Government fails to quell movement in Manipur Military Collaborations of the Indian State with Imperialist Powers are on the increase

Indian, Japanese warships conduct joint exercises

Aside from naval exercises with Japan, India is coordinating security patrol of the Indian Ocean, particularly the strategic Malacca Straits.

Indo-US joint naval exercises from October 4

The Indian Navy, which has been trying to acquire nuclear powered submarines, will exercise its warships jointly with the US Navy off the Goa coast from October 4.

In the sixth series of Malabar exercises, the frontline Indian anti-submarine warfare ships will match their skills with the US Pacific fleets. At the same time, New Delhi and Washington are in an advanced stage of negotiations on the Navy acquiring ten of these aircraft on Government-to-Government sales to augment its depleted maritime capabilites.

Indian Air Force team leaves for South Africa

A 100-member contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) left for South Africa on September 13 for multi-nation war games Exercise Golden Eagle, where the air forces of South Africa, Germany, Britain and the US will be represented. This joint exercise comes in the wake of the hugely successful Exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 04-01 in Alaska in July.

India and US co-hosted 28th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS)

India and the US co-hosted the 28th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) on 6 September, in New Delhi. The theme for PAMS was declared as "regional cooperation in a changing security environment." Senior military commanders of the two countries addressed military representatives from 34 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

IAF's base in Tajikistan will be ready by '04

India's first-ever military outpost on foreign soil, located at Farkhor, about 10 km outside Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe, is ready to become operational by this year-end. Analysts observe that the acquisition of the military base in Tajikistan would certainly give the Indian armed forces a longer strategic reach.

Defence sources describe it as a "modern" military base where 95 per cent of the infrastructure is in place. The runway, the blast pans and the control tower are ready. The Army is also into this exercise, having operated a military hospital there, principally for the Northern Alliance soldiers who fought the Taliban regime in neighbouring Afghanistan between 1997 and 2001.

Work by then defence minister George Fernandes led to a bilateral agreement being signed in 2002 during then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Tajikistan by which the Indian Army and IAF personnel will assist in warding off any threat to Tajikistan even as Russia's 82nd Motorised Division guards the Tajik border with Afghanistan.

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