Nepal: Maoists Enforce Indefinite Strike

[red cat]

Nepal: Maoists Enforce Indefinite Strike (http://southasiarev.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/nepal-maoists-enforce-indefinite-strike/)




http://southasiarev.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/antuf_hetauda_strike_ucpn_nepal_elections_ekw111.j pg?w=300&h=200 (http://southasiarev.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/antuf_hetauda_strike_ucpn_nepal_elections_ekw111.j pg)

Workers on Strike in Nepal


From myrepublica.com (http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=29003)

The All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), the agitating trade union, along with two other big trade unions, had last week demanded the government as well as Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to substantially raise the minimum wage, citing high inflation and soaring cost of living.
Maoists shut down Hetauda industries

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, March 8: Trade union affiliated to UCPN (Maoist) has enforced indefinite strike in Hetauda Industrial Estate, bringing operation of industries there to a grinding halt.


The All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), the agitating trade union, along with two other big trade unions, had last week demanded the government as well as Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to substantially raise the minimum wage, citing high inflation and soaring cost of living.

However, ANTFU launched enforced shutdown of industries all of a sudden, walking away from the negotiation table, even as General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) and Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC), the other two unions, still preferred to continue talks to get their demands fulfilled.

The unions had asked the government and the FNCCI to fulfill their demands by Wednesday. However, the ANTUF started protest from Tuesday itself.

“The shutdown of industries by one of the parties in the negotiation table has come as a big surprise to us,” said Hamsa Ram Pandey, director of FNCCI, who had been engaged in the negotiations with the trade unions.

The major demands of ANTUF, which is also endorsed by GEFONT and NTUC, include hike in minimum daily wage from existing Rs 190 to Rs 400. They have also urged the government to substantially lower the power outage duration, something which has been affecting production activities.

The strike in Hetauda Industrial Estate has come as the second major blow to the manufacturing industry. A couple of weeks ago, ANTUF in Pokhara had launched a strike putting forth similar demands, bringing operations of all the industries in the western city to a grinding halt.

It had, however, withdrawn the strike after the employers agreed to pay them additional allowance of Rs 1,500 a month and expressed commitment to discuss the issue of raising minimum wage at the tripartite committee in Kathmandu.

Recently, the big three trade unions in Morang-Sunsari corridor and Birgunj-Pathlaiya corridor too had submitted a memorandum to the government for wage hike. They have also warned the government of strike if their demands are not addressed.

FNCCI President Kush Kumar Joshi, meanwhile, tagged the demand of the trade unions as unfair, something which the private sector was not in a position to fulfill at present. “Protracted power cuts, slowed investment and expansion of business have already forced the companies to cut their outputs by more than 50 percent. How can investors´ hike pay in such a situation?” Joshi wondered, speaking at a program in Baglung.


http://southasiarev.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/nepal-maoists-enforce-indefinite-strike/#more-10941

[red cat]

Nepal Lever under Maoist strike threat


2011-03-08 17:50:00
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Kathmandu, March 8 (IANS) Dozens of industries in central Nepal, including Nepal Lever Ltd, one of the biggest Indian joint ventures in the country, faced the threat of disruption as a trade union of the Maoist party called an indefinite strike from Tuesday, demanding that minimum wages be hiked to NRS 10,000 (nearly $140).
Nepal Lever's factory is located in Basmadi in Makwanpur, the district where the Maoist trade union called the strike after talks with representatives of industries and chambers of commerce broke down.

The strike is being supported by the labour unions affiliated to the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist and the Nepali Congress. While the Maoists and communists are members of the new ruling coalition, the Nepali Congress is in opposition.

They are also the three largest parties in parliament.

Though three years ago, the then government had officially set minimum wages as NRS 4,600 per month, the union said it was seeking NRS 10,000 due to soaring inflation, which has crossed double digits.

The industries, reeling under an almost 20-hour power cut during working hours, frequent labour trouble and deteriorating security, said they would not be able to meet the demand.

Nepal Lever officials could not be contacted immediately for details of how the strike was going to affect the company.

This is the second industrial strike called by the Maoists. Last month, they targeted Kaski district, forcing industries there to announce a raise of NRS 1,500 after a day's closure.

Since the Maoists rejoined the government after the fall of their ruling alliance in 2009, fear has been spreading through industries that portend greater labour unrest and disruption.

Strikes have been on the cards since last week, when the parent Maoist trade union submitted a memorandum to communist Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, demanding a raise in minimum wages and daily wages.

The current state prescribed daily wage is NRS 190.

http://www.sify.com/news/nepal-lever-under-maoist-strike-threat-news-international-ldirOlbiide.html

[red cat]

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Revived Maoists begin flexing muscle in Nepal


TNN,Mar 9, 2011, 05.16pm IST
KATHMANDU: Within days of joining the new communist-led government of Nepal, the former Maoist guerrillas have begun to flex their trade union muscle, calling strikes in quick succession in the major industrial areas, whose effect will also be felt by major Indian companies like Hindustan Unilever, ITC and Dabur India.
From Tuesday, the All Nepal (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Nepal) Industrial Trade Union owing allegiance to the Maoists withdrew from negotiations with officials of the Hetauda Industrial Corridor in central Nepal and enforced an indefinite strike that has hit nearly 80 industries employing over 5,000 workers. Among the besieged industries is Hindustan Unilever's subsidiary Nepal Unilever, which faces a daily loss of NRS 4 million as its factory at Basmadi in Makwanpur district remains closed.


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On Wednesday, the trade union on the warpath also shut down industries in the Morang-Sunsari Industrial Corridor, the largest in the country with about 500 units. Though it was a token strike from half an hour in the morning, the Chamber of Industry, Morang said the union had distributed pamphlets saying it would be followed by a one-hour closure Thursday, which will be doubled Friday. If its demands are not met by then, the striking union has warned of stronger measures, likely to lead to an indefinite closure, as in Makwanpur.
ITC's joint venture Surya Nepal, one of the biggest tax payers in the Himalayan republic, has its garments factory in Biratnagar town located in the corridor. ITC's John Players garments are manufactured here and exported to India and other countries. The strike call comes even as Surya Nepal is building a new factory for its tobacco business in Tanahun district in the hills to get a reprieve from the culture of bandhs plaguing southern Nepal.
The Maoist trade union is demanding that the existing minimum wage of NRS 4,600 (less than Rs 3,000) be increased to NRS 10,000 and daily wage to NRS 450 from NRS 190. It says the current 11.3 percent inflation has made survival impossible on the current prescribed wages. The industries, on the other hand, are incurring whopping losses due to the power crisis that started three years ago, resulting presently in almost 18-20 hours of power cut daily during waking and working hours. They are also besieged by extortion by armed groups and major political parties, and the fear of kidnap and even murder attempts.
Dabur India's joint venture Dabur Nepal, which had its factory in southern Nepal raided in December and 74,000 cartons of its Real brand of fruit juice initially sealed for manufacturing date irregularities, faces possible disruptions later this month along with Surya Nepal's tobacco factory. The Maoists have announced similar protests in the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor along the Indian border till March 25. From March 26, the union has warned of an indefinite strike in the belt if the industries fail to concede its demand.



[url]http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-09/south-asia/28671922_1_surya-nepal-makwanpur-indefinite-strike

[Imposter Marxist]

It is really amazing that they can bring an entire country to a cold stop with a whim. They must cave to this demand, yes?

[red cat]

It is really amazing that they can bring an entire country to a cold stop with a whim. They must cave to this demand, yes?

No. Even a country-wide unarmed strike is not sufficient to bring down the bourgeoisie. Nepal is a country where a decade ago many people shaved their heads when the king died. The proletarian and peasant masses of Nepal must be taught how to continuously challenge the system. Such actions are nothing but the CP utilizing the semi-bourgeois democratic conditions due to the political stale-mate to prepare the masses for dealing the final blow. The Nepalese masses, particularly the urban proletariat, need to participate in many such actions till they are habituated in rebelling and familiar with the Maoist tactics of organization and seizure of power. The final seizure of power will take place only through the bourgeoisie being overthrown militarily by the masses.

[DaringMehring]

This is a great sign.

-- It shows workers willing to fight to improve their conditions

-- It shows increasing connection between the Maoists and the working class

And, this type of action can bring down the government, in that, it can force the capitalists to attack the workers. The workers of course can only then win by beating the capitalist's military stooges in battle.

These struggles need to deepen! Let all the fake communists who are willing to subjugate the working class be exposed and sent packing.

[Optiow]

Let no man say the Maoists do not have the support of the people! Let no man say communism is dead in the world!

[RED DAVE]

No. Even a country-wide unarmed strike is not sufficient to bring down the bourgeoisie. Nepal is a country where a decade ago many people shaved their heads when the king died. The proletarian and peasant masses of Nepal must be taught how to continuously challenge the system. Such actions are nothing but the CP utilizing the semi-bourgeois democratic conditions due to the political stale-mate to prepare the masses for dealing the final blow. The Nepalese masses, particularly the urban proletariat, need to participate in many such actions till they are habituated in rebelling and familiar with the Maoist tactics of organization and seizure of power. The final seizure of power will take place only through the bourgeoisie being overthrown militarily by the masses.Reeks of elitism; as if the Maoists know how to do this in any way other a quick dive to state or private capitalism.

RED DAVE

[red cat]

Reeks of elitism; as if the Maoists know how to do this in any way other a quick dive to state or private capitalism.

RED DAVE

They try to follow Lenin who not only dived into state capitalism but redefined it as a valid form of socialism. We know that you're not a Leninist. Why don't you visit Nepal and set things your way for the working class there ?

[RED DAVE]

They try to follow Lenin who not only dived into state capitalism but redefined it as a valid form of socialism. We know that you're not a Leninist. Why don't you visit Nepal and set things your way for the working class there ?(1) As usually, you completely misunderstand Lenin, but that's okay.

(2) One more time, any Marxist has the right, in any country, to criticize other organizations in their own country or any other. Of course, Maoists don't believe in the validity of opposition, so you miss that point over and over.

RED DAVE

[red cat]

(1) As usually, you completely misunderstand Lenin, but that's okay.

If Lenin did not mean what he wrote, then I must admit that I misunderstand him.


(2) One more time, any Marxist has the right, in any country, to criticize other organizations in their own country or any other. Of course, Maoists don't believe in the validity of opposition, so you miss that point over and over.

RED DAVE Any Marxist, not just any random person who claims to be one.

[RED DAVE]

I think, Comrade red cat, that given the propensity of Maoists to build regimes that somehow, magically, morph into capitalism, without any counter-revolution, and the propensity for Maoists to enter into bourgeois governments, who is or is not a Marxist is not a judgment call I would trust you with.

Feel free to not trust me. I have worked with Maoists in unions in the USA and have found them to be exactly the kind of authoritarians I expect them to be.

RED DAVE

[red cat]

I think, Comrade red cat, that given the propensity of Maoists to build regimes that somehow, magically, morph into capitalism, without any counter-revolution, and the propensity for Maoists to enter into bourgeois governments, who is or is not a Marxist is not a judgment call I would trust you with.

Given the failure of Trotskyites to overthrow any state in the first place, you don't even qualify to comment on any revolution or counter-revolution of any kind.


Feel free to not trust me. I have worked with Maoists in unions in the USA and have found them to be exactly the kind of authoritarians I expect them to be.

RED DAVEFeel free not to trust me, I have been to places where the working class of several slums refuses to repair or let anyone else repair the neighbourhood walls that have bullet-marks made by the battles of Maoists and state forces forty years ago, because each family lost a member to the cause of the "authoritarian" revolution then. Didn't see any Trotskyite around.

[RED DAVE]

Given the failure of Trotskyites to overthrow any state in the first place, you don't even qualify to comment on any revolution or counter-revolution of any kind.So, are you proud of the fact that you turned 1/6 of the world's population over to capitalism?


Feel free not to trust me, I have been to places where the working class of several slums refuses to repair or let anyone else repair the neighbourhood walls that have bullet-marks made by the battles of Maoists and state forces forty years ago, because each family lost a member to the cause of the "authoritarian" revolution then. Didn't see any Trotskyite around.That's because the bullet holes were probably where Maoists shot them. :rolleyes:

RED DAVE

[red cat]

So, are you proud of the fact that you turned 1/6 of the world's population over to capitalism?

What kind of capitalism ? The kind that Lenin called socialism ?


That's because the bullet holes were probably where Maoists shot them. :rolleyes:

RED DAVEYeah, I won't be a bit surprised if the policemen and state-mercenaries who engaged in battles with Maoists turn out to be Trotskyites. Given the general activities of Trotskyites in India, their fear of class-violence by the proletariat and their applauding of reformist movements, this is very much possible. But still, may be you should do an investigation and post a report on this ? Start with giving us a list of Trotskyite parties in India, their activities, how they came into conflict with Maoists and which ones were killed by Maoists. That should clear things up.

[DaringMehring]

Look redcat I'm fairly agnostic on you & REDDAVE's endless and pointless back and forth, but this post just seems bad. Instead of just defending the CPN(M) with confidence that the future will prove them right, (or from my position, which is that there is a struggle of living forces & they can morph into victory or failure) you come back with some really bizarre & terrible points.


What kind of capitalism ? The kind that Lenin called socialism ?


You seriously think China is socialist?
?!



Yeah, I won't be a bit surprised if the policemen and state-mercenaries who engaged in battles with Maoists turn out to be Trotskyites. Given the general activities of Trotskyites in India, their fear of class-violence by the proletariat and their applauding of reformist movements, this is very much possible. But still, may be you should do an investigation and post a report on this ? Start with giving us a list of Trotskyite parties in India, their activities, how they came into conflict with Maoists and which ones were killed by Maoists. That should clear things up.

You always respond to RED DAVE's attacks with this kind of counter-attack. I just don't get it.

1 - its not logical. what Trotskyists are or are not doesn't make Maoism any more or less correct.

2 - I don't see how you can be so against "applauding of reformist movements" and yet when it comes to the CPN(M) cutting deals with the puppets of the Nepali bourgeoisie, you are full of excuses. ?! At least give me some consistency man.

3 - Stalinists have ostracized, attacked, and even murdered Trotskyists in many countries in a shameful history that doesn't bear recounting. So to turn around and then say, "if Trotskyism is so great where are the Trotskyists" is hypocritical.

4 - It's also silly to use size as a criticism when the majority of "communists" today are Chinese revisionists/state-caps/whatever you want to call them. Size is not an indicator of correct politics.

[red cat]

Look redcat I'm fairly agnostic on you & REDDAVE's endless and pointless back and forth, but this post just seems bad. Instead of just defending the CPN(M) with confidence that the future will prove them right, (or from my position, which is that there is a struggle of living forces & they can morph into victory or failure) you come back with some really bizarre & terrible points. Which ones ? Yes, it can degenerate into revisionism, but as of now, the revolutionary current seems to be very strong within the party and it is unlikely that they will not be able to complete the new democratic revolution.



You seriously think China is socialist?
?!Maoist China was.




You always respond to RED DAVE's attacks with this kind of counter-attack. I just don't get it.

1 - its not logical. what Trotskyists are or are not doesn't make Maoism any more or less correct.Correct. But if a capitalist points at the deaths caused by socialism, I point back at the deaths caused by capitalism to prove that capitalism has been much worse than socialism in practice. Similarly, if a Trotskyite, particularly one like Dave criticizes Maoism, I bring Trotskyism into the discussion, because nothing can be said about the practical efficiency of a political line or movement if we don't compare it with others.


2 - I don't see how you can be so against "applauding of reformist movements" and yet when it comes to the CPN(M) cutting deals with the puppets of the Nepali bourgeoisie, you are full of excuses. ?! At least give me some consistency man.How do you even compare the Nepalese workers' movement led by Maoists with the Indian ones which are led by reformists ? The Maoists fought a decade long people's war, and are still trying to break up the RNA. The Maoist workers' movements actually result in material gains for the workers and even dare to shut down big industries if their demands are not met. Don't tell me you can't see the difference between this and a march with empty slogans.


3 - Stalinists have ostracized, attacked, and even murdered Trotskyists in many countries in a shameful history that doesn't bear recounting. So to turn around and then say, "if Trotskyism is so great where are the Trotskyists" is hypocritical.I never saw a Stalinist attack or murder a "revolutionary" Trotskyite. In fact, I never saw anyone doing anything positively effective by following a Trotskyite line. Writing thousands of story books about how great Trotskyism is or how Stalinists murdered revolutionary Trotskyites who were probably reactionary thugs in reality, is not enough to convince me. If Trotskyism was that effective, it would have had some revolutionary presence in a place like India. On the contrary, the way Indian Trotskyites refrain from participating in actual class struggle and write only on secondary topics avoiding the major issues involving class struggle, only increases my suspicion that they are conscious revisionists employed to slander the Indian revolution.


4 - It's also silly to use size as a criticism when the majority of "communists" today are Chinese revisionists/state-caps/whatever you want to call them. Size is not an indicator of correct politics.Right. Activism is. That is where Maoism proves itself to be far more revolutionary than all other leftist tendencies.