IMT: fans of AMLO-Gandhi-Chávez Thought

[fredbergen]

http://www.internationalist.org/mexelections0608.html

Even more prominent in the mobilizations has been the “Marxist Tendency Militante,” a fake-Trotskyist current which is part of the PRD, a capitalist party! The moment the polls closed and the Early Election Returns Program announced a 1 percent lead for Calderón, Militante declared: “Against Election Fraud, AMLO Must Call a General Strike” (Militante, 4 July 2006). This “general strike,” however, would only last one day. They favorably quoted in their article a signe declaring, “We’re ready, lord, just give the order!” In spite of proposing a measure which purports to be a workers action (a strike), they appeal to a bourgeois politician to call it, thus removing from it any proletarian character. Militante has been a particularly pro-AMLO tendency, even within the framework of the bourgeois PRD. Currently, “following the proposal of López Obrador,” it is promoting “Committees of Struggle and Information Against the Election Fraud” (Militante, August 2006). They thereby hope to extend their influence as the best organizers of the “anti-fraud movement.”

On its Internet site, Militante puts out articles with tags like “We Must Take the Ideas of AMLO Through to the End!” Following the orders of its comandante, Militante even announced a talk in the mega plantón on “Gandhi, non-violence and civil resistance.” These are the same imposters who praise Venezuelan nationalist president Hugo Chávez and claim to be giving this bourgeois military officer a crash course in Trotskyism. Following the guidelines of AMLO-Gandhi-Chávez Thought, it engages in “entrism” in bourgeois parties from Mexico to Pakistan. Its International Marxist Tendency, founded by the recently deceased Ted Grant and currently led by Alan Woods, wants to be the “left” wing of whatever “movement” is currently in vogue. More than an opportunist tactic, for these quick-change artists, tailism defines their minimum program. Their empty “militancy” goes to such ridiculous lengths that they criticize calls for boycotting Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Sabritas snacks, etc. (over their support for the PAN campaign) for violating the rules of good dieting. Rather than eating fried potatoes and fowl, they argue, “Keep our society fat- and cholesterol-free! For a general strike against the fraud!” Even so, these champions of a general strike against fat and cholesterol don’t seem particularly optimistic about the outcome of the struggle, figuring that even if “in the end Calderón prevails,” they will end up with their committees against fraud.

[Guest1]

This is insane, four million workers out in mass protests in Mexico city supporting a reformist leadership linked to the unions, and you want to call it a bourgeois party.

It's clear that the reformist leaders remained reformists, and would not call for revolutionary activity, but the movement is not dead and limp in Mexico. Every step of the way the PRD was radicalized by the working class and pushed further, and that is exactly what the bourgeoisie feared. At one point, Obrador was splitting with some of his own big-wigs and calling for a parallel PRD government, and the action committees were important in that context.

The call for a 24-hour general strike was just the logical next big leap. Very few general strikes last 24 hours, least of all ones which start from a more than month-long mass occupation of the capital's central square in support of what workers considered their candidate.

Keep in mind this was at the same time of Oaxaca, Mexico was in a revolution during that whole hot period, and the anti-fraud movement was a huge part of it. Whether you like that, or not. You can continue to condemn a movement of millions of workers as bourgeois if you wish, the International Marxist Tendency, and their Mexican section (properly named El Militante), would rather speak to workers about how they can get their wishes by stopping production and showing the bourgeoisie who's boss.

Eventually they'll learn the weaknesses of Obrador, but most importantly, they will have learned their own strength.

When that time comes, Obrador will either choose to go further as and further as the movement pushes him, as Chavez has often done, or eventually face down a mass movement confident of its own power to shake the very foundations of the bourgeois state. This is exactly what victory in driving Obrador to power - not through bourgeois elections which failed because they were rigged, but through a proletarian general strike - would have done.

This is not an important practical lesson for the millions of workers you claim are misguided in placing their weight behind Obrador?

[Guest1]

As for the Ghandi, I'm assuming that's in the context of the Zapatista's murderous policy of convincing Oaxaca that it should let itself be bathed in blood, unarmed. The IMT is pretty clear on Ghandi's similar ideas, and at revolutionary turning points it's essential to publicly and clearly expose pacifism's dismal record.

[Cheung Mo]

If non-violence were the correct revolutionary line to take, India would not be the starving, neo-liberal, commnunalist shithole that it is today.

[Guest1]

Below are some articles drawn up chronologically on the Mexican revolution. I didn't include all of the ones we have on it, but it's pretty exhaustive. You don't need to read all of them, but a quick scan of the titles should explain how serious the progression of events was, and how ridiculous the position of not intervening in them is. The Zapatista idea you share that the APPO should not have linked with its nationwide equivalent, the National Democratic Convention (because it was started by the PRD), is almost as dangerous as their other idea of a pacifist workers' government in Oaxaca.

A quick scan of our articles on Mexico, here (http://www.marxist.com/mexico.htm), shows us the following timeline:

(Here Obrador has just come out of being a tremendously popular mayor of Mexico city, with a history as union organizer, who presided over pro-working class policies. His reforms, though minor, catapulted him to the leadership of the workers' party, the PRD, and earned hi the ire of the bourgeoisie. His growing popularity, to the point where he consistently looked like he would win the elections if he were to run, bringing the union-linked PRD to power for the first time in history, worried them even further. They began working to have him stripped of immunity to be tried for building a road to a hospital, even though the big landowner through whose land the road went had the building stopped by a court order. This would have effectively disqualified him from the election, and ended with mass protests that forced the two bourgeois parties back.)

Imperialist Intrigues in Mexico - No to the desafuero of Obrador!
J'accuse! Mexican Congress votes to impeach Obrador
Mexico: police attack striking steel workers, kill three
Mexican government attacks miners - and still workers on strike!

(Here, clear electoral fraud is committed to prevent Obrador comping to power, not because of fear he is revolutionary, but fear he is supported by an increasingly hostile and self-conscious working-class which would force him to take massive inroads into capitalist property to satisfy the massive hopes, aspirations and expectations the masses have developed fighting for him.)

Mexico: Mobilise the masses and call a general strike to stop the electoral fraud
To defeat electoral fraud in Mexico – call a general strike!
Mexico: Lopez Obrador challenges election results

(Even the financial times recognizes without a compromise the situation will be radicalized.)

The Financial Times calls for a recount in Mexico
Mexico: preparing for a massive protest on Sunday

(Massive marches in Mexico City and a Commune in Oaxaca.)

1,5 million march in Mexico against electoral fraud
Mexico: mass protest against electoral fraud acquires insurrectionary proportions
Mexico: Oaxaca - the Spearhead of the Mexican Revolution

(Shit is really hitting the fan, with millions no longer recognizing the government, and the possibility the Oaxaca lessons could go national. If only the Commune could link up with the millions occupying Mexico City's Zocalo...)

Mexico: What attitude should APPO take towards the National Democratic Convention?
Mexico: Marxist Tendency "Militante" under attack - urgent appeal for action
Mexico after the Electoral Tribunal's decision to confirm Calderon as President
The revolutionary reawakening of Mexico

(Workers' government in the making?)

Mexico: 1 million strong Convention elects “legitimate government”
Open Letter to the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez
Popular Assemblies: Organs of Workers' Power
Mexico: state of siege in Oaxaca - For a revolutionary answer to repression
Stop the massacre in Oaxaca! Down with the murderous governments of Fox-Calderon-Ulises Ruiz!
Mexico: revolution takes another step forward
APPO councillor arrested – immediate release of all political prisoners

(After the storm.)

Revolution and Counter-revolution in Mexico - General strike sweeps the country
Oaxaca One Year Since the Insurrection
Oaxaca erupts once more: the battle of Cerro del Fortin

[Guest1]

Originally posted by Cheung [email protected] 24, 2007 08:05 am
If non-violence were the correct revolutionary line to take, India would not be the starving, neo-liberal, commnunalist shithole that it is today.
Agreed, and I know for sure the Militante in Mexico called for the Oaxaca Commune to arm itself, in contrast with the Zapatistas.