[16 April | South Asia Citizens Wire]
Nonviolence as a Doctrine for Democracy
V.K.TripathiNever before in recent history, the contradiction between the masses of
the world and their rulers has been so stark as in the last four
weeks. The masses felt strongly against the war while their governments,
even in democratic countries, remained passive. This contradiction needs
to be resolved so that united efforts could made to safegurad freedom of
nations against the doctrine of might is right. Let me begin with a
comment on democracy as its facade is often used to wage war.
Democracy is a system of governance where people exercise their vote to
form a government. By contrast there is no such right in a dictatorship or
monarchy. This distinction is important, however, it alone does not make
democracy a supreme model. There are three fundamental ingradients of
democracy:
1) People's ownership over national resources and their utilization
to provide education, employment and equal opportunities for growth to all.
2) People's participation in planning and implimentation.
3) Rule of law to ensure security and freedom of all.
The first two elements are missing in all the democracies of the world to
a large extent. The resources are controlled by a few who use them for
profit rather than providing employment to the masses. Even the resources
owned by the State, e g., land, forest, mines, factories and money, are
not fully utilized in the interests of the people. Similar is the
situation in dictatorial regimes. However, it is better than slavery where
extrnal power and alien economic elite control the resources and political
power and frame laws forcing outward flow of national wealth. India, for
instance, was slave of Britain before 1947. Its markets were open for
forein goods but there were restriction on national goods. Raw materials
went out of the country for cheap and finished products were brought in at
high prices, rendering artisans unemployed and the country poorer. Similar
was the fate of many nations. They gained their freedom after World War
II. From the struggle for freedom evolved democracy. Infact all the
democracies, new or old, that exist in the world today have evolved
through mass struggles, mostly mass movements for freedom. It never
happened that one country exported democracy to the other as a gift. It
surely can not be transported through guns and bombs.
The US war on Iraq demolishes the first axiom of democracy and freedom by
capturing Iraqi oil fields that are the sole property of Iraqi people.
It devastated an unarmed nation, destroying its entire security system,
law and order machinery, and infrastructure, besides killing innumerable
innocent people and ruining their homes. The Shia, Sunni, Kurds communal
conflicts are feared to grow to catastrophic proportions. In the past,
intelligence agencies were employed to overthrow governments, installing
puppet regimes and exploiting resources. Now it has been done in broad day
light by dropping two hundred ton bombs. It is sad that media is ignoring
this truth. It is busy inumerating crimes of Saddam Hussain, who had
practically died twelve years ago. After the 1991 war Iraqi regime had
become very weak. It had no freedom to use its own national resources. A
country that lost half a million children and lakhs other people due to
hard economic sanctions imposed by US and allies, and that did not pose
any threat even to Iran, was projected as a threat to super power and now
has been razed to dust.
This blatant new doctrine is a very serious threat to third world
countries. They may be targetted to gain control over their resources and
markets. The present governments of these countries could not muster
courage to denounce war in real terms, hence, how could they defend their
freedom from this new danger? There is only one ray of hope. The masses,
who demonstrated unprecedented unity of purpose in opposing the war,
cutting accross religious and national lines, can awaken governments in
their respective countries to develop national non-cooperation as a
doctrine against onslaught on freedom. All the countries must demand
immediate withdrawl of US forces from Iraq and evacuation of oil
fields. This will bring back life to UN and establish the rule of law in
the world.
Peace movements may consider working on three planes. 1) Peace movements
outside US should urge their governments to demand total withdrawl of US
forces and oil companies from Iraq and payment of compensation for the
loss of life and property in Iraq. Untill this happens, joint military
exercises with US should be suspended. 2) The peace movements in USA
should urge the Congressmen, Senators, Governors, and mayors to force this
issue. They give memoranda to oil companies not to control Iraqi oil. If
they do not listen then they may think of cutting down their oil
consumption to half. American oil companies sell oil to all the countries
but more than one third of world oil consumption is by US. A reduction in
sale of oil will affect oil companies. Even otherwise too the reduction of
misuse of oil will be a big service to the masses of the world. 3) Peace
movements must grow in Oil rich countries. Their resources and governments
have long been subjected to excessive external interference. Now they must
assert their freedom. From this struggle will emerge democracy.
Poor countries must see the danger at their doorsteps and refrain
aggravating their mutual conflicts. India Pakistan can create an example
in this regard. Both are suffering from the after effects of slavery
when British masters had plunged the nation into massive communal strife
by supporting Hindu and Muslim communalists. Kashmir issue is a ramnant
of slavery. Both countries must resolve it displaying magnanimity.
Return to: Progressive South Asian Voices Against the War on Iraq - 2003
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