Joint Declaration Communist
(Maoist) Party of Afghanistan /Red Road of Iran (Maoist
group)
Proletarians and
oppressed peoples around the world, unite!
The first of May is
the day of the global working class and oppressed masses. It is a day
when the working class, alongside laborers and the oppressed, in
imperialist countries and countries under imperialist rule, come
together in the streets, expressing their global solidarity against
imperialist exploitation and the ruling oppressors in the imperialist
countries. They gather, march, and rise up in coordinated action
against the tyranny of power and wealth, fighting and revolting,
continuing their path towards establishing socialism and communism on
earth. The first of May has always been the peak day of struggles of
workers and toilers against the capitalist system, imperialist rule,
and bureaucratic-capitalist and semi-feudal regimes, for the
establishment of a new democracy, socialism, and communism.
A glance at the
current state of the world indicates the alignment of two fundamental
poles: capitalism and socialism, the owners of the means of
production and the mass producers lacking the means of production,
the capitalists and the workers, opposing each other in most
countries.
Imperialist
Capitalism - Economic Crisis:
For the majority of
workers and toilers, the situation in imperialist countries is now
much graver than in the past decade. In Western imperialist
countries, the pervasive crisis that began in 2008 has continued to
worsen, intensified during the COVID period, and exacerbated further
with imperialist reactionary wars by Russia and Western imperialism
in Ukraine, and now the Zionist state of Israel against the
Palestinian people. This crisis has become even worse than before.
Economic Crisis and
Workers' Wages:
The burden of these
crises and wars falls heavily on the shoulders of the working class,
toilers, and middle classes. In most imperialist countries, there is
rampant inflation and price hikes, not on an annual basis anymore,
but monthly and even weekly. In most of these countries, over the
past fifteen years, the prices of essential goods such as food,
healthcare, and housing have doubled or even more in the last five
years, especially in the past two years. Meanwhile, workers' wages
have not seen a corresponding increase for years. In some imperialist
countries, the minimum wage has been set at around $1 per hour of
work to ensure profitability for employers. Consequently, the real
value of labor, which includes reproduction of labor power with
standard living needs, including a certain level of education,
health, and recreation, has plummeted well below 50% of pre-2008
economic crisis levels. Alongside this decline in real wages, both
visible and hidden unemployment (including part-time) has increased.
Additionally, in some imperialist countries, taxes have increased,
while welfare services, especially in healthcare, have been severely
cut, pushing the working masses and toilers into unbearable economic
hardship.
Cross-Border Wars
and Weakening of Imperialists:
In this regard,
mention must be made of the whirlwind of wars over the past three
decades, especially the reactionary war by Russia on one side and
Ukraine and the West on the other, a war in which Russian and
Ukrainian workers and toilers are the first victims, and also the
reactionary war by Israel and Western imperialism against the
Palestinian people, resulting in the horrific massacre of around
34,000 Palestinians by Israel. With the military support of
imperialists for Ukraine and Israel, these wars have drained the
economies of imperialist countries and left them vulnerable, forcing
them to bear the heavy burden of these wars on the working masses and
toilers. Over time, these wars have become increasingly risky for
their own internal situation. One of the reasons for the endless
collusion of US imperialism with the reactionary forces in the
region, including the despotic religious regime in Iran, which
supports the Houthis in Yemen, the Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraq, and
Hezbollah in Lebanon, is that US imperialism and other Western
countries, after predatory and occupation wars in Afghanistan, Iraq,
Libya, and Syria, and in the last two years, Russia and Ukraine, and
in the last six months, Israel with the Palestinian masses, have lost
their financial and military infrastructure and simply cannot afford
to engage in another war.
The Dirty Role of
Yellow Unions and Imperialist Propaganda:
What prevents the
uprising of the working class and toilers in parts of these countries
is the role of trade unions and associations like syndicates and
unions, whose leaders and upper echelons are disciples of their own
imperialist government rather than servants of the interests of
workers and toilers. Secondly, it is the creation of hatred between
races, ethnicities, and religions, especially between whites and
immigrants. Thirdly, it is the ideological-cultural propaganda of the
imperialist governments that turns people into intensely
individualistic followers of their own interests, transforming them
into human robots. And fourthly, it is the absence of genuine
revolutionary communist parties, or their weakness, that has failed
to play an enlightening role for this class and the toiling masses
and organize their struggles against the capitalist dictatorship
effectively.
Rise of Fascist
Movements in Western Imperialist Countries:
The intensification
of economic pressures on the working class and toilers in these
countries has coincided with a tendency towards right-wing fascist
politics. On one hand, the most severe economic pressures have been
imposed on the working class in recent decades, which has been
unparalleled, and on the other hand, there is a tendency towards the
growth of right-wing and fascist forces in the politics of these
countries. These are the most prominent trends in imperialist
economic and political policy!
In recent decades,
fascist parties in these countries, whose major intellectual aspect
is anti-immigrant propaganda, have grown significantly and have been
able to win more seats in parliamentary elections. These parties have
been able to lead sections of white workers by fuelling the
contradiction between white workers and immigrants and ethnicities
and religions, thereby not only preventing the unity of the working
class but also inciting sections of the working class against each
other.
Migration of Labor
Force:
The dismal economic
conditions and suffocating internal spaces in countries under
imperialism have led to a flood of labour migration from subordinate
countries, whether officially or through smuggling, to imperialist
countries. This has resulted in the gathering of a large mass of
migrant workers in imperialist countries. These populations in these
countries play the role of surplus population, a pool of cheap
labour, and part-time workers, competing with previous workers in
imperialist countries. This situation keeps wages for workers in
imperialist countries consistently low, and workers, due to the
threat of capitalists to lay them off and replace them with
unemployed workers, cautiously approach the issue at hand. On the
other hand, imperialist capitalists exploit this situation and shift
the burden of economic crises, recession, and unemployment onto
migrants, exacerbating the contradiction between previous workers and
newly arrived migrants.
Mass Struggles:
The combination of
these factors has fuelled contradictions between the working masses
and the ruling capitalist system, sparking class struggles in these
countries. The peak of these struggles in recent years can be
observed in France, particularly in the Yellow Vest protests and
retiree movements, which have been directed against the central
government and lasted for an extended period.
Furthermore, racial,
ethnic, and religious contradictions among the working masses
contribute to the alignment of some workers with right-wing and
fascist parties. These parties blame all current economic problems in
imperialist countries on immigrants, whether legal or illegal,
exacerbating the contradiction between different segments of the
working class. The white working-class vote for Trump and the current
rise of fascist factions in European countries illustrate this issue.
Weaknesses of the
Working Class and Maoist Movements in Imperialist Countries:
Two fundamental
problems hinder the revolutionary advancement of the working class in
these countries: firstly, the presence of yellow trade unions, led by
a minority of labour aristocracy, and secondly, the prevalence of
various revisionist ideologies such as social democracy, Trotskyism,
and various lines that are parliamentary in nature in Western
imperialist countries.
Moreover, after the
defeat of the proletarian dictatorship in China, the weakening or
absence of revolutionary communist and Maoist parties has become a
significant internal obstacle to the mobilization of the working
class. The working class in imperialist countries can only advance by
rallying around revolutionary Maoist parties, defending the basic
revolutionary teachings of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao
Zedong on one hand, and fighting against revisionist, Trotskyist, and
parliamentary tendencies and the leadership of labour aristocracy
over yellow unions on the other hand. This struggle can lead to the
abolition of private ownership of means of production, the
establishment of revolutionary dictatorship, and socialism in
capitalist-imperialist countries. Communist Maoist parties in the
West must prepare conditions for revolutionary struggles, uprisings,
and armed rebellions and, if necessary economic-political conditions
and necessary facilities are provided, engage in guerrilla warfare
and partisan struggles.
Countries under
Subjugation:
The influx of large
sections of workers, toilers, and petty-bourgeois layers from
subordinate countries to imperialist countries as simple and skilled
labour themselves reflects the dire economic situation of these
countries. Except for some countries such as South Korea, Singapore,
Malaysia, Vietnam in Asia, and oil-selling Arab countries such as
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in West Asia, most countries on
three continents of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America under
imperialist subjugation are facing economic, political, and cultural
crises. The masses of these countries are suffering and falling under
the economic, political, and cultural pressures of the ruling
mercenary and reactionary classes.
In many countries on
three continents of capitalism, bureaucratic-comprador subjugation
has become the dominant economic structure, and old feudal, tribal,
and clan structures and feudal classes and tribal and clan leaders
have disappeared more than ever. This has either led to the
disappearance of the peasant class or its relative disappearance and
the greater growth of the working class either in these countries
themselves or as immigrant workers in neighbouring countries.
Governments:
In these countries,
bureaucratic-comprador capitalists alone or in alliance with feudal
lords and tribal chiefs dominate. Due to national and class
oppression and imperialism-dependent reactionary classes and classes,
movements and uprisings are possible in these countries. Any movement
can take shape in one country or a series of countries, and mass
movements and uprisings can occur. In recent decades, movements like
the "Asian Tigers" in Southeast Asian countries, the "Arab
Spring" in Arab countries, and mass movements in South and
Central American countries, which have led to the retreat of
imperialism and the rise of semi-social democratic forces, have
emerged.
After the resurgence
of religious theocrats and misogynists (Taliban) by American
occupiers in Afghanistan, the contradictions between Afghan workers
and toilers, especially middle classes and women in this country,
with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have intensified further.
Similarly, in Iran, the large movement of "Women for Freedom"
emerged and dealt heavy blows to the religious government.
The two despotic
religious theocratic countries in Iran and Afghanistan are directly
or indirectly supported by imperialists. American imperialism seeks
to turn Afghanistan into a terrorism nest to secure its interests in
the region. The insecurity in the region caused by ISIS is a
testament to this.
Reactive Structures
and Tendencies in African Countries:
Despite the presence
of various economic structures such as tribal, clan-based, ethnic,
and sectarian economic forms, particularly in African countries, and
the backwardness of economic and social structures, contradictions
between these groups have led to internal conflicts or conflicts
between neighbouring countries. These wars are either directly
created by imperialists or supported by them. Whether imperialist
wars or local and regional conflicts, they are essential for
imperialists because without these reactive wars, they cannot sustain
their military-industrial complexes, leading to recession and
closures. As these factories close down, they have a severe impact on
the economies of these countries, dragging other sectors of their
economies into recession. Therefore, imperialist forces are the
initiators of such wars, as they are always eager to ignite and
perpetuate them. As long as imperialism exists, these wars and
imperialist wars are inevitable, and the workers and toilers will not
find liberation from them. War will only disappear through the
working class in communism, giving way to peace.
Reactive Religious
Governance Trends in the Middle East:
On the other hand,
in Middle Eastern countries, despite the mobilization of masses
against them in countries such as Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, and
Egypt, religious factions and Islamic tendencies are still in power
or leading movements, like Hamas. The rise of these forces in the
Middle East and North African countries coincides with the relative
decline and defeat of the communist movement globally, especially
after the death of Mao Zedong and the seizure of power by
revisionists in China, transforming China into a capitalist and
imperialist country.
Growth of Women's
and Youth Movements in Religious Authoritarian Governments:
One of the
indicators of class struggle evolution in these countries is the
struggle of women, especially working-class women and toiling masses,
who constitute the majority of the population. Women in religious
authoritarian governments are not only under class exploitation but
also under patriarchal oppression and backward laws, making them
actively participate in recent decades' struggles against entrenched
religious governments and being a significant base for mass movements
in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Arab countries. Alongside
them are the youth, who, due to increasing unemployment and
modernization of life, are vehemently against religious conservatism.
With their significant presence in mass movements, they provide a new
and rich force.
Latin America and
Central America:
Like other countries
under imperialism, in Latin American and Central American countries,
on one side, the working class, peasants, and toiling masses have
become increasingly impoverished over the past three decades, and on
the other side, armed struggles by revolutionary proletarian parties
like the Communist Party of Peru and revolutionary petty-bourgeois
parties in parts of these countries have intensified. In these
countries, American imperialism has not been able to support its
mercenary dictators and improve their economies, nor has it been able
to counter mass movements (for example, look at mass movements in
Chile or Bolivia) and armed movements in these countries and prevent
them from coming to power; therefore, it has been forced into a
relatively widespread retreat. This retreat, imposed on imperialism
by mass movements, aims to prevent the economic and political crises
in these countries from turning into more severe class struggles and
preventing the expansion of mass armed struggles that exist in some
of these countries, leading to democratic revolutionary revolutions
on this continent and the establishment of people's democracies. That
is, it is precisely what American imperialism fears will not happen.
The form of American imperialism's retreat has been such that in some
of these countries, where their economic situation is worse or where
revolutionary democratic movements of the people and revolutionary
Marxist-Leninist-Maoist parties have more room to grow, they have
refrained from establishing military dictatorships or semi-military
governments while maintaining their armies and mercenary generals
and, alongside, not showing severe reactions to the opening of
internal political space and allowing more room for unions,
associations, and some parties that are examples of the SYRIZA party
in Greece to rise to power.
The role of these
power-hungry parties is to either seize power or be outside power, a
reassurance pop like the pope. Just as in imperialist countries like
France, when imperialist capitalists feel threatened by mass
movements like the Yellow Vests or retirees, they do not hesitate to
take action and bloody repression; in these countries, too, such
governments can tolerate as long as the economy of these countries
remains within the framework of imperialist international division of
labour, and nationalist tendencies are not encouraged in the economy
and, secondly, the presence of these parties in power and also the
opening of political space does not prevent revolutionary proletarian
class and Marxist-Leninist-Maoist groups from growing. Therefore,
apart from tactical flexibilities against these parties within their
contradictions with right-wing currents and militarists, the general
struggle against these revisionist parties in countries like Brazil,
Chile, Bolivia, etc., is among the tasks of Marxist-Leninist-Maoists.
Here is the
translation of the Persian text into English with some corrections:
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The status of
communist parties in subordinate countries:
The working class in
its struggle for the establishment of a communist system has had
three peaks, each associated with a central link in the chain during
each period of class struggle. First, the French working class and
the establishment of the Paris Commune, which laid the first
foundation of proletarian dictatorship. Second, the Russian working
class and the establishment of Soviet rule in the Soviet Union under
the leadership of Lenin and Stalin. Third, the Chinese working class
and the establishment of proletarian dictatorship in China under the
leadership of Mao and Maoists. After Mao's death and the defeat of
the working class in China, the working-class movement experienced
relative decline, and since then, except for two major uprisings in
the people's war against imperialists and reactionaries, it has not
had significant developments. One of them took place in Peru through
the Communist Party of Peru, and the other in Nepal through the
Communist Party of Nepal. Unfortunately, in Peru, after reaching its
peak and considerable hope, it suffered relative defeat with the
arrest of movement leaders, and in Nepal, its leadership leaned
towards revisionism, leading to a relative decline in the movement.
Alongside these
peaks, many struggles of communist parties have turned into people's
wars. Such as the Communist Party of India, which controls parts of
the regions, and also communist parties in Turkey and the
Philippines, which continue their military struggles. In other
countries, Maoist communist parties exist, which are trying to
prepare the ground for engaging in people's wars. The perspective of
the working class and communist parties in subordinate countries
under imperialism is the establishment of a new democratic revolution
and the establishment of people's democratic republics, which is the
first stage towards proletarian dictatorship in these countries.
Overall Conclusion:
Now more than ever,
the working class and capitalists, as well as people under
subjugation and imperialists, stand against each other worldwide.
Although the
situation of the working class forces is relatively weaker compared
to before the defeat of the Chinese working class in 1976 after Mao's
death or before the defeat of the Soviet working class in 1956 and
after Stalin's death, the working class has had significant
quantitative and qualitative growth globally, and has also
experienced many deviations such as revisionism in the Soviet Union,
narrow-minded Maoism in China, and Western Marxist trends,
Eurocommunism, and "new left" movements in Western
countries. Alongside these, the working class in Latin American and
Central American countries, especially Brazil, has experienced
opportunist governments under the guise of workers and masses, and
also in Middle Eastern and North African countries, it has faced
Islamic reactionary movements, parties, and governments.
In contrast,
imperialist capitalists and bureaucratic comprador bourgeoisie and
feudalists in subordinate countries are weaker than ever in each
period. American imperialism, despite its economic and military
supremacy in the past decades, is not what it used to be, and its
powers, if not weak, have been somewhat analysed and are similar to
the situation of Britain after World War II. The same goes for
imperialists such as England, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan. A
look at the war in Ukraine and Israeli Zionists against the
Palestinian people and the policies of imperialists clearly shows the
weakness of these imperialist powers.
All of these
contribute to the more successful and active promotion of new
Marxist-Leninist-Maoist forces worldwide and enable existing
communist parties to grow further, and new communist parties to
emerge.
Our
Revolutionary-Democratic and Communist Propaganda Duties on the first
of May this year:
Here, we discuss the
most general issues that need to be addressed on International
Workers' Day.
First: Against the
imperialist war in Ukraine, which is between Russian imperialism on
one side and Western imperialists and the fascist Ukrainian
government on the other, and in which social imperialism of China
sometimes leans one way and sometimes the other. The working class,
toilers, and middle classes of Russia and Ukraine are the victims of
this war. If the necessary conditions are met, this war could turn
into a full-scale world war or even a nuclear war. We support the
growth of the communist movement in Russia and Ukraine and turning
this imperialist war into a civil war against the capitalists of both
countries. The working class demands the cessation of any military
support to the Ukrainian government on one side and intensification
of the struggle against the imperialist tendencies of Russia against
the national sub-system of Ukraine on the other side.
Second: Against the
war of the Zionist state of Israel and Western imperialists against
the Palestinian people in Gaza. We must expose the imperialists and
the Zionist state and, on the other hand, take a position against the
reactionary Hamas movements and the self-governing Mahmoud Abbas
government in Palestine. The working class opposes the imperialist
"two-state" plan and advocates fighting for the creation of
a united Palestinian state, where followers of various religions,
including Jews, live together in peace and harmony.
Third: Against
Western imperialist interventions in subordinate countries and the
fanning of wars between subordinate countries in Africa and Asia,
including the interventionist policies of Turkey, which covets the
soil of Syria and some neighbouring countries.
Fourth: In Favor of
the women's movement and revolutionary struggles of the working class
for women's rights, against sexual discrimination, unequal pay,
violence against women, including domestic violence and sexual
assault, denial of the right to abortion, compounded oppression of
medieval and modern times in imperialist countries, and feudal
bondage in subjugated countries under imperialism; the struggles of
the working class must create a situation where the women's movement
aligns with the struggles of the working class while maintaining its
independence.
Fifth: Formulating
slogans in Favor of the youth movement in all countries where
generational gaps have arisen and contradictions exist between the
current generation and previous generations, identifying these
contradictions, and crafting slogans to foster a leaning towards
Maoist communist tendencies within the youth movement.
Sixth: Against the
capitalist tendency to destroy the environment and in solidarity with
progressive currents in democratic movements that fight against
imperialism and for the preservation of the environment.
Seventh: In
imperialist countries, Marxists-Leninists-Maoists must expose the
current economic crisis in these countries and urge the working class
to oppose the conciliatory leadership of yellow unions, which are a
significant obstacle to increasing wages. On the other hand, they
should engage in continuous and tireless struggle against former
revisionist, Eurocommunism, "New Left," Western Marxism,
and Trotskyism parties, and especially advocate for militant struggle
and organization of uprisings, and under certain conditions, partisan
warfare. Without this struggle and without eliminating the weeds,
there is no possibility for the growth or consolidation of
revolutionary Maoist communist currents and parties. New growth only
occurs in the struggle against the old, and Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
and the revolutionary path can only grow in the struggle against all
right and "left" deviations and non-revolutionary and
anti-revolutionary paths.
Certainly, alongside
these main issues in each specific country based on economic,
political, cultural, and class struggle conditions, there will be
various other issues that must be independently addressed and
promoted by the communists of that country as the forefront of
promotional and advocacy activities.
The future belongs
to the working class:
Capitalists invest,
and the working class opposes investment. Capitalists oppress, and
the working class opposes any form of class, gender, ethnic,
religious, and national oppression. Capitalists seek to perpetuate
private ownership of the means of production, but the working class
seeks to establish social ownership of the means of production.
Capitalists wage imperialist wars for their economic and political
interests, as well as reactionary wars within subjugated and puppet
countries, sacrificing workers and toilers in futile conflicts for
their own benefit, while the working class opposes all forms of
imperialist wars and national, tribal, and religious wars.
Capitalists advocate for the continuation of bourgeois dictatorship,
while the working class desires its own dictatorship, namely
proletarian dictatorship, which is a dictatorship against the
minority of exploiters and reactionary elements and the broadest
democracy for the majority, namely workers and toilers, to transition
from capitalism to communism. Capitalists exploit the armed force of
the army and military against the working class and oppressed masses
to maintain the survival of the capitalist production system and
their bureaucratic-bourgeois and semi-feudal capitalism, but the
working class seeks to use force and arms to end the use of any force
and arms. The working class seeks revolutionary war against
capitalists, against imperialists, against all reactionaries in
subjugated countries, to end perpetual wars.
In a broad overview,
capitalism is in decline and collapse. Socialism has passed three
major phases of proletarian dictatorship in the Paris Commune,
Lenin's and Stalin's Soviet Union, and Maoist China, and the new
phase of the movement of this class will undoubtedly surpass them.
The working class wants to end all the filth of capital and establish
communist society. This can only be achieved by the working class and
under the leadership of revolutionary communist parties of the
Marxist-Leninist-Maoist persuasion, with revolutionary force against
anti-revolutionary force.
The Maoist movement
globally needs the People's War to start in new countries and
consolidate and expand existing People's Wars. The Maoist movement
needs to resolve existing disputes between different factions of the
movement through constructive and principled discussions. The Maoist
movement needs to organize more extensive, extensive, and systematic
international militant campaigns, and have a unified international
propaganda and advocacy voice. To achieve the above urgent needs and
address these deficiencies, it is necessary to establish an
international Maoist centre. This requires an international Maoist
conference to overcome the scattering of the movement.
Therefore, it is
necessary for all of us to understand and seriously take steps in
this direction.
Let us unite and
rise against imperialism and the reactionary forces ruling over
subjugated countries!
Down with
imperialism!
Down with the
reactionaries ruling over subjugated countries under imperialism!
Long live the
revolution!
Long live
Marxism-Leninism-Maoism!
Long live
proletarian internationalism!
Long live communism!
