It is this view that dominated amongst delegates from 13 countries who attended the International Anti-imperialist Conference in Kolkata over November 28-29, with representatives coming from France, the US, Russia, Canada, Syria, Iran, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Germany, Palestine, Lebanon and Turkey.

One of the resolutions, for instance, equated the scene in Iraq with that in Nandigram. The conference was organized by SUCI, a Left party that has never been part of the Left Front. At Nandigram, it backed the Bhumi Uchched Protirodh Committee, the organisation behind the peoples’ protests.

Among other resolutions: “Hailing the victory of Lebanon Resistance under the leadership of Hizbullah and others (not specified).” “Solidarity with the Bolivarian model of development in Latin America, condemning imperialist aggression and destabilization campaigns against Cuba, Venezuela and Latin America as a whole” (the CPM leadership is an advocate of stronger ties with Cuba and Venezuela).

The most startling comment came from Ramsey Clark, the former US attorney general or top law officer, who drove down to Nandigram accompanied by SUCI leaders: “Let us stop talking and start acting to resist imperialism. Let us stand up against ongoing imperialism in Iraq and in Nandigram.”

Interestingly, one of the signatories to the original Prashad letter, Susan George, a fellow at the Transnational Institute, a global network for “progressive politics”, later withdrew her signature. She said she hoped her “Indian friends” would accept her “regrets for having signed a letter which has been used politically in India in ways I cannot condone and do not approve”.

... contd.