We are NOT 'All Hezbollah'

From the current issue (No. 6 — August 12, 2006) of The Worker [Communist], biweekly paper of the Communist League.

Wars often end up being a test of those organizations that claim to stand for the interests of working people, including communists.

This is because wars demand they not only talk about what they oppose, but also what they support. It is not enough to simply oppose a war, for example, an alternative to war, and to the causes of war itself, must be explained.

For the most part, much of this has become a matter of formality and routine for some self-described communists. They repeat the slogans and explanation written by previous generations, often without thinking about the implications.

We’ve seen this over the last few years with these organizations’ attitudes toward the reactionary “anti-imperialists” that make up the so-called resistance in Iraq. We are now seeing it in the current invasion of Lebanon by Israel on behalf of the U.S.

At recent demonstrations, members of the League have noticed signs and banners raised by self-described communists that read: “We are All Hezbollah” and “Long Live Hezbollah” [technically, the name is “Hizb’allah” — Ed.]

Such statements have also been repeated by their speakers and in their written statements. Sometimes it takes the more equivocating formula of “defense,” but the sentiment is nevertheless the same.

It has long been a “tradition” of these kinds of organizations to tail behind such organizations. Being good (leftwing) “anti-imperialists” means, in the view of these groups, following the bad (rightwing) “anti-imperialists.”

While it would be nice to think that such a simplistic method would actually work, history has shown that this approach has only led to working people facing worse problems, to say the least (to say the most, it has led to working people getting massacred).

We understand that, in the current situation, people in Lebanon might be inclined to line up behind an organization like Hizb’allah.

After all, they are not only the stated target of the Israeli attacks, but are also the main force fighting against them. They also have a reputation of providing medical attention and education to people in Lebanon.

At the same time, they also represent a force and vision of Lebanon that has nothing to offer to working people. They may be much more “pragmatic” than other religious fundamentalist organizations, but that does not make their rightwing appeals and agenda any more acceptable.

Of course, if Hizb’allah deals a decisive blow to the Israeli invaders, we are not going to denounce them for it any more than we would denounce a decisive blow dealt to the U.S. occupation forces in Iraq by the “resistance.”

In some instances, such as if that blow ended up saving the lives of innocent civilians, we might even applaud their action. But that is not the same as giving these forces support — to say nothing of identifying with them or wishing them long life.

In our view, communists should provide political leadership, not provide excuses for following a political force we would not otherwise support.

The League’s calls for organizing working people’s relief and preparation for organized self-defense is meant to not only provide political leadership but also to begin to concretely organize an alternative to Hizb’allah.

Indeed, our view and proposals have already found some resonance among young workers inside Lebanon, and we have pledged to assist them as much as we can.

Lebanon has a long a rich history of working people’s organization and struggle. As communists, we believe it is almost criminal for that history to be ignored in favor of tailing religious fundamentalists like Hizb’allah.

Ultimately, history will be the judge of who is correct, but, given that history, we are confident in our viewpoint and conclusions.

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About the same issue, i find this text on internet written by a group called "Workers Left Unity Iran" (I don't know this group, but the text they wrote is interesting) :

Quote :

The anti war movement, Hezbollah and the issue of political freedoms


Israel’s savage aggression against the peoples of Lebanon and Palestine, with the excuse of limiting Lebanese Hezbollah’s power in the region, backed by the governments of US and UK has shaken world public opinion and the anti war movement has rightly mobilised once more to express its opposition to imperialist policies in the Middle East and elsewhere. In the wake of the existing debacle regarding Iran’s nuclear capability, the Iranian people are facing the threat of another war. Most Iranians, victims of a brutal 8 year war between Iran and Iraq, are against war and war mongers. They want an end to imperialist aggression and peace in the region, yet they are well aware that there will be no lasting peace without the establishment of political freedoms and rights for the peoples of the region. They know that Iran’s Islamic regime has armed and supported some of the most reactionary forces of the region including the militias of the two factions of the pro US occupation government in Iraq ( Shia SCIRI and Daava) as well as Lebanese Hezbollah. They know that the Islamic regime in Iran has in the past used such forces not only to increase its political and economic influence in the region but also as means of interference , proxy battles as well as negotiations and secret dealings with US administration ( as it did during the Irangate scandal or since the US occupation of Iraq). That is why as an integral part of the Iranian antiwar movement we have always maintained that anti imperialism, unreserved condemnation of Israel’s militarist aggression in the region and against Palestinians must be accompanied by opposition to Iran’s Islamic regime and reactionary groups associated with it. It is this stance that has raised the hatred and anger of supporters of these Islamic groups against Iranian leftwing activists in the anti war protests.

In the last few days, in demonstrations against Israel ‘s aggression in Lebanon in many European cities, we have witnessed repeated attacks against Iranian activists who were raising the slogan :”No to imperialist wars No to Iran’s Islamic regime’. Unfortunately some political organisations who for tactical or other reasons confuse the anti US slogans of Islamists with anti imperialism have taken an opportunist position, turning a blind eye to such events and allowing small Hezbollah supporters to dominate the demonstration with slogans such as ‘Allah Akbar’ (God is Great) accompanied by raising pictures of various Iranian Ayatollahs , an insult to Iranian communists and socialists who are victims of the repression imposed by these Ayatollahs. Worse than that when Hezbollahis attacked Iranian left wingers in a number of demonstrations in Europe, some political groups remained silent.

We warn those who attack our political freedom to express an opinion in anti war protests that they will not be able to silence us, we will expose imperialism and reaction and defend the anti capitalist struggles of Iranian workers, women , students � against Iran’s reactionary Islamic regime while opposing US imperialism.

We will name and shame those organisations that collude with Hezbollah to attack our political rights , we will continue expressing our demands and our slogans in anti war protests . Of course we extend our greetings to the many socialist/communist groups and individuals who backed us in these demonstrations and defended us against brutal physical attacks by Hezbollah supporters.

In the first leaflet on this issue we mention 3 examples of Hezbollah attacks against Iranian antiwar socialists.

Copenhagen( Denmark)

On Friday 21st of July supporters of Lebanese Hezbollah (around 15individuals) backed by a so called Danish left group (the Trotskyite International Socialists) entered a protest organised by the group “Initiative against Israeli aggression”. The organisers had already stressed on Thursday 20th of July at a press conference they did not want the participation of religious- reactionary groups. Hezbollah supporters were asked to leave the demonstration, especially as they started attacking Iranian leftwing activists and disrupting the protest. As soon as Danish police arrived, Hezbollah supporters started pointing out Iranians in the demonstration to the police, calling on the police to arrest them!! At the end of this protest Hezbollah supporters threatened Iranian comrades with death.

Hamburg

On Saturday the 22nd of July , a protest was called by German progressive forces against Israeli aggression. A large number of Hezbollah supporters took part in this demonstration and insulted one of the speakers, an Iranian leftist activist as she started to speak. As soon as she spoke against Iran’s Islamic regime, they started hissing and booing, while swearing and threatening her. When she left the platform in protest , they followed her with a camera continuing to insult and attack her, however with the intervention of Arab comrades she was lead to safety.

Gutenberg ( Sweden)

On Saturday the 22nd of July , following a call by the antiwar network in Gutenberg, a demonstration took place in the city centre and our comrades attended this protest with a banner : “No to war, No to Bush and US, Down with the Islamic Republic regime in Iran” . A large number of Hezbollah supporters (all Lebanese) had taken part in this protest and when they saw the banner, they warned our comrades that unless they lowers the banner they will be beaten up. A struggle took place and police intervened and confiscated our banner, claiming that it is causing too much disruption. The organisers of the protest did not condemn this undemocratic act and allowed Hezbollah to raise slogans such as Allah Akbar, as well pictures of Nasrallah, mainly because of their populist opportunism.

Stockholm

On Saturday 22nd of July similar events took place in the Swedish capital Stockholm.

None of these protests were called by Hezbollah, in fact Hezbollah supporters have been absent in ALL previous anti war demonstrations in Europe and America, because like their pay master in Iran they supported the occupation of Iraq and the coming to power of Shia militias, backed by Imperialist military forces in that country.

No to imperialist wars, No to Iran’s Islamic Regime, No Israel’s war against Lebanese and Palestinian people.

Long live peace and eth right of nations to self determination, free of imperialist military financial and political interventions.

Workers Left Unity Iran - 29th July 2007

In my opinion it's really a shame that some leftist support political Islam ! Just the fact of this agressions from Hezbollah supporters against iranian comrades show the real nature of Hezbollah, a anti-communist, anti-worker, anti-freedom reactionnary organisation. This text shows that Hezbollah is abble to agress comrades in Europe, so just think about what it means being socialist, anarchist, feminist (or just a woman) or free-thinker in a lebanese village under Hezbollah rules !

About live under Hezbollah rules, the comrades from "Libertarian Communist Alternative" (Lebanon) write in their stratement about the war :

Quote :

Furthermore, Hezbollah (the Party of God!!) is a party that, despite all it has done in order to drive Israel from Southern Lebanon and despite the large number of martyrs sent to carry out their religious duty, a one-way ticket to a paradise of honey and houris, has not satisfied Lebanese expectations for many years. The "Party of God", under Iranian control, is clearly and obstinately anti-freedom. It is simple: it is not possible to live in the Hezbollah areas. In the villages where it is preponderant, one is advised to keep the volume of music down and not to play songs suitable for belly dancing.

And on Helem website ( Arabic acronym of "Lebanese Protection for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders") i read :

Quote :

On the 30th of August 2003, leading Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah has emphasized the importance of the death penalty in deterring criminals and pacifying societies. When counting the 3 cases where, according to Islam, the death penalty should be imposed, he included homosexuality as the 3rd one, stating that it has a negative impact on a "normal" relationship between a man and a woman, and consequently, on society at large.

In May 2003, Hezbollah kidnapped five suspected gay men and handed them over to the police who arrested the suspects.

Comrade, what is the link to the article from the Libertarian Communist Alternative you quote above?

Miles

CommunistLeague wrote:

Comrade, what is the link to the article from the Libertarian Communist Alternative you quote above?

Miles

I published this text there :
https://freedom-eguality.forumotion.com/viewtopic.forum?t=9