The basis of our policy is the human being
Hamid Taghvaie - 16.01.2003 21:23
WPI Briefing Number 91
Weekly of the Worker-communist Party of Iran
 http://www.wpibriefing.com
13 January 2002
The basis of socialism is the human being. This short sentence by Mansoor Hekmat is not just a slogan or a theoretical remark; rather, it is the reflection of a reality that every tactical move, policy and the programme 'For a Better World' of the Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI) confirms. The basis of the WPI's programme 'For a Better World' in any of its articles and paragraphs is the liberation, equality and the well-being of the human being. It is our Party's philosophy and the basis of any activity and practical struggle as well. In all the aspects of our struggle, be it the economic and daily struggle of workers, the campaign against stoning, defending the rights of refugees and immigrants, confronting honour killings in Europe, criticising labour laws, or defending the rights and dignity of children, we have raised the banner of humanity and its liberation everywhere. In all of these fronts we have stood up against contemporary reactionary capitalism in its current and specific political form and shape, the New World Order, free market democracy, political Islam, nationalism and ethnocentrism.
Defending the dignity and rights of human beings has not only been the basis and the guiding light of the Party's programme and policies, but also the basis and guiding light of activities at any level and in any front for improving and raising the living standards of human beings today in the practical realisation of 'For a Better World'. We are the only political party, which has been influential even in opposition. Thousands of refugees and immigrants in America and Europe, thousands of women under the yoke of oppression of religious and reactionary Kurdish nationalism in Soleimaniyeh, progressive people objecting to honour killings, young girls who are victims of cultural relativism in Sweden and Denmark and thousands of progressive people who have supported our campaign against stoning all over the world are witness to this fact. We have improved the lives of human beings as far as is within the ability of a party in opposition.
However, these achievements are limited, temporary and reversible. In opposition, one cannot bring about profound and permanent changes in the lives of millions of people. This task - the full and complete realisation of the programme 'For a Better World' for the well-being, equality and freedom of all humanity can only be achieved by securing political power. Political power is the key to moving from criticising the contemporary world to changing it.
We want political power to overturn class society and liberate humanity but it is not only our party that seeks to gain political power. This is the objective of any serious political party. Our difference with other opposition political parties is our aim for taking power and the content of the system that we want to establish in Iran. More than anything else, what any party will do when in power and what system it wants to build can be seen from the content of its criticism and protestations while in opposition. Those who only object to the rule of the Faghih (Islamic Jurists), oppose only public execution and stoning, are distressed because the symbols of the lion and sun have been removed from the Iranian flag or are semi-mullahs whose only radicalism are limited to the 'separation of the king and the mullah' will not bring about any change in people's lives. Neither their objections and criticisms nor their programmes or policies for administering society have anything to do with the needs and wishes of the people. The basis of their action is not the human being but the class and the system that has a vested interest in keeping humanity in fetters, i.e. to maintain the current system, to find a role in the New World Order, to return Iran into the fold of the system of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Our Party's criticism of the Islamic Republic of Iran is at the same time a criticism of these types of opponents as well. One cannot hold a profound and radical criticism of the system of the Islamic Republic and leave its inconsistent opponents, the forces that wish to maintain the foundations of the current system, alone. Our standard and criteria in criticising these groups, their ideals, programmes and policies, their position vis-à-vis the Islamic Republic and the people has always been and will be the human being, their dignity, equality, liberation and well-being.
Today, with the prospect of the fall of the Islamic Republic, the replacement of the regime has become the main issue of Iranian politics; all political parties and groups have declared their position. Here too, our criteria and measure is the will, wishes and the interests of the people. From our point of view, the most practical and straightforward method of imposing the people's will and wishes to decide on the next system of government is a revolution. Revolution is the direct, simple and clear manifestation of the wish and will of the people to decide the government. This is the most practical and at the same time the most democratic way of removing the Islamic Republic and establishing the system preferred by the people. The more widespread, organised and all-inclusive the people's direct intervention and will is in the process of the downfall of the Islamic Republic, the more chance and possibility of a radical and complete break with the current system and the establishment of a Socialist Republic. That is why the right wing opposition, like the 2nd Khordad opposition (government reformist faction) oppose revolution. They know full well that a people who have experienced a revolution for freedom and equality cannot be sent home easily. It is natural that their means of achieving their ideal which is devoid of humanity is not the power of organised people, but via opposing such a force.
In contrast, our Party has always insisted and relied on organised and conscious people. The recent Political Bureau's Resolution on Ensuring the People's Right to Determine the Future System of Government in Iran and the Declaration of Political Freedoms set the means of deciding the future system of government in Iran by organised and conscious people.
These documents declare that the precondition and guarantee of the right of the people in deciding the future system is the Assembly of the Representatives of People's Councils and the Declaration of Political Freedoms. In these documents we have separated the means of deciding the government from the content and substance of government. In reality, as mentioned earlier, these two are always related but proposing them separately allows us to show our commitment to the wishes and the will of the people as well as show how the masses welcome the humane ideals and objectives of the Party and the Socialist Republic. We deeply believe that if such political freedoms are realised by law or de-facto the people will chose a Socialist Republic. Therefore the articles of the Declaration and our reliance on the Assembly of the Representatives of People's Councils are not just tactics of the day but are part of our strategy and programme. We require people's organised and conscious intervention to achieve our aim, policies and the government that we propose. Hence our commitment to the Declaration of Political Freedoms and the councils are a fundamental and programmatic position. The councils and the Declaration of Political Freedoms will keep the people involved and close the door to a coup d'etat and such dealings from above the people's heads and prevent the Lebanon-isation of the society.
Our call to other political parties is within this principle and basis. Any political group claiming to respect the opinion and the decision of the people must welcome the Declaration of Political Freedoms. Any political party in opposition, irrespective of the type of system and government that they want, must pledge their commitment to a free environment for political struggle. If everyone says that people must choose, then it is clear that all must accept political freedoms. By publishing the Declaration, our Party once again puts the people in the centre of politics.
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