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Left-ruled Kerala becomes the first Indian state to eradicate extreme poverty

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Original article by Abdul Rahman republished from peoples dispatch under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA) license.

Kerala’s LDF government celebrates the eradication of extreme poverty in the state. Photo: Pinarayi Vijayan

The Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Alliance (LDF) government achieves a unique feat in India which, according to the World Bank, has the world’s largest number of extremely poor.

On Saturday, November 1, India’s southern state of Kerala officially declared itself free of extreme poverty. This makes the left-ruled state the first and only state in the country to achieve such a milestone.

Announcing the achievement during a session of the state’s legislative assembly, left leader and Chief Minister of the state Pinarayi Vijayan called it a “historic and proud moment” for the state and its people and hoped that “our experiments will become a model that states in the country can benefit from.”

India has the world’s largest population living in extreme poverty, as per the data released by the World Bank last year.

“Kerala has etched a new chapter in history—erasing extreme poverty to become the first place in India and the second in the world to achieve this milestone,”John Brittas, member of India’s parliament from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on X.

In February 2021, China became the first country in the world to announce the end of extreme poverty, a decade ahead of the UN schedule under its sustainable goals.

On Saturday, Chinese ambassador to India Xu Feihong also congratulated Kerala’s government for its achievement, saying “to eliminate poverty is the common mission of humanity.”

From long-term policies to micro planning

After being elected to power for the second time in a row in 2021, the Pinarayi-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government proclaimed that it would eradicate extreme poverty in the state by the end of its term.

In May 2021, the LDF government launched the Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP). The project had initially identified over 100,000 households as extremely poor. However, after the final analysis on the basis of access to food, income, shelter, and healthcare the number of households in extreme poverty came down to 64,006.

In the last four years extensive targeted attempts were made to provide sustained access to whichever element a particular family was lacking among these 64,006 families. This involved different government agencies and local self government bodies across the state.

In April of this year, after declaring Dharmadam (his own constituency) the first to be free from extreme poverty in the state, Vijayan had announced that by the state formation day on November 1 the state will finally achieve its goal set four years ago.

Socialist policies deliver

Kerala, which has mostly hilly terrain and a very high population density was once one of the poorest states in India with close to 60% of its population living in poverty.

Due to long-term welfare and development policies based on socialist distribution, such as land reforms, decentralization, high social expenditure on health and education, a robust public distribution system, among others adopted by the successive left governments in the state, the percentage of poor decreased drastically to just over 11% in 2011-12, when the last pan-India census was held.

The figure has been substantially lowered even further in the 15 years since then.

According to the central government’s multidimensional poverty index released in 2021, Kerala had the least multidimensional poverty among the Indian states, with less than 1% of its population (0.7%) identified as poor.

Kerala’s achievement is a result of the sustained efforts of successive left governments and their policies, claimed Thomas Issac, former finance minister and a leader of the CPI(M).

“From 60% poverty in 1973, Kerala declares itself free from extreme poverty. This is the real Kerala story of land reforms, increase in wages, universal education, healthcare and social security. Finally, 4 years of micro planning to lift 64,006 from extreme poverty” Issac said in a post on X. 

Vijayan also acknowledged the role of long-term policies in achieving zero extreme poverty in the state.

“The process of eradicating extreme poverty is a continuation of the steps taken earlier for universal public distribution system and for the eradication of landlessness and homelessness. Kerala has made remarkable progress in the sustainable development index envisioned by the UN by eradicating extreme poverty,” he said on Saturday.

Original article by Abdul Rahman republished from peoples dispatch under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA) license.

Continue ReadingLeft-ruled Kerala becomes the first Indian state to eradicate extreme poverty

European leaders rewrite WWII history on Auschwitz liberation anniversary

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Original article by Ana Vračar republished from peoples’ dispatch under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA) license.

Red Army soldiers with prisoners of Nazi concentration camp, 1945. Source: Wikimedia Commons

As European leaders gathered at Auschwitz to commemorate 80 years since its liberation, they upheld a revisionist narrative that downplays the role of the Red Army in defeating Nazism

On January 27, 1945, soldiers of the Soviet Red Army liberated Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp where over one million people—overwhelmingly Jews—were murdered. Eighty years later, European leaders gathered in Poland, now home to the Auschwitz memorial, to hear survivor testimonies and reaffirm the commitment to ensuring such atrocities never happen again.

Yet this year’s commemoration came with a blazing omission. Despite the USSR’s vital role in defeating Nazi Germany and its allies—at the cost of over 20 million Soviets’ lives—there were no representatives of the Russian Federation at Auschwitz. In its pursuit of punishing Russia for the war in Ukraine, the European Union (EU) has virtually erased the Red Army’s contributions from the narrative. Leaders like Ursula von der Leyen and Giorgia Meloni issued statements of remembrance while avoiding any mention of the USSR. Only left politicians dared to talk about the full picture in their messages on the day of remembrance.

Read more: Zagreb’s anti-fascist flame: a decade of liberation celebrations and resistance

These events have to be read as part of a broad revisionist trend spreading through Europe, in which far-right parties, such as Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and France’s National Rally, are using anti-communist tropes to rewrite history. This trend has taken root among mainstream parties as well. Just days before Holocaust remembrance day, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Russia for “exploiting the narrative of the ‘liberation of Europe from Nazism.’” The text of the resolution also criticized the restoration of Lenin’s monuments in Ukraine and called for a “pan-European” memorial for “victims of the 20th century totalitarian regimes,” a vocabulary that aims to equate fascism and communism.

In what can only be described as a severe case of historical amnesia, the parliamentaries proposed a ban on “both Nazi and Soviet communist symbols” across the EU. As some have pointed out, implementing such a ban would complicate commemorations like the one on Monday, given the prominence of Soviet uniforms in archival photographs of liberation.

While the EU is entertaining itself with erasing communism’s role in defeating Nazism in World War II, it seems to have learned extremely little from the Holocaust itself. The first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza had not even begun when Polish authorities announced they would allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend the Auschwitz commemoration—despite an International Criminal Court warrant for his arrest on war crimes charges. Though Netanyahu ended up not attending himself, the mere possibility highlights Europe’s willingness to overlook crimes against humanity if committed by its current allies.

“Laying claim to the memory of one genocide in order to justify another genocide is morally and politically unacceptable,” historian Enzo Traverso said in a recent interview with Jacobin, commenting on Europe’s reactions to the genocide in Gaza. “The memory of Auschwitz should be mobilized to impede new genocides, not to justify them.”

Read more: Elon Musk and AfD’s Alice Weidel’s align ahead of elections in Germany

By refusing to acknowledge the full history of Nazism’s defeat in 1945—especially the contributions of the Red Army and communist movements—Europe only fuels the rise of the far-right. Parties like Alternative for Germany (AfD), National Rally and Brothers of Italy may avoid explicit antisemitism in their platforms, but their policies thrive on the same hatred and violence that drove the Holocaust. As these parties gain electoral ground, the slogan “Never again is now” is becoming increasingly difficult to believe.

Original article by Ana Vračar republished from peoples’ dispatch under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA) license.

Continue ReadingEuropean leaders rewrite WWII history on Auschwitz liberation anniversary

Communist leader in Kenya survives violent attack

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Original article by Nicholas Mwangi republished from peoples’ dispatch under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA) license.

Booker Ngesa Omole with members of CPM-K. Photo: Booker Ngesa Omole

An armed attack on Kenyan communist leader Booker Ngesa Omole has sparked global outrage, with revolutionary groups expressing solidarity.

On Saturday, January 11, 2025, at approximately 3:00 am, an armed attack targeted the residence of Booker Ngesa Omole, General Secretary of the Communist Party Marxist-Kenya (CPMK). According to a statement released by the Party, the assailants—armed with firearms and equipped with night vision goggles—forced their way into the residence. A violent confrontation ensued as Booker defended himself, ultimately forcing the attackers to flee.

While the Kenyan police were quick to label the incident as an attempted burglary, the CPMK described it as a calculated assassination attempt. Booker, an organizer and fearless critic of the government, has been a vocal opponent of oppressive state policies. This shocking attack is seen as a direct assault on his activism, ideas and a broader effort to silence dissent.

“This was not a random act of crime but a direct assault on our General Secretary, who has consistently stood up for justice, democracy, and socialism in Kenya,” the Party declared. “This act of terror is an attack on the revolutionary cause and all Kenyans who are fighting for a better future.”

The Communist Party Marxist Kenya has demanded a full and transparent investigation, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and that urgent measures be taken to protect its leadership and members.

“We will not be silenced,” the Party’s statement declared. “The enemies of the people may attempt to intimidate us, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to the struggle for liberation. No amount of violence will deter us from our revolutionary path.”

A rising tide of repression

The attack on Booker comes amid growing concerns over Kenya’s shrinking democratic space. Since the 2024 youth-led uprising against the controversial finance bill, government critics and activists have faced an alarming rise in abductions and violent attacks. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), dozens of individuals have been abducted or forcibly disappeared since mid-2024, deepening concerns of state repression.

International solidarity and condemnation

Revolutionary organizations across the continent have rallied in support of Booker and the CPMK, drawing parallels between the Kenyan experience and the broader struggle against neo-colonial exploitation, austerity, and imperialism. 

Communist Party of Benin: assassination attempt as a declaration of war

The Communist Party of Benin unequivocally denounced the assassination attempt and the broader campaign of repression against the CPMK. They described the attack as a declaration of war by counter-revolutionary forces linked to the regime. They called for united action among revolutionary organizations worldwide. The Party also expressed confidence that the repression would fail, and the Kenyan people’s democratic national revolution would prevail.

Abahlali baseMjondolo: “an injury to one is an injury to all”

Abahlali baseMjondolo, South Africa’s largest grassroots movement, linked the attack to the broader context of neo-colonial austerity and oppression. Recalling the mass protests against the Ruto government’s Finance Bill and the brutal crackdown that followed, they emphasized the global nature of the fight against imperialist-backed regimes. “An injury to one is always an injury to all,” the movement stated, condemning the attempt on Booker’s life. 

Socialist Movement of Ghana: a struggle against neoliberalism

The Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) expressed alarm at the assassination attempt and the subsequent arrests of CPMK leaders. They condemned the Kenyan government’s use of brutal force to suppress protests against IMF-driven neoliberal policies, linking the violence to broader struggles against neo-colonial exploitation. The SMG called for accountability for the regime and expressed unwavering solidarity with the CPMK and the Kenyan working people.

Booker responds: “we will prevail”

In a personal statement, Booker expressed his gratitude for the solidarity. “Your messages of support have reminded me, and all of us, that the fight for a just society resonates far beyond our borders,” he said. No force can silence the collective will of the people.”

Booker also revealed that officers from the Serious Crimes Unit had visited his residence and begun an investigation. He emphasized the importance of a transparent and professional inquiry, stating:

“This is a critical opportunity for the state to absolve itself of any suspicion of involvement by ensuring that those behind this heinous act are brought to justice swiftly and decisively. The Kenyan people deserve nothing less, as it is our taxes that entrust the state with the responsibility of protecting the lives of all citizens without exception.”

Addressing his comrades in the CPMK and other progressive forces, Booker called for unity and vigilance in the face of adversity:

“Attempts to disrupt our struggle for a liberated and equitable society only prove the fear our enemies feel in the face of our growing strength,” he declared. 

“Let this moment deepen our resolve and ignite revolutionary optimism within our ranks. The path to justice and socialism is never without struggle, but history shows us that the people, united in their determination, will always prevail.”

Original article by Nicholas Mwangi republished from peoples’ dispatch under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA) license.

Continue ReadingCommunist leader in Kenya survives violent attack

Morning Star Editorial: The West won’t rein in Israel, because its savagery is ours

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Original article republished from https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/west-wont-rein-israel-because-its-savagery-ours

Relatives and friends mourn over the bodies of five Palestinian journalists who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, December 26, 2024

ISRAEL bombing the airport in Yemen’s capital Sana’a when World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was actually at it shows a brazen contempt for the United Nations.

It is not new. Israel has expressed this contempt repeatedly. Most dramatically when its ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan used a miniature shredder to shred the UN Charter after the general assembly voted in favour of giving Palestine full membership in May.

But it is seen too in the bombardment of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. In the evidence-free assertion that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA harbours Hamas fighters and subsequent decree banning the agency from operating in Israel-controlled territory — meaning the whole of Palestine.

Benjamin Netanyahu accuses the United Nations of intrinsic hostility to Israel, calling it an “anti-Israel flat Earth society” which has “an automatic majority willing to demonise the Jewish state.”

The siege mentality is deliberate: only by presenting this fortress state, so extravagantly armed by its Washington sponsors that it can extend its bombing campaigns across Lebanon, Syria and Yemen after over a year of carpet-bombing Gaza, as under constant existential menace can he justify its frenetic aggression.

Enforcing this narrative is why Israel has become more authoritarian in step with its increasing belligerence, codifying institutional racism through measures like the Nation-State Law and pending legislation that could bar parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel (and the Communist Party of Israel to boot) from standing in elections.

As its suspended communist MP Ofer Cassif warns, there is no positive outcome possible from this vicious cycle: an unendable, unwinnable war against the world will bring Israelis neither security nor peace.

Israel is a rogue state, a danger to itself and others, but it will not be stopped by other rogue states. Just as the agony of the Palestinians continues due to the US policy of unlimited support for Israel, we cannot expect the so-called “free world” to step in on Yemen’s behalf.

Least of all Britain. When evidence of Saudi Arabia deliberately bombing Yemeni schools and hospitals became undeniable, even the United States paused arms sales — but Britain did not.

Expecting our government to be persuaded or even shamed into upholding international law is a fool’s errand.

There is much to criticise in the United Nations: its undemocratic structure, the way the veto power can be wielded to shield perpetrators of war crimes.

Even so, since the beginning of the 21st century a clear division has emerged between the US-led West, awarding itself the right to violate international law by invading, bombing and assassinating whoever it likes, and emerging powers which support the United Nations — a creation of the Allied victory over fascism, intended to prevent the lawless aggression that characterised Nazi Germany and its allies.

China brokered peace in Yemen through a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. China continually makes the case too for UN recognition of a Palestinian state, and hosted talks between 14 Palestinian factions last year in an attempt to forge a united Palestinian leadership capable of taking that project forward.

China, like most of the global South, is not happy with an international system designed in Western capitals 80 years ago, and calls for a more equitable international order. Yet China, unlike the Western founders of that system, is acting to uphold its principles and prevent the world descending into the kind of “might is right” violence the UN was supposed to stop.

We need to recognise how the world looks from outside the West. The “rules-based international order” is not threatened by emerging powers, but by the US-led imperialist camp. We don’t rein in Israel, because its violence is ours.

This is why solidarity with Palestine means fighting for peace and disarmament in Britain, and resisting the constant militarist propaganda pretending our country is under threat.

Original article republished from https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/west-wont-rein-israel-because-its-savagery-ours

Continue ReadingMorning Star Editorial: The West won’t rein in Israel, because its savagery is ours

1984: how the miners saved Christmas from Thatcher

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/1984-how-miners-saved-christmas-thatcher

Picketers decorate a Christmas tree outside Rossington Colliery, while police transit vans line the roadway, December 11, 1984

CHRISTMAS 1984 was potentially a desperate time for the families of miners who had been on strike against pit closures for nine months. It turned out to be the opposite for many striking mining communities.

France’s communist-led union group CGT sent a convoy of 30 lorries, driven by volunteers and packed with food and toys, across the Channel. The union had mounted a “toy drive” among its members, and thousands had flooded in.

The convoy arrived at Dover, and the lorries journeyed to struggling mining communities in Wales and northern England.

Hundreds of miners’ support groups across the country redoubled their solidarity efforts — and the public responded generously.

The result for many striking miners and their families was the best Christmas they had ever had. And the solidarity is remembered today across the former coalfields.

In the north-east, Ian Lavery, now Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, was a 20-year-old miner at Ellington Colliery in Northumberland. He lived with his parents and siblings. His father was a striking miner, as were two of his three brothers.

He told the Morning Star: “It was one of the best times of my life.

“At Christmas time 1984, none of us had a ha’penny — no money at all. But one thing about miners and working-class people is that they will do anything to make sure the kids have a good Christmas. Whatever the situation — on strike for seven or eight months — we would not let the kids down.

“It was fabulous to see the juggernauts arriving from France. They provided every striking miner’s kid with a toy at Christmas. Honestly, there was juggernaut after juggernaut come all the way from France. Absolutely amazing. Then there were the chickens and the turkeys. They were on the Christmas table of every striking miner. It was just fabulous.

“There were Christmas parties in every village and community.

…

Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/1984-how-miners-saved-christmas-thatcher

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