The Left Front, the UNP and a Left Bloc

By Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratna

(January 18, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “The political atmosphere of France is pervaded with the idea of the “Left Bloc.” After a new period of Poincare-ism which represents the bourgeoisie’s attempt to serve up to the people a warmed over hash of the illusions of victory, a pacifist reaction may quite likely set in amongst broad circles of bourgeoisie society, ie, first and foremost among the petty bourgeoisie. The hope for universal pacification, for agreement with Soviet Russia, obtaining raw materials and payments from her, on advantageous terms, cuts in the burden of militarism, and so on, in brief, the illusory programme of democratic pacifism - can become for a while the programme of a Left Bloc, superseding the National Bloc.

Iiiusions

From the standpoint of the development of the revolution in France, such a change of regimes will be a step forward only, provided, the proletariat does not fall prey, to any extent, to the illusions of petty-bourgeois pacifism.

Reformist-dissidents are the agency of the Left Bloc within the working class. Their successes will be the greater when the working class as a whole is seized by the idea and practice of a united front against the bourgeoisie. Layers of workers, disoriented by the war and by the tardiness of the revolution, may venture to support the Left Bloc as a lesser evil, in the belief that they do not thereby risk anything at all, or because they see no other road at present.

One of the most reliable methods of counteracting inside the working class, the moods and ideas of the Left Bloc, ie, a bloc between the workers and a certain section of the bourgeoisie against another section of the bourgeoisie, is through promoting persistently and resolutely the idea of a bloc between all sections of the working class against the whole bourgeoisie.”

The above statement of Trotsky in 1922 on the French political situation has been used over and over again to criticise working arrangements with capitalist parties. Is the Left Front Nava Sama Samaja Party making a Left Bloc with the UNP against the nationalist front of Mahinda? In the first place there is no electoral or parliamentary political alliance comprising the UNP and the Left Front. But it is true that the present Left Bloc with the UNP will enhance the electoral campaign of the UNP. But we are not in an electoral front for a Left Bloc government. We are not interested in such a front. In the meantime we are interested in developing the relationship among Left groups and trade union unity. Our election lists display that Left unity. It must be noted that Trotsky pointed out that a Left Bloc victory over the National Bloc was a “step forward provided the proletariat does not fall prey, to any extent, to the illusions of petty-bourgeois pacifism.” So even if the UNP gains in elections because of the present Left bloc, we have to go forward consolidating our unity at the base within the proletariat.

National delegates conference

We have to campaign not only for trade union unity but also for a national delegates conference. It is to bring representatives of work places irrespective of political association to fight for economic benefits as well as for a peace settlement. Already there is a campaign that started with the demand for a Rs 5000 pay rise. This slogan may have to be revised with the present level of price increases. The campaign for the reduction of petrol prices as ordered by the Supreme Court judgment is important; it has been accepted by the Left Bloc. Ranil has pledged to go forward on this issue as well. UNP unions participated in the July 10, 2008 strike. The plantation sector still has a significant trade union base.

“The fact that complete ascendancy of professional intellectuals over the workers prevails in the party of the Dissidents runs nowhere counter to our diagnosis and prognosis. Because the passive and partially disillusioned, partially disoriented worker-masses are an ideal culture medium, especially in France, for political cliques composed of attorneys and journalists, reformist witch-doctors and parliamentary charlatans,” said Trotsky in the same statement. But today the media has taken a different role compared to journalists in Europe in 1922. They have opted to play the role of the radical students in the 1948 revolution and the 1968 French revolution. Well, at least I hope so! - Sri Lanka Guardian