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Saturday, Sep 29, 2007
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CPI(M) concerned at Myanmar incidents

Special Correspondent

Polit Bureau urges the Central government to impress upon junta to stop repression

— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

Senior CPI(M) leaders (from right) Jyoti Basu, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Prakash Karat and Biman Bose, prior to the Polit Bureau meeting in Kolkata on Friday.

KOLKATA: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau met here on Friday as a prelude to three days of “very crucial” discussions by the central committee on the India-United States nuclear deal and the political situation, among other issues.

The Polit Bureau took serious note of the political developments in Myanmar.

In a statement, it called upon the Centre to “utilise all political and diplomatic channels to impress upon the military government in Myanmar to cease its repression and initiate talks for a democratic transition.”

“The Polit Bureau extends support to the people of Myanmar who have been struggling for long for the restoration of democracy. The mass protests of the past ten days are an expression of the deep desire of the people for a democratic system and better life,” the statement said.

“The CPI(M) condemns the repression unleashed by the military government on peaceful protest marches and all democratic forces of India should stand by the people of Myanmar in their heroic struggle.”

Third round meet

General secretary Prakash Karat later said the party was looking forward to the outcome of the October 5 meeting of the United Progressive Alliance-Left committee on the nuclear deal.

The issue of revocation of the suspension of two Polit Bureau members — Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and the party’s State secretary in Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan — will also be taken up at the central committee meetings.

“Unanimous decision”

Earlier in the day, M.K. Pandhe, a Polit Bureau member, said in reply to questions from journalists that he was “sure that we [the party] will take a unanimous decision” on the nuclear deal.

He declined to say what stand the party would take in the event of the Centre going ahead with operationalising the deal.

“I cannot say anything now,” he said.

The Polit Bureau meeting was attended by veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu, Mr. Karat, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, his Tripura counterpart Manik Sarkar, R. Umanath, K. Varadarajan, B.V. Raghavulu, S.R. Pillai, Biman Bose, Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, besides Mr. Pandhe.

“Ensure justice”

Meanwhile, Ms. Karat, who is also Rajya Sabha member from the State, called on the family of 30-year-old computer graphics teacher, Rizwanur Rahman, whose body was found near the rail track near the city on September 21.

Rahman married Priyanka Todi, daughter of an influential city businessman, reportedly against her family’s wishes.

“We must ensure justice … this is a horrible thing to happen and those responsible have to be severely punished,” Ms. Karat said. The State Government has ordered a judicial probe.

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