APOLOGISTS OF CAPITALISM
BYELORUSSIA
The Soviet of the Communist Party of Byelorussia called on its membership, on all communist and citizens, on all those who sympathize «socialist ideas» to rally around the CPB-CPSU («Us and Time», July, 1998, № 17 (256)).
The slogan of the unification of communists is good and corresponds to the necessities of the moment. But on what basis, on what principles, for what goals and tasks does the Soviet of the CPB propose to unite? First of all the Soviet thinks that this unification can take place on the basis of «support for the international and domestic policies of the President of the Republic, Aleksandr Grigorievitch Lukashenko, who represents the interests of the working masses, society and the development of the state».
But the domestic policies of the president and government of Byelorussia is aimed at the continuation and consolidation of market reforms, privatization of state property, the strengthening of the influence of private business owners, the defense of the rich, the impoverishment of the majority of the population, i. e. the privatization of the country.
Therefore, the leadership of the CPB in essence calls on all communists, genuine and former communists, to unite and follow the path that would lead to the consolidation of capitalist relations in Byelorussia.
That «Call» can only be made by renegades and traitors, like those who in the past were in the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Republic of Byelorussia such as E. E. Sokolov, V. A. Mikluch, A. T. Kuzmin, E. A. Andreev, A. N. Novikov, N. L. Cnezhkovoi and others. They advocate the past liberal-bourgeois doctrine of Gorbachev, Yakovlev and Shevernadzhe.
The «Call» bears witness to the fact that the Communist Party of Byelorussia expresses and defends the interests, not of the working class and the peasantry, but of the Byelorussian national bourgeoisie.
The present leadership of the CPB did not learn any lessons from the past. On the contrary, they now do not hesitate to accommodate to the new anti-socialist regime, enter the presidential regime in order to get «comfortable positions» as they did in the past. These elements in the past advocated the theory of «developed socialism»; today they «Сall» on everyone to unite to construct «popular capitalism». Can we believe them? No, of course not. A person who cheated once can cheat twice.
Where does the leadership of the CPB find the «remnants of socialism» in Byelorussia that the «Call» refers to? Why do they not give concrete examples? Why do they base their «Call» on suppositions? Is it possible that the Soviet of the CPB sees these «remnants of socialism» in the maintenance of some major factories in the hands of the government? But the state sector exists in all capitalist countries. In the USA, France and Germany, the state sector is relatively big.
State factories in Byelorussia, as well as in other countries, are forced to live and work according to capitalist laws. They must produce for a market in order to extract profit. Consequently, the exploitation of the workers is also developed there.
The Kolkhozes and Sovkhozes [collective farms and state farms - note of the translator] are according to them «islands of socialism». But the Kolkhozes are being transformed into joint-stock cooperatives, of the type you can find in the West.
The Soviets in Byelorussia, as organs of local power (parliament is no longer called the Supreme Soviet) do not represent the interests of the working class and the peasantry. On the contrary, they represent the interests of profiteers, business owners and all those who «make money», i. e. the bourgeoisie.
Practice shows that the «Soviets and Kolkhozes» may be used by the working class under socialism or by the bourgeoisie under capitalism. Everything depends on who is in the Soviets, who leads the Kolkhozes, what tasks they pursue, whose interests they defend. They may be forms of socialism or capitalism (that is what we had in the 1960-80s).
The economy of the republic does not develop according to the law of proportional and planned growth. Prices are not established by the state. There is no monopoly on foreign trade. Commercial banks are in control of the economy. The U. S. dollar is the real monetary unit in Byelorussia. Foreign advisers surround and control the president and the government. Many of our factories are owned by foreigners. The system of free education, medical care, cheap accommodations is gradually being dismantled, unemployment is on the rise. So where does E. E. Sokolov see the maintenance of «important elements of socialism»?
Is it in the fact that some factories pay their workers on time? But this is the right of all workers everywhere. It is not a merit of the president and the government nor of «elements of socialism».
The leadership of the CPB-CPSU, conscious of the growth in popularity of socialist ideas among the masses, is preparing for new lies by means of socialist phraseology. They have become apologists for capitalism in Byelorussia. We cannot believe them. It is not possible to follow their calls for unity. With their slogans they are in reality pushing a program to support and consolidate the bourgeois presidential system in Byelorussia.
To call for the unity of communists it is necessary to elaborate a corresponding strategic line:
- the seizure by revolutionary means by the working class and the kolkhoz peasantry of POLITICAL POWER IN THE FORM OF SOVIETS in which the communist-Leninists and their supporters would dominate;
- the restoration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;
- the domination of the social character of the property of the means of production, as the economic basis of socialism;
- a unified All-Union Marxist-Leninist Party.
These are the main strategic points for the unification of communist-Leninists. Any other doctrine for the unification of communists, as the CPB-CPSU is proposing, is no more than an expression of servility in favor of the bourgeoisie against the proletariat.
V. D. Kadet, Mogilyov (Byelorussia)