This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.

Dear Comrades of MIM,

 

Thank you very much for your message of April 7,1998.

 

We have never contacted your party before and we have not signed any international declaration yet.

 

Notwithstanding its negative points, we are of the opinion that Cultural Revolution played a great role and especially after the collapse of USSR, lessons and experiences of this theory gains more value for communists all over the world. But we are not sure about so exaggerated positive role of Gang of Four in the revolution. Their role could be discussed in length. However we think that presently the international communist movement is suffering from numerous unprecedented and grave blows that it would be wrong to get very much involved in complicated phenomenon like Cultural Revolution and Gang of Four. Won't it be better for the communist to leave aside their differences regarding especially some historical events in China or other countries and get close to each other on the basis of M-L-M and proletarian Internationalism? Unlimited debates will lead us to nowhere. We firmly believe that if at the moment this or that militant Marxist-Leninist party who is being engaged in a fierce and difficult struggle against enemy, we must mobilize our forces to help the said party as much as we can in spite of certain differences. If there is an M-L organization in India fighting the fascist regime by holding high their guns, then it will not be understandable to us not support that organization under the pretext of a difference about cultural revolution or this or that historical matter of secondary importance. We hope you understand our view.

 

We became so happy visiting your home page. Growth of revolutionary movement in India is the cause of our confidant and encouragement. When we came to know through newspapers about the militant activities of Communist Party of India (M-L), People's War Party and other leftist groups in India, it excited us very much. We would be more than happy if you kindly send us some more information about the groups who are continuing the path and traditions of Naxalbri.

 

[. . .]

 

Your efforts to publish the works of comrade Mao on WWW are commendable. We have a collection of polemics in sixties between the CCP and CPSU. Do you have a plan to publish them on the Net?

 

With warm revolutionary greetings,

 

For Afghanistan Liberation Organization (ALO)

April, 1998

 

 

Dear Comrades of the Afghanistan Liberation Organization:

 

We thank you for your kind words of encouragement and we wish you well in smashing the influence of U.$. imperialism.

 

With regard to the Cultural Revolution in China, we must firmly reject the idea that it is simply a matter of "endless debate." Precisely because we Maoists ask the people to take up People's War, we must ourselves be clear about what we are fighting for. If we cannot speak on socialism when it concretely existed, how will we have unity when it comes time to building it ourselves when there has been none before in Afghanistan, the U$A etc? Lessons like those of the Cultural Revolution paid for in blood should not be so lightly ignored by the international communist movement. There is also the danger the national bourgeoisie will attempt to derail the study of international socialist experience, precisely because it does not want anti-imperialist revolution to go beyond bourgeois democracy.

 

The leadership choices as they concretely existed in China in 1976 were Hua Guofeng, Deng Xiaoping and the so-called "Gang of Four." It should now be apparent that Hua handed power over to Deng Xiaoping without undertaking armed struggle against Deng. Hence, whatever flaws the "Gang of Four" had, they were the best available option at the time and those members of the international communist movement that did not recognize this simply made a mistake. While it is understandable to make a mistake, it is not permissible for a communist to fail to let go of one. History has shown that capitalism has been restored in China and from this we must draw dire conclusions. Included in those lessons of history is that it was necessary to side with the "Gang of Four" whatever its relatively minute flaws and against state capitalism brought about by Deng Xiaoping.

 

Although we believe vagueness in the fight against revisionism is declining, there remains some idealism in the international communist movement that somehow no choice or side has to be made or taken. Such idealism and vagueness casts the whole direction of the movement into doubt.

 

In struggle,

Maoist Internationalist Movement