Date:11/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/11/stories/2003051103070800.htm

National

CPI(M) against move to send troops

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 10. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has opposed the possible use of Indian troops "for American mercenary purposes" in Iraq. "The Vajpayee Government is eager to extend cooperation to the United States in its occupation plans of Iraq," said a statement from the party's politburo.

While the statement takes note of the official position that "the troops will be sent only with U.N. authorisation", the CPI(M) dismisses this as a mere "pretext''.

According to the party, it would be wrong for India to send its troops because (a) "Iraq is under the U.S. occupation after an illegal war and act of aggression"; (b) the U.S. draft resolution before the Security Council only seeks "to legitimise U.S. occupation for a year and calls for lifting of sanctions, so that the U.S. can sell Iraqi oil to finance the reconstruction of Iraq"; (c) that "the United nations will not be the administrative agency with any power in Iraq, which will be vested solely with the U.S.-British authorities".

The party suspects that the current visit of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, has also something to do with "the role India can play in Iraq".

The CPI(M) believes that India could not participate in "re-building" of Iraq, "an immoral venture". The party's argument is that the "Indian troops cannot be placed in a position where they will be expected to put down Iraqi resistance to the occupation".