| The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) calls on Canadians to remain calm in the light of developments taking place in Ottawa at this time following the shooting of a soldier at the War Memorial. As the events unfolded it became clear that the various levels of police forces, armed forces, various levels of the state and the media all went into action as if they were conducting an exercise in bringing the whole city under their direct control. Schools were shut down, all government buildings in the downtown area were shut down. No one could go in or out. At 6 pm, some government workers were still locked down at work. The outlying government buildings were evacuated and shut. All bridges going to the Quebec side were blocked by the QPP and RCMP and every driver was forced to open the trunk of their car which was searched before they were allowed to cross. The entire centre of the city was brought to a standstill and the media assisted in spreading hysteria by stopping their regular programming and reporting all kinds of unsubstantiated rumours about other gunmen in other locations and incidences of gunfire which were later denied by the police. All during the day the media outlets uniformly reported that there was still an active search by police for other suspected terrorists. The main content of the reports was that people in Ottawa still faced a dangerous situation. The reports from the media continue to insist that police are "actively searching" for other terrorists and that the situation is still not safe. The security services also disrupted cell phone service during the day -- this was not announced but clearly it was to test the technology to monitor and disrupt any communications by cell phones. The purpose of this activity was a dry run to iron out any problems that may exist in the security apparatus. It served to instill fear in people who could not reach family members and to justify the imposition of dictatorial powers which violate basic human rights and to eliminate any opposition to the warmongering positions of the Harper government. It also feeds the irrational racist ideology of Harper that the main threat to Canada is Islamicists and radicalized jihadists. CPC(M-L) condemns this fraudulent and irresponsible activity of the government which uses this kind of tragic circumstance to advance a pro-war agenda and impose dictatorial powers at home. It is a vivid example of the damaging activities of the state apparatus at all levels combined with the monopoly media which are responsible for disrupting and terrorizing the whole city. This evening Prime Minister Harper will make a nationally televised speech through which he is expected to disseminate more disinformation about "young jihadists" and the need to defend Canada's "national interest." This is accomplished according to him by supporting a military intervention in Iraq and the use of force to sort out problems in the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as in Europe proper and Canada itself. A series of laws are presently before the Parliament to strengthen the ability of the government and undercover agencies to act with impunity, further undermining the rule of law and the public authority in favour of the private monopoly interests the Harper government serves. All of these actions serve private interests in their takeover of duties that by right belong to the civil public domain -- from the civil service, to police and security services to the armed forces and the functioning of political parties. In this situation, all forces that stand for a socially responsible response to the unfolding events must urgently intervene in a rational manner by standing for principle while thinking things through. This means that while they uphold the rights of all and the rule of law, they also take a firm stand against arbitrariness and the use of violence and impunity in the name of high ideals. This is especially needed at a time Canada has deployed its armed forces to bomb Iraq and is engaging in disinformation about ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and "young jihadists." The government's actions and propaganda are meant to justify engaging in regime change in Syria and elsewhere. Canadian actions in Iraq and Syria alongside those of the United States and big European powers will have similar results to what has occurred in Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt and Libya, which are in a state of chaos and unending violence. Meanwhile, the Israeli Zionists with the backing of the same forces deployed throughout West and Central Asia and North Africa have committed grave crimes against humanity in their attempts to destroy the Resistance in Palestine. Whatever explanations are offered to explain the so-called young jihadism, it is without doubt an integral part of the state of anarchy and violence imposed on the world by the U.S. imperialists and their allies, including Canada. It is all due to the striving of the big powers to take over the countries they want in the name of their "national interest" no matter what the consequences to others and the sacred cause of world peace. In all of this, the people are being held hostage to government's actions with impunity. In the name of opposing "jihadist extremism," people are supposed to support anti-jihadist government extremism. CPC(M-L) opposes both the so-called jihadist and anti-jihadist extremist methods, which it considers versions of individual acts of terrorism and state terrorism. CPC(M-L) bases itself on mass ideological and political mobilization as the legitimate and necessary response to both individual acts of terror and the reactionary violence and state terror used by the U.S. imperialists and their Canadian allies to realize their striving for world domination and to suppress the resistance struggles of the peoples everywhere. The forms of struggle advocated by CPC(M-L) are all based on mass democracy -- the participation of the working people, youth and students and all sections of the people in actions which affirm their economic, political, social and cultural rights against those who deprive them of the enjoyment of their rights. The revolutionary actions of the working people cannot be organized through acts of terrorism. Acts of individual terrorism and state terrorism are executed by individuals either alone or with state forces behind them -- none of these acts have any links whatsoever with the masses of the people. Such actions are enabled by the climate of anarchy and violence unleashed by the economic forces that have seized state power to push the neo-liberal agenda. CPC(M-L) calls on Canadians to keep in mind that their main defence is to continue to form public opinion in support of the peaceful resolution of conflicts amongst nations. They must oppose the use of force to sort out problems, and oppose big power interference in the internal affairs of other countries and the double standards. They must oppose the demonization of perceived enemies, the criminalization of opponents and the destruction of their legitimate organizations and due process in the name of high ideals. CPC(M-L) calls attention to the anti-war actions this weekend and calls on people from all walks of life to join in and make their views known against the use of force to solve problems. All out to establish an anti-war government! Join in! |