George Fernandes
Minister of Defence
Ramesh@dhs.unv.ernet.in

Dear Comrade Fernandes:

We have known each other, albeit without ever having met, for some twenty years now. Back in the mid-1970s, at the time of Mrs. Gandhi's "emergency", you captured the imagination of trade unionists and democratic socialists around the world by going underground and waging a heroic struggle for democracy. In fact, the "emergency" was partly attributed to your leading the All India Railwaymen's Federation out on strike in 1974. Thousands of your members went to jail, as you certainly remember. In 1977, with the "emergency" over, you fought your election campaign from jail. Your reputation as India's leading trade unionist and socialist was made - and I was one of the young people who has never forgotten.

When I edited and published the independent socialist quarterly, The New International Review (1977-1989), you were always there to support us. I treasured receiving your letters of support - one of which even came when you were imprisoned with several hundred strikers. To me, as to so many others, you embodied the tradition of Indian democratic socialism and independent trade unionism.

You were kind enough to invite me to write repeatedly for your own magazine, The Other Side, which I did, becoming a regular correspondent writing about the Middle East and other matters.

And when I went to work for the International Federation of Workers Education Associations (IFWEA), we resumed contact as I approached you for an article on religious strife in India - an article which you promptly provided and which added so much to our coverage of the problem of religious fundamentalism and intolerance around the world.

For twenty years, I have admired you and worked with you and believed in you.

Because of that, it is with great pain that I write to you today. As you may know, I currently edit the LabourStart website, the premier international trade union news service on the Internet. In that capacity, I have followed closely the wave of strikes which has broken out in India in the past few days. LabourStart has been reporting on these strikes, using both Indian and international news sources.

I was shocked and stunned to read that you, in your capacity as Defence Minister, sent the armed forces into the ports which were affected by the strikes to carry out a number of functions, including security and tug operations. In other words, you gave the order to use the army and navy to break this strike.

How could you, as a socialist, as a trade unionist, as the former leader of the railway workers union and of a national trade union centre - the Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat --how could you of all people betray everything you have stood for all your life and deploy soldiers and sailors in India's ports at this time?

Comrade Fernandes, I add my voice to all those protesting what you have done - and in particular to the protest made by the leaders of the International Transport Workers Federation, representing over 5 million transport workers in 135 countries. As you know, the ITF has informed its affiliates of developments in the Indian ports and they have been asked to remain on standby alert in case the situation does not improve. India faces the possibility, as you surely realize, of global trade union action in support of the striking dock workers - something which, earlier in your career, you would have cheered on.

I appeal to you to withdraw the troops from India's ports and not engage in any further strike-breaking activity.

I am publishing this letter on the Internet and will circulate it. If you reply, I will publish your reply as well.

Sincerely,

Eric Lee