contd from page 16 This is a war of words . Even America needs to weigh many factors before translating its own words into deeds . 2 . Striving for peace and reunification of Korea is another aspect of North Korea ’ s policy . The North Korean President Kim Jong-un ’ s Jan 1 , 2018 call for dialogue with South Korea came only in this wake . He proposed that the North and South Korea should “ lower the military tensions on the Korean peninsula to create a peaceful environment ” for it . He indicated North Korea ’ s readiness to take part in the Olympic Games to be held in South Korea ’ s city Pyeongchang in Feb 2018 .
This call has touched the fine and deep – rooted feelings of unity and oneness among the Korean people as a whole . They have enthusiastically welcomed the call . Both governments have moved quickly , held discussions and took several other steps to enable the participation of North Korea ’ s delegation in the Games . Both agreed to hold negotiations and military talks to resolve the problems and avoid accidental conflict . The North Korea has pledged to send a large delegation composed of athletes , high ranking officials , cheer squad , art performers as well as reporters and spectators to take part in the Games . Both the Governments agreed that the athletes of both countries would march together as one under one flag at the opening ceremony and other joint activity during the Olympic Games . The Korean people on both sides feel relieved of tensions and feelings of hostility and insecurity , at least temporarily . They are waiting to witness the Games with added enthusiasm .
This is a welcome development . But the main source of the problem remains . It lies not with North Korea , but the US imperialists . The policy of intervention and politics of imposing their domination over the Korean peninsula and Asia-Pacific region pursued by the US imperialists are at the root of the problem . All those who are for the restoration of peace in the Korean peninsula must raise their voice against it . � contd from page 20
Four decades back in 1979 , the Shah ’ s despotic regime backed by US was overthrown by the mass movement . The Iranian bourgeoisie came to power led by Ayatollaah Khomeini and Shia clergy standing on the crest of peoples upsurge . Many social concessions were given to the workers and toilers .
The reactionary nature of the Iranian ruling class revealed during the eight year long Iran-Iraq war . The Iraqi government attacked Iran with the support of US imperialism , while Iran precipitated it by insisting on Shattal-Arab settlement imposed on Iraq by the Shah regime with US support . Internally the war helped the ruling class to justify suppression of political opposition and dissipate mass upsurge and subordinate it to so-called ‘ national unity ’. The Iranian ruling elite
February - 2018 supported US invasion of Afghanistan and 2003 invasion of Iraq .
Yet the US imperialism continued its economic sanctions and military pressure . Rouhani was elected as president of Iran in 2014 with the support of Ayatollah Khomeini and long time advocate of rapprochement with US , Hashemi Rafsanjani . During the last three and a half years Rouhani government implemented privatisation and liberalisation following IMF pro-market prescription . It also amended the rules on petroleum extraction to woo the finance capital of oil giants . It implemented austerity measures dictated by IMF cutting social benefits to toiling masses .
As a result the US and European sanctions were suspended in 2016 as Iran agreed to dismantle part of its civil nuclear programme . The removal of sanction gave impetus to the Iranian economy , but the upper classes garnered most of the benefits , while the poor were made to pay for it .
It is clear that the burden of economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the imperialist powers fell on the Iranian workers , peasants and other toiling masses , while the upper classes made a fortune during this period . This is the reason for the rise of mass protests in Iran .
The people of Iran had to take their future into their hands . They were deceived by the ruling class for four decades . Similar mass protests are erupting in the Middle East . The peoples ’ anger should not go waste . The workers and youth of Iran should fight and organise the people against imperialism and Iranian ruling classes .
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