Maia Ramnath - Decolonizing Anarchism.pdf - Libcom

218 I Ramnath
to unflinchingly argue against t:vt:n thc (revolutionary)
stream-from within-ifthat is where his analysis of realities
took him." I I In the discussions inspired by Balagopal
and tht: People's Union t()r Dnl10cratic Rights (PUDR\
they began moving beyond mode of production debates
and "the traditional left questions:' such as "semi colonial!
semi feudal or capitalist; parliamentary/mass based politics
or armed struggle:' by linking class analysis to other issues
and structures, such as gender- and caste-based injustices,
communalism, and regional autonomy.
Apart from the issue of violence, Balagopal's critiques
also had to do with the recognition of all kinds of
rights violations on the basis of unequal power relations .
. The legi timacy of the political cause never lets you off the
hook for acts of rights violation on your own account, he
stressed. Those could and must be criticized even (or even
more) when the cause is one you supported. Similarly,
Balagopal pointed out the importance of the distinction
between the political issucs behind a militant struggle,
which are primary and must be addressed, and the legal!
criminal aspect, which should be dealt with separately
(assuming the rule onaw was recognized as just-perhaps
a surprisingly optimistic view of the law on his part).
lherefore, even if the political issues could be resolved in
favor of what the movement is fighting for, the movement
would then still have to pay for the consequences of its own
crimes against democracy and human rights. This begs the
question, What overarching rights framework and enforcement
regime was Balagopal pointing toward ? If it was one
that existed both before and after the new dispensation,