First Published: The Call, Vol. 5, No. 31, December 6, 1976.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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The Norwegian Workers Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) successfully concluded its Second National Congress in November and adopted a new program to guide its work.
In a press communique, the party central committee stated that the congress results were a great victory for the party (known by its Norwegian initials as AKP M-L).
The communique notes that in addition to adopting a new program, the party confirmed the program for the Lapp nationality which was adopted in 1973; revised the party rules; and elected a new central committee with Pal Steigan re-elected as its party chairman.
Commenting on the new program, the party points but: “The congress maintained that the program adopted at the First National Congress of the AKP (M-L) in 1973 was mainly correct, but that it contained certain important mistakes and was lacking in some respects. The new program distinguishes itself from the old one among other things by a more thorough treatment of the role of the party, of the struggle against modern revisionism, social-democracy and other forms of opportunism, and of the struggle against imperialism, especially the superpowers, the USSR and the U.S.A.
“The program corrects mistakes in class analysis contained in the 1973 program. It maintains that the principal contradiction in Norway is that between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, arid that in order to win victory in the revolution, the proletariat must ally itself with the working farmers and fishermen and establish its leadership over the entire working people.”
The program emphasizes that the danger of a third world war and aggression by the superpowers against Norway is increasing. In the event of war, the program states that “the party must assume leadership of the proletariat, launch a national revolutionary people’s war against imperialism, not rely on one superpower against the other, and not rely on the Norwegian bourgeoisie and its state apparatus.”
The program continues, “The working class and the working people must liberate Norway by relying on their own forces, and fight to assure that victory in the war of resistance will mean victory for the socialist revolution and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat in Norway.”
On the Lapp question, the party affirmed that it is the duty of Norwegian communists to support the oppressed Lapp nation, which includes some 30,000 people and exists within Norway’s northern territory.
On the question of party rules, measures were taken to strengthen democratic centralism and discipline in preparation for the possibility of the party being declared illegal, and for carrying out work during a time of war. The party also adopted new rules governing the relationship between itself and its youth and student organizations.
The central committee delivered a report to the congress summing up its work as well as the conditions faced by the Norwegian working class. The report surveyed the present international situation and the developing factors for both revolution and war. It especially took note of growing Soviet threats and military pressure on Norway, which show that “social-imperialism plans a military assault on Norway.”
After exposing the treacherous role played by the revisionists along with the social-democrats and other opportunists in Norway, the report also touched on the great achievements of the AKP (M-L) since its founding four years ago.
Increasing its influence among the masses, deepening its ties to the workers, and strengthening its class composition, the party has advanced steadily especially through the struggle against revisionism both inside and outside the party. Some of these advances were reflected in the class composition of the delegates. Approximately 60 of the delegates were workers.
The report stated that a right-opportunist tendency which had existed within the party during the time of its founding had been dealt a sharp blow in the period leading up to the Second Congress.
The entire congress was characterized by proletarian internationalism, beginning with a silent tribute to Mao Tsetung. Messages from many Marxist-Leninist parties and organizations greeted the congress, including a message from the Party of Labor of Albania signed by Enver Hoxha.
Warmly greeting the successes of the AKP (M-L) Second Congress, the October League’s Central Committee sent a message of solidarity which read in part:
“Your party was born in the struggle against modern revisionism and has matured in the fight against imperialism, social-imperialism, revisionism and opportunism. The AKP (M-L) has forged deep ties with the Norwegian workers and broad masses in the struggle for socialism and is a source of inspiration and support to us in the USA.”