Union of Iranian Communists (Sarbedaran)
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Union of Iranian Communists (Sarbedaran) was a Maoist organization in opposition to Shah Regime and latter Islamic Republic of Iran.
[edit] Overview
UIC (S) was formed in 70’s after the alliance of few Maoist groups and has an eventful history. It has had particamipated in different military operations all over the Iran (E.g. North of Iran, Kurdistan). Although it had gone under several ideological crisis’s and has experienced major changes in strategies and tactics, it has always been a Maoist organization and it has always believed that Iran is not a Capitalist society and is “semicolonial-semifeudal” one.
In 2001, UIC (S) became the Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist).
[edit] History
Union of Iranian Communists (Sarbedaran) was founded in 1976 after the unification of “Organization of Communist Revolutionaries” and “Pooya Group” (which was itself a remnant of “Palestine Group”).
This union was really a minor group and was mainly operating in student movement abroad. Theoretically UIC (S) was backing Cultural Revolution in China and Mao struggle against Khrushchev (then, Leader of the Soviet Union) and was against currents such as Tudeh Party and "Economists".
UIC (S) expands its activities inside the Iran after the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and some other groups such as “Group of struggle in the path of working class liberation” and “Red Battle” also joined it.
UIC (S) did participate in some workers struggles, such as “project syndicate of Abadan” and “Union of worker councils of Gilan” and also joined the war against Islamic Republic in Kurdistan(and formed a guerrilla organization in Kurdistan named “Tashkilate Pishmargeye Zahmatkeshane Kordestan”). UIC (S) did also participate in peasant struggle in Torkaman Sahra and protests of Arabian people of Khuzistan. It also formed front organization such as “Militant Women Society” and “SETAD (Revolutionary Mass Organization of university and school Students)”.
1982 is an important year in history of this organization and history of Maoism in Iran. In this year UIC (S) mobilized his forces to jungles around Amol and started some wars against Islamic Republic from there. It finally organized a famous uprising in 25th of January, 1982. This uprising led to a big failure and most of UIC (S) leaders were hanged but the uprising itself became very famous and is well respected between some Iranian Leftist organization up to now.
After the failure of “Amol Uprising” the group had many problems and most of its leadership and cadres were destroyed and it also gone under the theoretical and political crisis.
In spring, 1983 4th council of Union of Iranian Communists was held and the union was reorganized. But again most of the leadership and cadres were arrested and hanged.
In 1984 this union, together with Maoist organizations from all over the world, formed Revolutionary Internationalist Movement.
In 1985 they again tried to organize militant struggle against Islamic Republic but they failed again. After this year they were mainly operating in Kurdistan and against currents such as the Communist Party of Iran which they called "Reformist" and "Dissolvist".
In the late 80’s they declined some of their old slogans and strategies such as "Peoples’ war in rural areas and uprising in cities", "Revolution Path" and etc. instead they launched a new strategy and their slogan as "Protracted People's War: siege the cities via Villages". They also submitted their "Marxist-Leninist-Maoist" stance.
In April 2001 they held 'Founding Congress of Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist))' and after some debates they established the Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) on May Day, 2001. Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) is continuer of Union of Iranian Communists (Sarbedaran).
