ILPS Reflections

Just returned to Manila after a fulfilling Third International Assembly of the International League of People’s Struggles in Hong Kong!

Naturally, it was a pleasure to connect again with comrades such as Wali from Pakistan, Raquel from Brazil, and Lyn and Richard from the USA, to deepen our understanding about their work and strengthen our connections. It was such a pleasure and a privilege to talk in depth with our US comrades about our organizing work, our successes, our challenges, and our vision; after such discussions I felt the lack of mentorship for me and Aiyanas in Vancouver. However, we are resolved to march forward, and to maintain our deepened connections in the USA.

It was lovely to share a cabin with our Indian comrades and to witness some very charming conversations between Billy and Saibaba from the Revolutionary Democratic Front of India, a highly respected revolutionary leader and esteemed speaker at the conference. It was heart-warming that even though this man was expected to present at numerous workshops, and has a leadership role nationally and internationally, he is still readily willing and able to connect with a 6 year old. Of course, it left me somewhat saddened at the lack of family culture in the Left in Vancouver, outside the Kalayaan Centre, that is. The Organizing Centre’s focus on building communities of resistance will ultimately address this.

The keynote addresses on Wednesday were invigorating.

Varavara Rao, the leader of the Revolutionary Democratic Front of India, denied a travel visa to HK, was the keynote speaker via G.N. Saibaba, who presented his paper. Varavara concretely explained the inter-imperialist rivalries as a major contradiction; rivalries to be found in the breakdown of WTO negotiations, conflicts over oil and gas, the Euro threatening the hegemony of the dollar, and the ascendancy of Chinese and Russian economic and military powers.

To quote Varavara: “While these are bleak days for the world wide imperialist economy singing the songs of its dark times there are definitely songs of possibilities, of revolutionary opportunities, songs of freedom, of revolution for the most oppressed and wretched of the earth in this whirlpool of deepening crisis of imperialism.”
Varavara overviewed the vast and growing economic independent zones in India which are organized by the revolutionary forces.
Varavara concluded: "everlasting peace is only possible with the struggles that establish genuine peace, by removing exploitation of man by man”.

Jose Maria Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines and Chairman of the ILPS, labelled as a ‘terrorist’ by the Canadian government, gave the report from the Chair.
A highlight of Professor Sison’s presentation was his clear and concise direction to launch and strengthen mass organizations; to initiate and launch mass campaigns; to take up the major concerns and disseminate the analysis and action as widely as possible. Professor Sison really hyped the practice at this Assembly, calling for forces to arise where they did not exist and strengthen where they did exist.

There was representation from Kenya in Wahu Kaara of the Kenyan Debt Relief Network. To resounding applause, Wahu remarked that “a world with justice, a world with peace, a world with human dignity, and a world where none suffer from want is here with us today!”

The workshops were rewarding. The workshop on the cause of National and Social Liberation was filled with rich learning on global history, geo-politics, and current analysis. With presentations from 8 respected leaders, including Kali Williams form the Malcom X Grassroots Movement from the US, the global overview was rewarding. The workshop on the Health Concern was an excellent opportunity to update with comrades from the health sector, and to carry on the theme of Professor Sison on the launching of new mass organizations; to present the history and progression of the Alliance for People’s Health as a case study. The conference plenary accepted our resolutions to continue the Health Now! Campaign and to promote the Health Workers’ Call for Peace and Justice. A migrant health worker’s conference in 2009 should give additional impetus to this work!
http://vcn.bc.ca/~aph

Aiyanas wants me to add that a highlight was my performance with Sophia at the cultural night. Sophia was brave, and volunteered to sing for us! She did a beautiful job, and garnered great applause, even though she forgot the final verse. The resounding applause came after I announced that this was our children’s third ILPS hosted conference!

The cultural night all around was definitely a highlight. Aiyanas had the opportunity for a deep discussion on Indian politics with Amit from the Committee for Release of Indian Political Prisoners. The rousing performances, messages of solidarity, and warm feelings of camaraderie that permeated the evening were inspirational. Not to mention Wali’s pop-star performance of an Urdu human rights song – we hope at the next ILPS conference he will be able to bring his 4-year-old daughter to co-star with him!

We leave the Third International Assembly with new friends, a renewed commitment to struggle for unity, to build our mass anti-imperialist organizations, reach out to new member organizations, build the AI united front, and further the struggle for social and economic justice.

In memory of Ka Bel…
Tuloy Ang Laban!
Long Live International Solidarity!