Australia: Conference builds left alliances and international solidarity
Two articles reporting the October 11-14, 2007, Latin America and Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum, held in Melbourne. The first written by Lisa Macdonald from Australia's Green Left Weekly and the second by Roger Annis from Canada's Socialist Voice.
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Conference builds left alliances and international solidarity
By Lisa Macdonald
Presentations
by panels of international guest speakers in the plenary sessions, in
particular those on “War and neoliberalism” and “Workers’ struggle,
global fight”, exposed the strikingly common consequences of
imperialism and neoliberalism for the mass of ordinary people around
the world. Whether factory workers in South Korea, rural workers in
Colombia or indigenous people in Chile, the increasing exploitation,
impoverishment and repression that accompany neoliberal globalisation
are shared. Privatisation, deteriorating health and education services,
environmental destruction and the removal of basic democratic rights in
the name of “fighting terrorism” were themes common to all the
presentations.
A stronger theme in all the discussions, however, was the rising
popular resistance to repression and injustice. The plenary panels on
“Rebellion and liberation in Latin America”, “Indigenous struggles and
resistance” and “Movements of resistance in the Asia Pacific” provided
numerous detailed examples of how the rulers’ escalating assault on the
living conditions of the majority of people is generating campaigns and
struggles on many fronts.
The presentations by the impressive range of activists from the
Asia-Pacific provided many insights into new campaigns and movements
that are on the rise in this region in response to the declining
legitimacy of neoliberal governments. Presentations on the Pakistani
lawyers’ militant protests against the military dictatorship of General
Pervez Musharraf, the formation of new, united left organisations such
as Papernas in Indonesia and Laban ng Masa in the Philippines, and the
development of cross-national workers’ rights campaigns in Asia, all
underlined the increasing vulnerability of the neoliberal status quo in
our region.
The role of Australian imperialism was the focus of a major session
in which speakers from Papua New Guinea and East Timor demanded their
peoples’ right to own and manage all of their countries’ abundant
natural resources, and called for the control or expulsion of
Australian mining corporations.
In Latin America, resistance to the brutalities of capitalism has
developed into open rebellion across the continent, dealing some severe
blows to US imperialism. Speakers from Colombia, Bolivia, Mexico, Cuba
and Venezuela contributed to a discussion that wove throughout the
conference about the huge impact of the Venezuelan revolution on Latin
American and world politics, and how the Venezuelan idea of “socialism
of the 21st Century” has given new hope and energy to other struggles
for liberation.
The announcement by Venezuelan Charge d’Affairs Nelson Davila that
President Hugo Chavez is planning to visit Australia in 2008 drew loud
applause.
While many of the presentations and discussions at the conference
focused on the immediate issues confronting the majority of people
living under capitalist rule, a sizeable chunk of the program was
devoted to addressing experiences of constructing alternatives to
neoliberalism and capitalism, especially in Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia
and Vietnam. A range of quite different strategies for creating
societies based on equality and justice were presented, generating
interesting discussions and debates about the nature of participatory
democracy and “popular power”, many of these taking place in the dozen
or so workshops that examined different aspects of the Venezuelan
revolution.
Jody Betzien, one of the conference organisers for the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network, explained to Green Left Weekly:
“When the Democratic Socialist Perspective [DSP] first approached the
AVSN late last year about combining its planned 2007 Asia Pacific
International Solidarity Conference with AVSN’s annual Latin America
solidarity conference, it was clear that bringing together Latin
American, Asia-Pacific, Australian and other activists to discuss and
learn from each other and, crucially, extend practical solidarity to
each other, was one way we could support and extend the Venezuelan
revolution’s profound internationalism.
“The Venezuelan revolution is unquestionably at the centre of world
politics today. It has shifted the power balance between the haves and
the have-nots much more in favour of the oppressed. This conference has
affirmed and practically strengthened what the Venezuelans are showing
in practice: that international solidarity of the oppressed is the
indispensable weapon in all of our struggles for liberation from
capitalism.”
Another feature of the conference was the strong labour movement
stream, which included a plenary panel on workers’ rights addressed by
labour movement activists from six countries, workshops on topics
ranging from “Unions and the environment” to “Stop the race to the
bottom”, and a two-day labour movement exposure tour on October 9-10 in
which union activists attending the conference from overseas visited a
variety of workplaces in Melbourne and regional Victoria and met with
some Australian trade unions.
Manrico Moro from Australia Asia Worker Links told GLW:
“This year, the international solidarity forum replaced the AAWL Open
Day conference. The labour movement tour to Morwell and Melbourne was
great, and the meetings with ACTU [the Australian Council of Trade
Unions], VTHC [Victorian Trades Hall Council], and a number of unions
and union councils were important.
“AAWL workshops at the forum … developed some new proposals
concerning a global minimum wage campaign, and for global campaigns for
occupational health and safety and full residence and organising rights
for migrant workers. Our international guests and AAWL were pleased
with the results of the conference.”
Reflecting the diverse participation and discussions at the forum,
the final session of the conference passed resolutions in support of
migrant workers’ rights; condemning the Howard government’s invasion of
Aboriginal lands in the Northern Territory; for the closure of all
immigration detention centres and full rights for refugees; in
solidarity with the Basque people who are currently suffering escalated
repression by the Spanish state; and in support of Burma’s democracy
movement.
Resolutions arising from workshops addressed issues including
freedom for the Cuba Five and lifting the blockade against Cuba; the
need for international coordination to ensure that the “Troops out!”
rallies next March — the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq —
are as large as possible; mass mobilisations around demands to halt
global warming on World Environment Day next year; and opposition to
the Colombian government’s brutal repression (visit http://www.solidarityforum2007.org for more).
The conference undoubtedly achieved its main aim of facilitating the
sharing of ideas and experiences between Latin American, Asia-Pacific
and Australian social movements, political organisations and activists
in order to strengthen international networks, campaign coordination
and solidarity. Jorge Jorquera, one of the conference organisers from
the Bolivarian Circle (now the Centre for Latin America Solidarity and
Studies — CLASS), told GLW:
“The forum proved a great framework for new and renewed collaborations.
It was not only an opportunity to discuss and learn from the
experiences of others, but also to establish more links and work
together on new projects.
“As a result of the forum, CLASS is now working with others on a
new journal aimed at bringing to our Asia-Pacific region some of the
theoretical debate and revival of theory now taking place in Latin
American movements and left organisations. We are also working with
other comrades on a new internet radio project, radiovenceremos.org. In
addition, our projects and links with Colombia and Venezuela have been
strengthened.”
The organising of the conference was in itself an important
contribution to strengthening united left activity in Australia, being
jointly organised by the DSP/Asia Pacific International Solidarity
Conferences (APISC), the AVSN, AAWL, CLASS, the Latin American
Solidarity Network and Unity for Peace. More than 20 other Latin
American solidarity groups, left parties, community media, and
environmental and other social movement organisations sponsored the
conference.
The conference was also strongly supported by the trade union
movement, including participation and assistance from the Australasian
Meat Industry Employees Union; the Australian Manufacturing Workers
Union; the Australian Services Union (services division); the
Australian Workers Union; the Communication, Electrical and Plumbing
Union (plumbers and telecommunications divisions); the Construction,
Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (construction and mining divisions);
the Electrical Trades Union; the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance;
the Maritime Union of Australia (Victoria and WA branches, and
national); the Rail Tram and Bus Union; the Textile, Clothing and
Footwear Union; and the United Firefighters Union; as well as the ACTU;
Geelong and Gippsland trades and labour councils; and the VTHC’s
occupational health and safety unit and Trades Hall Literary Institute.
[Lisa Macdonald was one of the conference organisers, representing the DSP/APISC.]
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Solidarity conference in Australia draws 400 participants
By Roger Annis
Melbourne, Australia—The four-day Latin America and Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum drew to a close here on October 14 with a session devoted to “Building Links, Strengthening International Solidarity.” It was a spirited end to the conference that echoed thethemes of solidarity and struggle for societies of justice and equality that marked proceedings throughout.
More than four hundred delegates from 21 countries attended the Forum. There were 12 plenary sessions and some sixty workshops held. Topics included in depth-looks at the political situations in Latin America and Asia/Pacific and presentations on political strategy by the political parties and movements represented. Among the political parties or currents that gave presentations to the forum were the Democratic Socialist Perspective of Australia (DSP), the Bolivarian government of Venezuela, the Peoples Democratic Party of Indonesia (PRD), Laban ng Masa (Struggle of the Masses) of the Philippines, the Labor Party of Pakistan (LPP), the Zapatista-inspired “Otra campaign” of Mexico, and indigenous-led popular movements of Bolivia and Chile.
Some of the more interesting sessions that this writer attended were:
- The plenary, “The Venezuela Revolution and its Global Impact”. The Chargé d’Affaires of the Venezuela embassy in Australia, Nelson Davilas, gave a stirring report on the achievements and perspectives of the Bolivarian government. Ric Reyes of Laban ng Masa spoke of the profound hopes that the Venezuelan revolution and its political alliances are opening up for the oppressed peoples of the world. There were also many workshops that took a detailed look at the political situation in Venezuela.
- “The revolutionary perspectives of the Labor Party of Pakistan.” The LPP is a 3,000-member party whose influence and size is growing.
- “Building progressive alliances with Islamic organisations.” This workshop featured very interesting, and differing, outlooks by the PRD and LPP.
- “The West Papuan people’s right to freedom and independence.” This was one of many plenaries and workshops that examined the struggles of indigenous peoples in Asia/Pacific and Latin America.
An important organizer and participant in the conference was Australia Asia Worker Links, a long-standing solidarity organization that facilitates links between unions and working people of the different countries and regions of Asia. The largest attendance at a conference event was the 250 people who jammed the session on October 12 that was the highlight of that group’s program, the plenary entitled, “Workers struggle, global fight.” The session was chaired by the International Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Alison Tate, and drew dozens of seasoned fighters from Australia’s embattled union movement. Speakers gave moving presentations of workers struggles today in Columbia, Vietnam (yes, there are strikes and struggles in Vietnam!), Australia, and the Philippines, among others.
The other organizers of the conference were the DSP-led Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference, the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network, the Bolivarian Circle of Australia, the Latin America Solidarity Network, and the antiwar group Unity for Peace. The Forum received the endorsement and financial support of more than a dozen trade unions. Opening greetings were delivered by Brian Boyd of the Victoria Trades Council.
A dramatic backdrop to the conference proceedings was the October 14 call by the Liberal Party government of John Howard for a federal election. The government is hated for its deep attacks on working people, including the country’s indigenous population, and its partnership with the U.S.-led “war on terrorism.” Early polls point to a victory for the Australian Labour Party. Many class conscious workers will be casting a ballot for the DSP supported Socialist Alliance or for the Green Party.
Two days before the election call, Howard made a deathbed conversion to “reconciliation” with Australia’s indigenous peoples. He said that if his government is re-elected, he will hold a referendum vote on an amendment to the Australian constitution that give a symbolic recognition of Australia’s indigenous peoples. The amendment would not grant rights, and Howard remains opposed to compensation to the “Stolen Generation,” the indigenous children that were forcibly taken from their families and sent to residential schools to lose their national identities.
The conference drew participation from the small but growing section of Australia’s labour movement that looks to socialism and the class struggle as the way forward for their struggle and for humanity. Canadian participants to the forum took part in conference sessions or separate AAWL or Socialist Alliance events that brought us into contact with these workers and we were deeply impressed. Scores of such workers have joined the Socialist Alliance across Australia. They and others are battle-tested workers and unionists who have much to teach workers in North America.
There was a creative tension throughout the Forum proceedings that resulted from the differing political outlooks of its sponsors and organizers. Plenary sessions on Latin America gave more presence to anarchist-inspired critics of the Venezuela and Bolivian governments than to supporters. This is due, in no small part, to the fact that journalist and writer Eva Golinger, an important voice of the Bolivarian Revolution, had to cancel her appearance due to an emergency in Venezuela.
The politics of the Cuban Revolution were not featured strongly at the Forum. This was not for lack of efforts to do so.
Organizers of the Forum from the DSP are pleased with its outcome. The party has organized “Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference” gatherings in recent years whose sponsorship was much more limited. This year’s “forum” was an effort to reach out to broader forces, including in the labour movement. The party will evaluate its experience in the coming weeks and publish reports and its evaluation in Green Left Weekly.