In June of this year various Australian representatives of their organizations and many individuals gathered and established the Australian Section of the International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS).
The twenty or so organizations represented only a fraction of the active people’s organizations, community groups, trade unions and other groups currently engaged in multiple struggles to defend the peoples rights, to secure decent jobs ands pay, to protect and repair the natural environment, to oppose imperialist wars and exploitation and many other causers.
Nevertheless there were very great expectations that the ILPS Australia would be able to play an important role in promoting, supporting the ongoing struggles, as well as providing expression for anti-imperialist ideas and analysis. In this way the organization could extend its influence and win wider respect and support over time.
Then first activity was to organize a public forum in August and September to counter the official APEC gabfest in Sydney.
WHAT IS THE ILPS?
ILPS aims to promote, support and develop the anti-imperialist struggles of the Australian people and the people of the world, and particularly the Asia-Pacific region, who are engaged in sharpening struggles on key issues:
JOSE MARIA SISON
This Conference had earlier viewed a videotaped welcoming address by Professor Maria Sison, Chairperson the International Coordinating Committee of the ILPS.
In his address he said:
“The Australian state and monopoly firms connive with the most powerful imperialist powers, including the US, European ad Japanese, in exploiting the peoples of the Asia-Pacific region through free trade, investments, financial and security agreements and arrangements. The tripartite partnership of the US, Japan and Australia is the core for controlling the region and running the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference.
The Australian Government follows the baton of the US in all major issues, including climate change, global warming, coal mining, nuclear energy and water shortage.
The Australian state has made itself conspicuous as a running dog of US imperialism.
The people are far more powerful than all the forces of imperialism and reaction if you succeed in the work and struggle to arouse, organize and mobilize the people. In every period you can build on your achievements in the previous period. You can sum up and analyse your experience in order to draw lessons and set the task for advancing further.
We face common adversaries and we need to unite and stand in solidarity, learn from each other, give support to one another and cooperate and coordinate our struggles.
Thus we can contribute what we can to the common struggle and raise to a new and higher level the struggles and successes of the anti-imperialist and democratic movement on a global scale.”
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